Scott Catalogs ..how Important To Update

Question, If a person collects up to a cutoff year 1940,1970,2000 and the stamps most of us posess are the average types which are not appreciating in value, would we not be better off spending our stamp budget on stamps and not enriching Amos Press ? Its been many a year since I purchased a current Scott catalog....

I have the advantage of collecting U.S. only and I update every few years. I use the library for everything else. The disadvantage to not updating, other than price changes, is the adde, deleted and number changes in which there are several hundred each year.

I update my catalogs at very regular intervals - once every 12 or 13 years! I don't think it's really important, although since I bought my 2011s I have found quite a change in price from my old 1998s.

Philb has a great point. It's not cost effective for the great majority of collectors to update their catalogs every year, or even every other year.

The great majority of people I know who update their Scott catalogs every year are full-time dealers, followed distantly by the disappearing breed of aggressive world-wide collectors. That would seem to indicate that high-volume/value sales and purchases are often the determining factor in actively updating catalogs annually. Makes sense, because the catalog costs becomes a much smaller fraction gross receipts/expenditures. If you are a recent issue collector, don't waste money updating because the catalogs are usually 1-2 years behind anyway. Better off subscribing to a new issue magazine/journal or the country's postal service newsletter/catalog.

If you are a collector who doesn't mess around with the most recent issues, having a catalog issued within the past 5 years is usually more than sufficient for most countries. If you follow the various boards or follow the wholesale prices, you will get a rough idea of which countries/areas may have had 50% or more increases/decreases in the past 5 years, and then decide whether or not to update. Then there are some countries for which even annual updates can't even keep up (e.g., PR-China). Since I collect worldwide, I usually step back for a few years when rampant speculation takes over stamps of a certain country/area/type because it is often more trouble than it's worth.

In my opinion, if you are primarily a collector with moderate sales or moderate purchases, having a catalog 2-5 years is fine. You can usually get year-old catalog sets for under $150, and two-year-old used catalog sets for under $100. Shop around, and you can get even better deals.

Although I have done so a few times before, I rarely buy a brand new current catalog. Especially since my local library has a complete set of the 2011 Scott Standard Worldwide. Most of the time, I use the 2010 set I acquired late summer.

If someone needs a couple of 2010 catalog values and I happen to be at home (i.e., not on a road trip), I'd be more than happy to oblige. You can send an email if I don't see the post.

I'm a U.S. stamp collector primarily, so like many of the previous posts, if I have worldwide stamps to ID for current values, etc., my local library is the best resource as they stock 2011 Scott WW Catalogs in their reference section. For U.S. issues, I use an older Scott Specialized Catalog. If I'm really interested in updating values on most of the standard U.S. material, I wind up buying the Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps, which is an annual release usually available at your local post office and it uses the Scott #'s and the majority of valuations, too. It's not nearly as detailed as a avid stamp collector may want, but it does provide the revised valuations at 1/3rd the price of a new Scott Catalog.

In fact, here's a trick I learned recently. If you buy the Guide from the U.S. Post Office, the price (I believe) is around $20. If you shop around, the catalogs are also carried by some of the larger national chain bookstores (i.e. Borders, etc.) but at a markup price of $25. However, if you also shop the bookstore coupons, they typically offer a 33%, 40% or even 50% off coupon every now and then which makes the bookstore's net price lower than buying it from the post office. (Timing is everything!)

Scott also publishes a paperback size of the current year with illustrations, current valuations, and boxes for using as a checklist for United States stamps you have.

I just found it in the new Linn's. $19.99 retail, 17.99 Amos Advantage.

Phil:

Here's my big secret (that you already know): You don't need a Scott Catalog to look up catalog value...

All I have to do is jump to any auction website where seller's proudly display the absolute latest catalog value for any stamp. I bought a 2 or 3 copies of the U.S. Specialized before I finally asked myself, "what's the point?" Also, since I started collecting, I have decided to not to pursue new issues -- with my U.S. collection, I drew the line not to collect after year 2000.

I do check catalog values occasionally, but I feel that I use my catalog more for information and research than for "pricing."

On the other hand, last year I purchased my first Unitrade Catalog for Canadian stamps. I learned from other collectors that the Unitrade had been updated several times in recent years with new and improved content, not just price increases.

So, long story short, from now on, I will only buy a new catalog if it contains new research, content, etc. I'll probably never buy another just for the latest pricing updates.

Kirk

Swabbie you capitalist , you purchased a set of 2011's ! I imagine you did see some price increases from 1998...rightfuly or wrongfuly I do use my 2 or 3 year old scott catalogs as a price guide..if I sell someone a stamp at 1/3 catalog based on my catalogs and the price increased..thats fine !!

philb that is why you are one of my favorite persons.

I have been using a 1970 US specialized for years,and a 07 Brookmans for post 1970. Catalogue value of 98% of post 1935 issues is meaningless to me. I just recently purchased a used 2009 US specialized for under $15 shipped, this thing is heavy and huge and what a beast. I like the old hard back catalogues with black and white images and compact size. The 09 sure has some pretty images in it though, kind of like a coffee table book. I will keep using the 1970, and I keep a 1962 copy in my desk at work. My focus is US used pre 1940, even though on occasion I fill in the National album spaces up to 2000. I will not be updating again any time in the future.

Hi

In addition to the Brookman catalog mentioned there is also one from Harris Stamp Company. The layouts in both are different and I believe one of them also catalogs UN as well as US.

If you collect world wide, the library is the best bet for current catalogs. The prices from year to year do not change drastically. However, it seems like Scott is on an price upgrade kick.

If you only collect a few countries there is a dealer who breaks up the Scott catalog into country sections. Since I only collect 3 countries, I update my Scott 'catalogs' yearly (under $20USD).

Jerry B

Jerry, I have thought about the by country pages..either that or take my box cutter to the library...

Hi Philb,

If you are interested in the dealer send me an e-mail to

jerrybemail-stamps 'at' yahoo 'dot' com

and I'll send you the dealers name. Note: Put philb in the header so I won't discard the e-mail.

Jerry B

Jerry, Ok thanks for the offer..i will see whats happening catalog wise...i know there must be several selling on ebay but will take your reccomendation !!

I was looking at Israel prices in my new 2011 catalog last night. I was a bit surprised to see that the price for MNH tabbed single issues (not a part of a set) from the 1990s or so to present all went DOWN about 10% from the 2009 catalog. SSheets, sets, MH and Used all seemed to stay the same. Funny.


Grumble - the spell checker changes 'U' to 'you'. If I wanted 'you' I'da said 'you'.

Hi laswabbie,

You should see the ridiculously high 2011 prices for Ecuador and especially Venezuela.

Jerry B