More "Big Blue" Questions............

Hi!
I won auctions for Scotts International Big Blue - Volume 1 and Volume 2. I don't expect them to arrive until early next week.

I understand that the 1943 and 1947 versions of volume 1 have the listing of the most stamps, about 700 more than later versions. I "assume" that is correct.

But what about volume 2? Which version has the most stamp positions?

Also, are the early versions of Volume 1 replicas of the Scott Junior International albums of the late 30s? Differences???

Thanks all. I've been away for a few days and truly missed this Forum.

Mobilman44

Hi, as long as I'm at it, may I add another question........

The vintage Part 1 books are about 500 pages - with stamps on both sides, for a total of 1000 stamp pages (more/less).

Ordering a new set, which is 4 parts, looks like considerably more pages - twice as many. Is this because there are stamps on only one side of the page, and/or the set up is more generous? Going the other direction, it is said that there are fewer spaces in the new ones as opposed to the 1943 and 1947 versions.

Sure would like to hear from you all about this........

Bob Skinner's blog "Filling Spaces" addresses these questions in detail.

But, to summarize..

The '69 and '97 editions are essentially the same content wise, except the '97 is sold in four parts and is more spacious.

The '69 editors removed counties and stamps that are found in the '43/''47 editions. But some stamps were also added in the '69 that are not in the '43/'47.

Thank you!

I have seen a couple parts of Bob Skinner's blog, but have lost the "address". Could you help in that regard?

The url is http://globalstamps.blogspot.com

Unfortunately, I wrote about the different editions in a variety of blog posts over the years as I gathered information, so I know it is difficult to get a handle on the differences. Basically, there are two reasons that there are more pages in the four part version of Volume One. First, every country starts on a front of a page. This means that dozens of countries that began on the back of a page or shared part of a page with another country in earlier editions now start on the front of their own pages. More importantly, in the four part version Scott splits out different types within a country so that each type starts on the front of a page--for example, semi-postals or airmails no longer share a page with other stamps of that country. This was to facilitate integration of Volume One with later volumes.

So to make up an example, lets say that all issues of Upper Slobovia originally occupied 3 pages and started on the back of the last page of Lower Slobovia. What you would have now in the Four Part version might look like:

--Blank reverse of page
--Upper Slobovia Regular issues and commems
--Blank reverse of page
--Upper Slobovia Semi-postals
--Reverse of page with remaining semi-postals
--Upper Slobovia Airmails
--Blank reverse of page
--Upper Slobovia Postage Dues
--Blank reverse of page

The bottom line is that there are a lot more blank backs of pages and thus total pages in the four part version than in previous versions.

Thanks for that information ,I just picked up a brand new set of the 1997 edition and it comes with the cardboard spacer strips every 15 pages .I think I'll fill them up, then put them up at a public stamp auction .

Thank you "1840-1940", that clears up a lot.

I really like the way the National albums set out the US stamps (using one side of the page)and show all the varieties. To get that same degree for the world (thru say 1949), it would be a huge, expensive proposition - even if one printed out their own pages.

Just getting back into international collecting, I guess the Scott's part 1 & 2 are the best beginning for me. If I really progress into it, then at some point I would want to begin making the switch to a more complete set of albums.

Thanks all for the help.

Floortrader, I had completely forgot that the filler strips exist. I hope you will post how well these work. I'm particularly interested in whether they take any strain off of the binding or help keep the page holes intact.

Mobilman44, I have pretty much come to terms with the more limited coverage of the Blue Internationals as a reasonable tradeoff for being able to house my collection in two binders. If I had a dedicated space for my "philateling," I think I would splurge on a set of the Vintage Reproduction reprints of the Brown series. But I'm having a great time with the Big Blues.

Mobilman: you may want to add in some glassine interleaving pages if you have a lot of stamps on facing pages.

For Floortrader and anyone else: I've been looking for the cardboard spacer strips for quite a while. Amos Press sells the filler strips for the Scott Speciality albums, but not for the Blue Internationals. I probably should call or e-mail Amos. Has anyone seen them for sale at Subway or other supply shops? Thanks.