Album Recomendations Please

This is probably going to stir up a firestorm, but what is the best USA album. To clarify, I collect WW pre 1940 and USA. I am only interested in pre 1960 USA. I want BOB including Officials, Hawaii, Confederate States, revenue coverage, but don't need (or want) a space for locals, minor varieties etc. Any suggestions? (I was going to use the Mystic USA album, but the BOB leaves A LOT to be desired, even with the special BOB supplement).

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Excellent question! That question is what led me to SCF. I started a thread somewhere ... gimme a moment.

Edit:

Found it. Need to finish it. Lots of good info here.

https://goscf.com/t/17127

Edit: One more review finished, 2 to go. Lots of info covered in the other thread, so it's well worth the read.

I don't think any album beats the Mystic Heirloom one in terms of value for your dollar. If you want hingeless, or specialized albums from Scott or White Ace, etc., you'll pay many times the cost of the Mystic Heirloom album to get it. I know it has limitations, and the binders aren't that great, but it has the basics and for what is not there, the 3-volume, 3-ring album design makes it easy to insert your own customized album pages to meet your own collecting needs, no matter how basic or advanced.

Sorry, but I just can't justify spending hundred of dollars for an album for which the stamps mounted in it barely have that much value. My album needs are very simple. Mystic would work, and for the specialty material and/or expanded items over what their album contains, for only a fraction of the cost of a so-called "better" album, I can get a substantial supply of Vario stock book pages and expand my collection to my heart's content and need not have big money invested in an album.

But as said here many times, it's your collection, do with it as you please. All you have to be concerned with is your own satisfaction (and for most collectors, your budget, too.)

Scott National gets my 2 cents... well really about a $100 bucks or so but anyway, if you want revs, be aware the revenue pages are a whole binder full and them some, not including the other BOB such as Air, Officials, Ducks, Newspapers etc... My Scott National to 2000 with air and BOB with revenues is 4 volumes with slip cases,eliminate post 1960 you are still 3 volumes but me thinks they are the best for the bucks.

According to Amos Advantage, the Scott National Album Kit is $450. Beautifully laid out, I'm sure, but the pricetag is well above my budget. I suppose used albums come up on the secondary market, but condition and how old they are come into play, at least if you are trying to get supplements to keep it up to date to the present day.

I can't recommend the Mystic heirloom any higher. I love it. Current through 2010. I also bought the BOB section that includes, Cuba, Hawaii, Confederate, Officials, postal savings, Puerto Rico. Only thing noticeable missing are revenue sheets but I just put all mine in varios pages and stuck them in the back of the binder.

Here's my website with lots of the Heirloom sheets scanned - http://home.comcast.net/~zeppelin33...s/index.html

I too am on the outlook for an album and so far the Mystic heirloom seems to come highly recommended! Good luck to you on your quest and definitely check out that link!



edited for spelling- hey it's early here yet...lol

I use a simple 3 ring binder from Target ($.99)with Vario sheets. But then again there is not much organization with my collection either.

I checked the other thread and I'm kind of interested in the Mystic Binder, but it doesn't look Hingeless. Can someone post a link to the Album that does not require Hinges ?

There is a hingeless version of the Mystic album. I'd like to see it, too.

With all the good software out there why not make your own custom pages.I'm only a postal history collector so I must make all my pages and it's easy. Use good quality paper along with laser printer, if you can. If you use regular water based ink make sure to use a page that won't bleed.

GOOD LUCK either way.

My vote goes to Mystic also

One thing about the Mystic; the paper the non hingeless pages are on is very lightweight. I use 3 hole punched sheet protectors on my set. Every page with at least one mount on it is in one. My set runs to 10 binders. The spaces are large enough to frame the black mounts I use, it makes a very attractive presentation. I wouldn't use anything else.

I use Mystic for my USA MNH collection. Sixteen volumes. I also have six Palo King George VI albums which has much thicker paper and a much higher price. All in all, I like the Mystic better!

Jack Kelley

Will be interesting if the link was working

Mystic is a value but interestingly omits major catalogue number items for some recent stamps. In theory you could scan the mystic pages and put them on stiffer stock.

The Mystic pages could be thicker while the Palo pages could be thinner. As an aside,I am using hinges in the Palo albums. I haven't used hinges in almost sixty years!

Jack Kelley