Hey Germany Collectors!

Anyone out there trying to collect Germany without a Michel catalog?

Yes and no. I tried without, bought one, don't understand it........

If you need help with any particular portion, feel free to let me know. I learned to decipher it by trial and error, so I feel your pain.

Yes I am collecting Germany and loving it! And I don't have a michel catalogue. I would love one though.

This may sound like I'm off on a tangent, but it's related. Humor me.

Part 1:
Until I purchased Michel catalogues from you, yes; I collected Germany without Michel catalogues. For the first 8 months or so after purchasing Michel catalogues, I did not use them because they are difficult to understand and use ... and I studied German for 4 years (even made a trip to Germany).

During my club's "Stamp Collector's Corner" event in Feb, I took my Michel catalogues along with me. A club member that I rarely see sat down at my table and we started discussing German Philatelia. Before we finished our conversation, he taught me a lot of useful information on the Michel catalogues that has made it easier for me to use them.

Part 2:
During my club's "Stamp Collector's Corner" event in March, I brought my overstock of German stamps to sell for the first time. They were a hit!

However, as I catalogued items for people, I initially used my Michel catalogues. Every one of the dozen or so people who sat at my table groaned/complained that I was using Michel. I eventually gave up and used Scott only.

What do I take from this? Most of the club members I met who collect Germany do not use Michel catalogues. My guess is that it's partly because of the price difference between Scott and Michel, and partly because most Americans are used to the Scott numbering system.

Tangent? Diatribe? Non-sequitur? All of the above?

I hope this is this the kind of information you're looking for.

Cheers!

Brian

I hope to get a hold of the two Michel catalogs that are in English one day soon. They are pricey as most catalogs are, but I horde of German covers I would like to research much more effectively than I can do with a Scott catalog.

Yes, the German part

Battlestamps,

I'd be glad to help if you've got some scans.

IMHO, the English language versions of the Michel catalogs are ridiculously overpriced. Despite being 2007/2009 catalogs, they commonly sell for the same price as new-release catalogs. And they don't even cover all of the areas in a German-language Michel Specialized. But still, I have copies and I do use them on occasion when a phrase in Michel has me stumped.

If you're collecting focus happens to fall in one of a few narrow areas, one cheaper alternative is the Will Payne Companion series. They pre-date the Michel English-language catalogs by a few years, and they're out of print so you'd have to find them on ebay or Google, but they typically only run about $10-$15 a piece.



Anyway, the reason I asked -- despite my efforts in previous auctions on SCF to dispose of my excess German literature, I still have a handful of items. Most are on specialized topics that, in all honesty, few collectors would have any use for. But I do have a couple older Michel's left. I'm willing to donate them for the cost of shipping to anyone that's interested. Football, you want one?

Yes, I have a mint and used German collection with particular attention to the period 1872 to 1950 but only utilize Scott at this time. I hope to acquire an English version of Michele in the near future.

I've only recently started with this hobby, and am not focusing on Germany at the moment (though I may in the future as I have a rather close connection to the country). But I do use both catalogs for my Europe accumulation and my budding collection of Ukrainian stamps.

I find Michel more intuitive and easier to use in general (but that's a very personal factor), and it seems to have more info when it comes to European stamps. I especially like the fact that it lists the quantities issued. Logically, the difference should be even more notable when it comes to the German-speaking area(I don't have those volumes, so unfortunately I can't see for myself). That being said, I have been using Scott for the German stamps I have and can't complain so far .. but I will have to see what happens if I get serious about Germany.

I've never used any of the English editions of Michel, so I can't judge the quality of those. I know there is an online Michel subscription that is a fraction of the cost of the catalog (and it should be available in English). One of the members here has even written a review of it ..
the links to the catalog and review are in the following thread:
https://goscf.com/t/23963&SearchTer...ichel,online

Maybe that might be an option for some of you looking for Michel catalogs.

I collect German stamps with the Stanley Gibbons Germany catalogue.
It is superb and very easy to use.

Germany is one of the 10 countries I still collect.

I have done it many yeard w/o a Michel catalogue but in the past bought a couple here and there. My Michel catalogues are 1999 Specialized and 2000 regular Germany. Apart from those catalogues, I have relied on Scotts, which I know is lacking in areas but still a reference for me.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Postmaster, I would be interested in literature you may have on the Third Reich and WW I and WW II occupations?

Just let me know what you have and what you would like for them.

Chimo

Bujutsu

I collect Germany but I haven't yest invested in a recent Michel Deutschland Spezial. The one I have is from 1989 but it's back home in the US. I'm going with Scott for now. I've got a scan of Michel but it's not good and I prefer to have the actual hardcopy. Michel definitely has more varieties listed than Scott does.

Just stumbled upon the DNK catalog from Leuchtturm while poking around the Deutsche Post web-shop. Covers 1849 to present (on about 800 pages) and costs 10 EUR brand new. Anyone know anything about it? I don't expect it to be a replacement for Michel Spezial, but at that price it still sounds like a good deal, especially as a general reference.. and it uses Michel numbers. Would be interesting to know how it compares to Scott.

Yes, I collect Germany using Scott Catalogue (my collection only has few varieties). Also I have Michel but my german is not well.

Regards,