Album Review: United States Albums

I made some adjustments to my use of the Stamp Paraphernalia pages; they are sold unpunched and designed to be used with tabbed protectors. I had them punched at Kinko's so I could put them in Mystic binders that match my other US collections. I got my pages on lightweight paper and use punched lightweight protectors with them. As was noted their singles albums require two sets for the se-tenant issues. I also found sizing on the spaces to be off in some cases. Using Mystic for my singles and the SP pages for PBs and Revenues has worked out well for me.

I totally get why some publishers provide for coils as pairs. It is unrealistic on many earlier issues. I wish they'd all do as Scott does, provide for pairs but on separate pages, placing coil singles on another page.

I've often received/seen individual stamps from setenant issues on cover. I even have examples of used individual stamps from the 1972 4x2c Cape Hatteras set.

I know that some of you would like Scott Minuteman on Scott National paper (or something as sturdy) but the odd page size makes this a prohibitive endeavor. Has anyone gone the extra effort to scan Scott Minuteman pages and edit the image such that it would fit on normal sized pages (and therefore be easier to self print on good paper).

I'm considering this as I want to stop using White Ace since I'm tired of their inconsistent policies re: commemorative vs regular issues and want to dip into the minuteman waters since I want the extra info, but I want sturdy paper. So I plan on buying the 2017 Minuteman supplement and start my scan/edit project. I may still use White Ace binders for consistency, since I think normal 8.5 x 11 pages in a Scotts binder would look odd.

Have you considered taking Mystic pages and just copy on thicker stock? They are already 8 1/2 x 11.

Doesn't Mystic put the descriptions on the back of the page, rather than by the stamp image?

Yes they do. I like it since you get a lot more info and not wasting space.

Yes. And this makes it harder to insert extra pages and/or change the order of the album. For example, I just added the joint issues of Scott #2624-29 from Italy, Portugal, Spain. 9 more pages. It wouldn't work if the back of the page was for the next issue.

Challenge accepted. I have learned to accept it for all the advantages. I can copy the left side easily for another page.

How long has Mystic been making their US albums/supplements (Heirloom)?

I purchased my first Mystic back album in the late 90's and updated with supplements for a few years. I was tired of shelling out $15+ for a National supplement and end up remounting a lot of stamps to boot plus I dislike the binder (never flat). Then my collecting went dormant and when I got more active I ended up purchasing a new album to get up to date rather than supplements.

Andy P's Mystic Stamp Hacks http://stamphacks.com/wp/ got me going to creating my own modifications. Making my own pages really got my going on collecting varieties. When you make pages you learn more about the stamps.

If you want the better Mystic, order the Hingeless version or the special order hingeless without hinges since it is printer on better paper.

Do Mystic or Scott pull the crap Liberty used to do, where they reprint a supplement page from the previous year and jam in an extra stamp, causing you remount everything on that page? That's what got me to stop using them back in the 80's. I'm a bit concerned about the description on the Amos Advantage Scott supplement descriptions where they say they include issues up to December. I'd feel more comfortable if they said everything issued in the calendar year is included.

Mystic does it but usually just the last page from the prior year since it is blank.

That's a shame. I was sick of remounting and I'm not going to start now. I think I'm going to bite the bullet and buy Minuteman 2017 and see if I like the layout. The do my scan and edit. Or hell I could do my own pages but I'm too lazy to do the stamp info research.

apastuszak - I wanted to email you but it appears I am forbidden to use the internal email (new user restriction). Is stamphacks your site? Are the "Community US Stamp pages" available to the general public? The hacked pages I saw on the site were really nice. Thanks in advance.

I inherited an extensive stamp collection in Lighthouse springbuck binders with SF mounts. Does anyone use this system? I am preparing to buy a couple of new binders for my collection and am wondering what is the difference or comparison between springbuck, turn-bar, and ring binders? Can anyone proffer a good critique?
Thank you for your assistance.