Germany Booklets 1930's And 40's Question

How's the Zusammendrucke collection coming, Rileysan?

Thank you for asking.

At times, it can be a bit overwhelming. The von Hindenburg issues are especially tough to keep track of due to the number of varieties & combinations. I really enjoy the challenge, however, and keep plodding along.

I recently purchased a large auction lot with dozens of booklets, booklet panes, and zusammendruck combos that may take a month or more to sort. Once I finish with it, I will post photos.

My first priority is to verify I received everything I paid for!

Cheers!

Brian

I was searching for an answer to the following question, last night, but had no luck. Pertaining to booklet panes, are the panes without selvage not considered a proper pane?

For example:

My copy of Michel HB-70 is complete minus selvage. Would it be valued as a booklet pane, or 4 pairs?







Additionally, I read a number of posts for and against exploding complete booklets. Improperly stored booklets often damage the panes because they shift from side to side inside the covers. The end result is what you see on the top/right of this pane - flattened or "filed" perforations.

Because of this, I have decided it is better to preserve the perforations on the panes than the staples in the booklets. All of my booklets are, or will be, exploded.

Brian

Brian,

The answer to your initial question is somewhere in between. Michel includes a statement in their Markenheftchen catalog that Heftchenblätter prices for mint panes apply only to those with the margin, and that those without the margin should be valued as Zusammendrucke. I suspect that in practice, the value would be less than a H-Bl., but more than just four Zd., since the block of four Zd. would command a significant premium. Michel's used H-Bl. prices are for panes without margin, as the margin was supposed to be removed before use. Used panes with the margin command a premium.

As to exploding, I typically explode mine for scanning. While I have them apart, I examine the staple for signs of oxidation. If there are none, I reassemble the booklet for storage. I store mine in mounts on album pages, and in the mounts the panes can't actually touch anything, so I don't have to worry about perfs getting damaged. I definitely wouldn't store then vertically in a box, etc., where the panes could slip and compress.

I think I'll take your idea, modify it, and make it my own. Pictured is an exploded example of Michel MH-38.2. The cover and pane separation sheets are on the top row. I have placed the staple in a tiny glassine behind the cover. The 5 panes are now on display instead of just the plain booklet cover (that was apparently turned into a ledger for a time).

Given the limited options for displaying booklets, and the rarity of complete booklets, I think this is a reasonable compromise that should have no impact on value.

Brian

That's beautiful.

Thank you! I look forward to adding many more to my album. I'll post more pix in the future ...