Stamp Paraphernalia Album Pages

In my search for upgrading my US album, I stumbled upon a company named Stamp Paraphernalia which has some very nice layed out album pages. Does anyone have any experience with this company or has any of their album pages to say a word or two about the quality of their pages? I'm in the process of speaking with the owner, but its nice to get the opinion of someone who doesn't have a vested interest in the company.

The interesting thing that I found out is that their album pages are not hole punched, so they can be punched for any type of binder that one would like. The pages are standard 8 1/2 x 11.

A link to their album pages http://www.stampparaphernalia.com/u...um_pages.htm which are also available in B&W if you browse their site.

It's not hingeless like I was aiming for, but I'm loving the layout better than Mystic's heirloom, plus it has descriptions.

Thoughts?
CF

Those are some really nice looking stamp album pages. The problem I see is that, it appears, they suffer from the "White Ace" problem, as I call it. It looks like they expect you to collect se-tenant stamps twice, once as a connected se-tenant set, and as individual stamps.

If you like these pages, you should check out White Ace pages.

I'll share a contrary view, just to put it out there for your consideration.

I know I'm going to sound like a philatelic Luddite, but I think color pages can actually detract from the enjoyment of acquiring stamps, mounting them, and then enjoying your album pages. When the stamp images on the page are in black and white, then your acquiring and mounting a stamp helps make the page "pop". And when you've completed an entire album page, then that page ^really^ pops, and it's quite a thrill both in terms of accomplishment and in aesthetic enjoyment. I think that all gets lost with color pages.

My preference these days is for black and white pages, either with a nice classic Scott or European look, or else even just the Steiner pages.

I know the original poster liked having the additional descriptions with the stamps. I would suggest reading through those, selecting throughout the various years, and see how substantive and helpful those comments really are. Just having an informative catalog (perhaps the Mystic one?), might satisfy that learning need.

Again, speaking from experience, when I first started with my Japan collection (my main collecting interest), and which was my re-introduction back into philately, I bought the White Ace albums, both because of the color in the headings and borders (the stamp images are b&w) and especially because of the descriptions. But, as I added stamps over the years, I came to realize that, a lot of the times, the descriptions really just stated the obvious (kind of a "duh" phrase), and weren't really very helpful at all. If I had it to do over, I would not buy the White Ace pages.

In fact, I did try to do it over. I bought the Scott pages (and binder and slipcase), and then found that the spacing of the early issues was too close if the stamps were in mounts, so I abandoned that idea. (And need to put those pages up for sale sometime.)

For a while, I started working on my own pages, but came to the conclusion that that's a project for when I'm retired (if that ever happens). I loved my results, but think I would rather spend my time these days buying, selling and studying stamps instead. So, for now, specialty Japan items (like paper and perf variations, and interesting cancels) are in Vario pages, and are inserted behind the relevant pages in my White Ace albums.

My apologies for the long digression, but did want to raise the possibility that full-color pages may have some drawbacks that wouldn't be obvious at first blush.

All just my 2 yens' worth ...

-- Dave

It just occurred to me that you could do a "test drive" with the Steiner pages, since he makes available for free all the US pages for 1995 and later issues:

http://www.stampalbums.com/free_us.asp

A year's unlimited subscription to everything on the site is $30. A CD with all the files on it is the same price. And you can get both a subscription and a disc for $40:

http://www.stampalbums.com/costs.htm

And here's the front door to his site:

http://www.stampalbums.com/

-- Dave

Dave,

I agree with you on the color vs b&w statement 100%. If I do go with these pages, or any other pages for that matter, I will be going with b&w versions. The reason why I posted the link to the color pages is because the layout can be better seen on that page compared to the page where they list the b&w, and some of the images can be clicked to get a more detailed view compared to just the small b&w thumbnails.

The reason I like descriptions on albums is that it makes showing off your collection to non philatelists something that could be appreciated more, it helps in teaching your kids more about history, and it's just plain different from the many layouts out there that have page after page of boxes where stamps need to go. I like Mystics descriptions in their heirloom album, but I have an issue with their layouts, whereas from what I see on this company's site the layout is better than Mystic's.

The company will be mailing me some samples of their album pages, and once I receive them I'll scan them here for everyone to see as well.

CF

I have some of these pages and they are quite nice. Descriptions, layout, and the weight of paper are very good. However there are a few things I don't like. Every Scott minor number has a space. This includes inverts, paper types, color variants, booklet singles - why not full panes?, etc.) This is a bit too much for me, and I especially don't understand the inclusion of the booklet stamp. Also some of the spaces are not the best size for the issue. I've had to use different sized mounts for the same size stamps. That being said these are still nice pages.

I am switching to the Steiner and have the Stamp Paraphernalia US 1847-1939 and Airmail pages with page protectors available if you're interested. (Stamps not included) If you need any more particulars on these pages let me know.

Les

CF -- Thanks for letting me know about the b&w option. I thought I had seen that earlier, then, when I wrote my reply, couldn't find them (but I was just skimming their page at that point).

That's an excellent point you make about the descriptions adding appeal when you show your album to a non-philatelic person. I think the fact that they are US stamps is the key. (I found that I couldn't hold someone's interest too much with the Japanese albums, except with the later issues that had exceptionally nice Japanese art in the stamp designs.)

Do please let us know what you discover and what you decide to do!

-- Dave

I think members should feel free to offer their opinions without
discrimination, or feeling uneasy.
The enquirer asks for "thoughts" and opinions either way are valid.
One can read arguments for both sides and in the end, it's their
experience that dictates.
A bit like using hinges, I really prefer to use them, but on
scarce or rare items, I don't feel that is perhaps good husbandy
so I mount.

I think those pages are outstanding, lovely stuff, but share Philatarium's view,
I like my pages quite the opposite, rather bare, with handwritten notes
or typed Caps.

I tried several methods before coming to a system I was comfortable with
and enjoyed re visiting.

I started with "seven seas" hingeless, but found they lacked the "personal"
touch, and moved on to other ways.

I agree with many comments here, I tried these pages. They are very nice and on good quality paper. A few issues were the fact they come non punched so you need to punch yourself or put them in protectors, which makes a very heavy volume. I also noted as someone else did the issue with the space sizes. I strongly suspect the maker uses AlbumGen in conjunction with EZ Stamp, nothing wrong with that but I have noted that when creating pages with this system the spaces are sometimes not sized right. The maker sells sets of black mounts to go with the pages- if you use them you will have frame lines peeking out below the mount. I dont know why publishers do this- either make the frames large enough to surround and frame a mount or small enough to be covered by a mount.

I personally feel that having the option to punch holes yourself opens the door to so many different kind of binders you can use, instead of being stuck to something you may not be able to find binders for or not like. While most would probably do a 3 hole punch on these, I like that you're not limited to just that.

Frame lines are nothing new, IMO. I have them on my Scott National, I see them on Mystic album pages people posted, hell you even have them on the Scott Platinum and Schaubek Hingeless all around the framed mount.

If anything, my concern is one that apastuszak brought up regarding the fact that you may need to double up on se-tenants to mount them both as singles and as a set. Also, apastuszak, I did check out White Ace pages. They are pretty neat, but not a fan that every page has that repeating scroll pattern. Its nice on some, but every single one of them makes it dull, at least in my opinion.

Hopefully I get those sample pages soon so I can post them here, unless those who already have them wish to post some up for us?
CF

My only real concern with the se-tenants being mounted twice is costs. The USPS these days issues a lot of stamps, and a lot of them are positional se-tenants these days. It's more than I would want to have to buy. The fact that we have all these imperfs is bad enough.