Help With Comparing Catalogs

Being a small-time re-collector, I'm interested in a comparison of the "common" unspecialized WW catalogs.
The most used ones are Scott, SG, Yvert, Michel, and as an online representative, StampWorld.
What are the pro and cons of each?
Which are in English?
Which include the most nonpostal stamps (unissued, revenue, and so on)?
Which gives the most info on a stamp or country, or includes postal entities that others don't?
Do share your thoughts.

Each has strength in its natural base:
Michel - Germany and continental Europe
Yvert & Tellier - France, (former) colonies, southwest Europe
Stanley Gibbons - GB, crown posessions & Commonwealth.

StampWorld is basic.

The strength of one, usually, is the weakness of the other. Yvert & Tellier and Michel might overlap in large parts of continental Europe.

I have never seen a Scott, but from the many confusing and erroneous references on this and other sites, I would say that it fits the pattern.

Gibbons's Stamps of the World is not comparable to Scott, as it's designed as a simplified catalogue, with no reference to shades, perforations. The main body of Gibbons's catalogues are a series of area-based volumes. Gibbons catalogues do not ordinarily include non-postage stamps. In my experience, Yvert catalogues often contain less information (eg precise issue dates, designers) than one would find in Gibbons catalogues.

That's a good question - there's no one catalogue that will "do it all".

If you're looking for a general worldwide catalogue in English that covers the entire world up to present day, then the Scott world (12 volumes as of 2021) suits the bill - but it's certainly not cheap (although older editions can be found). It is generally solid for a general worldwide collector, but comes up short if you are specialized in any country of period.

If you collect only up to 1940 (and 1952 Commonwealth), the single volume Scott Classic specialized is a good resource. Yvert also publishes a worldwide classic (up to 1940) and semi-moderne (1941-1960) but they are only available in French.

Otherwise, you are looking at individual country or area-based catalogues - for example, I use Edifil (Spanish), Sassone (Italy & related), Yvert (French & colonies), Maury (France), Michel (Germany & related), Unitrade (Canada & provinces) and more obscure ones (like a Fiume specialized in Croatian/English). And there are many more available for every possible area, or topic even. Some of them are quite hard to find & most not in English.

Of those, I've been most impressed by the overall quality of Michel, Maury and Sassone. Can't speak to Stanley Gibbons, as don't collect Commonwealth beyond Canada.

Zagorsky for Russia. Very difficult to locate though. Michel a strong second and Scott almost tied for second.

Thank you all for sharing.
As I wrote, I focused on general-use catalogs. So my impression is:
StampWorld - updated, much easier to search than the hard copy catalogs or PDF, but rather simple. Also includes some unissued and revenue stamps (BOB).
Basic Scott and SG - for WW stamps they provide basic background, of history and issuing circumstances. Both are the only ones in English.
Basic Michel and Yvret - not in English, but provide a reference base of catalog numbers with other collectors.
Still would like to know which of the simplified catalogs of the above, are more helpful with BOB.

"Back of book" to British collectors chiefly means postage dues and official stamps. Other things that Scott lists as back of book - air-mail, charity stamps - are in the main body of a country's stamps. Gibbons only lists postage stamps, not fiscals or any othef Cinderellas.

AFA is excellent for Denmark, Faroes, Danish West Indies and Greenland. It covers a lot of back of the book even including Christmas seals, only problem: it's only in Danish but you can figure out a lot of the philatelic terms from the context and the names of colors aren't that hard to figure out. It also includes pricing for a lot of "fly-specking" variants

In conclusion, mine at least, of the simplified catalogs, Scott is more informative than SG, both being the only ones in English, and for quick identification of a stamp, StampWorld will be faster, being an online catalog with a search engine.

This thread brought up a lot of valuable info about specialized catalogs, maybe it will be useful to summarize the catalogs' names and the countries they are good for, and pin that info somewhere in the forum.

"This thread brought up a lot of valuable info about specialized catalogs, maybe it will be useful to summarize the catalogs' names and the countries they are good for, and pin that info somewhere in the forum."

Take a look at Stamp Smarter https://www.stampsmarter.org/featur...logHome.html

Noting that the OP mentioned non-specialized catalogs, I think the choices are Scott, Michel, and Yvert. I love Stanley Gibbons for Commonwealth, but from others' comments it would appear that Gibbons is not a great choice as a general WW catalog.

I agree that Michel is better for Europe as a general catalogue than Scott's, but I am not familiar with Yvert as a WW catalog. I use Yvert as a France/Colonies Catalog. Michel is in German however others here in the forum may know if there is an English language version.

The advantage of Scott's is that since Scott publishes every year, there are a large number of recent, used catalogs you can find for a discount compared to new. Another potential advantage is that if aligning with American collectors and dealers is beneficial to you, Scott's is an excellent choice.

As a worldwide collector, it's my first choice.
Personal.
I like the separation of Air and Semi Postal.
Biggest benefit is the Scott font, I just love it.
Catalogue size format is excellent.

ebay also offers "ripped" countries from Scott, which I really like,
No one is doing that with Gibbons.

That's just the meat and gravy.

For desert, you need Stanley Gibbons and Michel and a host of specialty catalogues to increase enjoyment.
Fpr example, my Australian catalogues take up an entire 900mm shelf in my bookcase. The Monographs and specialty items abound.

Had I not transferred all my Gibbons numbers to Scott, AND Michel was available all in English, I would have probably gone that route,
Michel Book size format is the best available for mine.

The Stanley Gibbons Concise format is similar, and a very welcome change from Gibbons.