Questions About My New Albums

Actually, that Postal People issue is one of those crazy ones listed in the Scott Catalog as being worth more as 10 single stamps at a value of $0.20 each (SCV of $2.00 for the 10 stamps), than the sum of the 10 stamps attached as a strip (SCV of $1.75 for the strip of 10).

Since we all know that $0.20 is the minimum catalog value for any one stamp, it's interesting that the value gets reduced if listed as a strip of 10.

As said earlier, it's entirely up to you whether to split them or keep them attached, as there is little chance that any philatelic value will be lost either way.

Karen - I found this site a few days ago while researching how I might want to set up my Heirlooms. This might work....

http://album.dweeb.org/pages/1973_3.html

I also like what he did for the next page of show the fronts and backs for that issue. http://album.dweeb.org/pages/1973_4.html

Using blank Heirloom pages could work for these layouts.

Tom

Thanks for the different thoughts, ideas, and links! I haven't quite decided, but for the moment I'm leaning towards splitting them up. It's weird that splitting them up makes the value go up.

Karen this is only one set. There are a few others the same way also. Since Plate Block Albums are so expensive. I'm leaning towards buying blank pages and making my own layouts and then just adding them to the American Heirloom album between the pages in Scott Order. Then all I would have to do is go to Walmart and buy three or Four Notebooks the same color and splitting the Heirloom albums up. I've already added one and divided them once because the Albums got too full.

tbird How do you suppose he typed the info for each page? Make a layout in a program like Microsoft Office or some other program then just run the blank page through the printer?

There are some that I would never break up! I just put the sheet of stamps in a sheet protecter in the binder before the pages of broken up stamps in the Heirloom and went on. Some are just too valuable to break up. I might go ahead and break up the Postal People issue, though, since it doesn't seem to hurt the value.

From reading his site I am guessing he uses Adobe Pagemaker. It might take more work but you could also use Word. As for the page I would get 3-hole punched paper so I wouldn't have to punch all those holes manually

Mystic sells blank pages both two and three hole punched. There are 24 pages in a package. Very reasonable I will add.

I have moved most of my stamps over to the new albums. I have to wait for my order of mounts to finish several, though. I feel so accomplished!

I have a couple more questions! I know everyone must be tired of my questions by now and I apologize! Anyway, I have several facsimile stamps of the early Scott numbers for stamps that I will never be able to afford and I was wondering should I put them in my album or leave them out?

Okay, one more question.....after much thought, I beginning to re-think my world albums. I think I would rather concentrate on a country or two, instead of just collecting a bunch of stamps and hinging them in my albums. I'm thinking about getting a stock book for a country or two. I would like to start with countries that aren't too daunting! I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. I was thinking about Germany because that is where my dad's family came from, but I'm sure Germany would be very hard, unless there was a subcategory that might be doable. The countries I have been to are the Netherlands (which I bought some stamps from there when I went), Germany, England, France, Switzerland, Jamaica, and will be going to Costa Rica this year. I wouldn't mind collecting from a country that I have been to, so would any of those countries be good to start out with?

Thank you SO much!

Any of those countries are great to start with, or to have a separate collection of. You can do it any way you like, finances depending of course, oh, and time too!

Don't stop asking questions and you won't stop learning! So there1

Any country, I am finding out after many years of worldwide colelcting and now just Trying to pare it down to a few areas, but it's hard, t's really hard!, ha, can take you on quite a trip. Details, varieties of stamps, cancels, postal history (covers, etc), used and mint,.

You can just stick to certain years (WWII or WWI or 1840 to ????) or modern or anything that strikes your fancy. Just collect the stamps you like from each country and use quadrille pages or Vario stock sheets or make your own pages. Lots of options.

I picked up one of these the other day and tried it last night. Very easy to use and it allowed me to adjust the mount very easily. I like the fact that there is no moisture involved and that the mount felt very secure once in place.

I also tried moving a few mounts and they came up without any bending or warping. I was able to remount them very easily.

I can see this coming in very handy in cases of publisher page updates or when changing albums. This could end up saving time and money which are always good things.

The biggest problem I've found with hinged mint stamps is that over time, they glue down onto the paper at the top everywhere but where the actual hinge is. It really is a nightmare!

I've found that is you gently apply pressure to the first 1/3 of the stamp and push upwards, most of the stamps come right up. It doesn't take much effort at all. If there is resistance, I immediately stop what I'm doing to go grab the tongs and gently pry them up that way, like TinMan suggested.

klkd,
I use nothing but stock books for mint stamps.
No hinges no mounts = no damage.
If you wish to add information you can slip little cards at the side of the stamps.
When you come to shuffle again at a later date;
still no damage!!

xyL...I have decided to use stock books for everything, except for my US collection. I'm using the Mystic American Heirloom albums and using mounts for everything in those albums. Seems like this is going to be the best route for me at the moment. Still trying to decide which countries to focus on. I have stamps from a lot of different countries, but trying to collect everything is a little overwhelming for me! I have got to narrow it down!.

Karen

incorruptibleid...I have finally finished removing the stamps with hinges from my old album and have moved everything over. I'm so glad I'm done with that! I have decided I will never use hinges again! For my used world stamps I am now going to put them in stock books. Really seemed like the best solution for me.

I really appreciate the tips everyone has given me! The knowledge on this board is priceless!

Karen