Trading Stamps Resources

I have a copy of the Feb 1, 1999 edition of Mongan's catalog (this is the first catalog in the Calverton Creations Cinderellas Series). In the Preface he mentions that the catalog should be considered a "work-in-progress". Based on the Table of Contents, Mongan had laid out 17 chapters for his trading stamps catalog, as follows:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Effective Pages
Preface and acknowledgements

PART I- INTRODUCTION
1.* Scope
2.* General notes
3. History, references and bibliography

PART II- CATALOG
4.* Description explanations
5.* Indices and cross-references
6.* Listings and illustrations
7. Abbreviations used

PART III- SPECIAL STUDIES
8. Trading stamp companies
9. Imbedded series markings
10. Backprints
11. Papers and watermarks
12.* Complimentary and page-size stamps
13. Certificates
14. Accounting security controls
15. Product coupon to stamp exchanges
16. Trading stamp booklets, covers and catalogs
17. Collateral material

* Indicates included in this edition

Only Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 12 were released for this edition. The bulk of the catalog is Chapter 6.
This edition also had a supplement to Chapter 6 that added over 530 new entries.

The organization of this edition seems to be different from that of the APRL copy, which has 3 volumes that include some introductory chapters and the alphabetical listing.

It may be good to establish how many versions of this catalog may exist, and try to identify the latest and most complete edition.

I agree that an update/supplement to this catalog, with color illustrations, would be a great benefit to the philatelic literature. But it would be a major undertaking.

Nice coverage Ron,
Thanks for that.

CindyCan2: Thank you for the information! I don't see any difference in your version's TOC than the APRL. The same chapters are included, nothing in addition. I did notice that various chapters have different dates and presume that is when they were completed. This one is in three comb bound volumes. The first is dated June 15, 1997 (253p), second is copyright 1998 (280p) and third copyright 1999 (170p) 703 pages total not including un-printed cover sides. Jim Drummond's copy is 3 hole punched.

After I clear my desk (couple months?) I will begin taking a serious look at updating, continuing or creating a new catalog (with due credit to Art). I'm hip deep in wrapping a few other things up right now but when they are done I can give this the time it deserves to evaluate the path forward. I have started my son on scanning the issues I have and combing the internet for usable (public domain) graphics. If any reader here has graphics/scans they would like to contribute I'll make a call for input and a list of those that I have or need at that time. I have a pretty good start from my own collection but I don't want to waste anyone's time duplicating efforts scanning and sending stuff, before I know for sure what is needed.

Just as I had suspected, the email address on the catalog eventually bounced. I presume it's all long gone but I have been trying to reach out to other Mongan's in the area to see if any are related and might still have his research. I'd be interested to see if there was a draft of chapter 3 which contained a bibliography for instance. Don't know, if I don't ask...

I'll keep everyone here posted as to any thoughts or progress.

My copy is also 3-hole punch, but I count about 581 pages. Here's the breakdown of the "Effective pages". Does it differ from the APRL edition?

Quick snapshots. Apologies for the quality, my antique (6 year old) cell phone takes crappy photos and the scanner is in the midst of a large task right now...

Part I


Part II


Part III

No separate effective page list in the 3rd volume (Part III)

This is still referred to as a "work in progress" in the Preface.

BTW: My page count includes blank pages. I just counted sheets, X2 and added printed sides of the covers.

Thanks for the scans. This certainly helps in the comparison. I suspect that the difference in page counts is probably due to the "Index" subchapters in Chapter 6, which were published in the APRL (ie earlier versions) of the catalog, but which appear to be absent from the 3-hole version, even though they are mentioned on the "Effective Pages" listing.
Chapter 5 of the 3-hole version has: 1) Introduction and conventions, 2) Known inscribed series users, and 3) Included foreign stamps by country.

Mongan mentions in the Introduction to Chapter 5 (Feb 1 1999) that "Since the catalog was initially released alphabetically by the first letter of the plan name, an index for each letter is inserted prior to the letter's listings in Chapter 6. In future editions, the individual indices will be consolidated in this chapter."

Does the APRL version have the Chapter 6 supplement?

Yes it does have the Supplement. 54 Pages.

Fascinating to read,
like bringing an endangered species, back from the brink.

Rod222, yeah it does feel a little like that doesn't it.

Interesting. The supplement from my version has only 48 pages, including Intro (1 page, Feb 1, 1999), Index (12 pages, Jan 1, 1999) and Listings (35 pages, Jan 1, 1999).

I'll have to scan this set, post it and share it so we can compare. It'll take some time for me or my son to do carefully. This set isn't in bad shape but comb punches can be fragile and these combs already have some broken as the plastic has turned brittle with age.

You may have noticed that the "Effective Pages" listing in my version doesn't quite reflect what is in the actual catalog. All the "Index" pages from Chapter 6 are missing, and the dates for the Supplement are wrong. I guess Mongan recognized that the catalog was a work in progress, and so added dates to all the versions of each sub-chapter. That will prove to be a great help in establishing the most up-to-date sections of the catalog.

Perhaps, if you scan all pages, you can dispense with the plastic combs, and use a "spring back" binder for protection?

ie using the *.pdf for day to day use, and the binder for storage.

I have a lot of mimeographed monographs stored similarly.

rod222: I'll have to touch base with APRL before making any changes as they aren't mine, but on loan. That is a good idea though. At the very least, before returning them, I'd like to replace the combs since these have turned brittle.