Which Catalog Is Better For French Colonies, Yvert Or Maury

One of the areas I've started dabbling in again is French colonial stamps. However, I'm noticing on some of the longer definitive sets definite shade varieties on issues for which the Scott Classic (at least as of 2010 edition) does not provide information on. So my question goes out to other French colonial collectors who might be here, is the Yvert colonies catalog or the various volumes of the Maury catalog better for shade information on these longer definitive sets. Maury seems more in-depth, but the colonies are spread out over several volumes and the prices on the catalog are tres tres chere.

I am wondering the same thing. I actually just purchased the 1988 "Ceres" catalog (in French) for the colonies. Waiting for it to arrive. I believe that the Maury catalog of today is a combination of the Ceres catalog and one other one...

When I get it, I'll let you know how it looks

Eric

Maury was a combination of Ceres and Dallay I believe.
The Maurey is very good, reasonably priced and a single book is a two book set. Volume 2 for the colonies.

The Y+T is split and you'd want the Tome1 bis I think for Monaco and the overseas territories.
Both are significantly more detailed than non-specialist catalogues such as Scott and SG.
The Y+Ts has recently been updated whilst the Maurey is from last year.

My Ceres catalog arrived yesterday. I don't know any French other than what I can figure out with Google Translate, but, so far, in checking out Algeria, it does seem to catalog lots of small varieties in color, as well as design. I see a bunch of design varieties that aren't listed in Scott (and this is just looking at the first couple-hundred Algeria issues.

Having received the latest Y+T I can wholeheartedly recommend Maurey.
It has more info on shades and varieties in my opinion.