Michel USA Or Scott Spesialised?

I am collecting usa stamps and I would like to ask some questions.
What catalogue is better in details about usa stamps?
And which is better to buy?
MICHEL USA or Scott Spesialised?

Thanks.

McBarry,

I have never used Michel's US catalogue, but still feel confident in my preference. Use the Scott catalogue for US stamps.

Brian

Scott

On Amazon, you sometimes have the option to look at sample pages before you buy a book. If Amazon carries both catalogs, even older editions, you might be able to compare them side by side.

Personally, I cannot imagine that Michel could be better than Scott, which probably lists 4 to 5 times as many items (a guess). Also, try Vera Trinder in London.

http://veratrinder.org/catalogues-books-c-1.html

Americans use Scott, Europe use Michel. If you plan on buying and or selling to Americans use Scott. I have both and there is some information the Michel has that's not in Scott and visa versa. If you are currently used to Michel system use it!

But what catalogue has more details about usa stamps until 1940?

I too use the Scott US Specialized for my US stamps.

I am also finding that Scott's is listing more and more in it too regarding BOB and local issues and different plating varieties.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Have never seen a Michel, but the Scott has a great amount of detail. You can pick one up cheaply on ebay. Or maybe someone here has one they can sell you.

Unless you care about current pricing, I'd get older editions of both, which can be done for much less money than the newest edition of either.

If you are truly picking between them, then I'd consider whether the album you are using points you in one direction or another. If you are using a Scott-based album, I'd definitely get a Scott.

If you are making your own pages, I'm sure either will serve you well.

For US, Scott really is the best option. Why would you consider a German book for US stamps ?

I haven't used the Michel USA but there is a listing on Amazon that includes a sample page from the 2003/2004 catalog depicting the 1903 Washington issue ( http://www.amazon.com/MICHEL-Specia...p/B0077URTUA ). It shows one characteristic to differentiate between the Type I and Type II stamp.

The Scott Specialized provides illustrations of two differentiating characteristics and also provides an image of the "gash on face" variety.

On the basis of that comparison alone, I'd say that the Scott Specialized provides greater detail.

For myself, I wouldn't choose Michel as my only resource for USA. But if I was living in Greece, and perhaps not a regular Scott user in the first place, Michel might fit in just fine with the rest of my collecting.

One thought for staying with Scott is that most of the help sites* and ebay and Bidstart listings will be with the Scott number. Where the differences between stamp varieties may be subtle, knowing the exact Scott reference could be crucial.

*like this one:
http://www.1847usa.com

Just a consideration:

-- Dave

Compared to the normal Scott, the main benefit of the Scott USA specialized is that it has pictures of all stamps in a set. As Michel does actually in both the normal edition as well as the specialized one.
A very strange omission though, compared to Michel, is that Scott does not list the single booklet stamps in the same way Michel does. Some stamps from a booklet are much rarer than others, for instance the corner stamps, but still not a hint in Scott specialized.
Given my experience with both catalogues, I prefer Michel. It is better organized (more logical) and has less errors.
But I understand the arguments in favour of Scott, especially when living in North America these will make you want to use Scott.

It's always about the numbering system. Scott's US numbering system has more value to US collectors, because that's the numbering system you will see used by ebay sellers, and forum posters.

The same goes for other countries. If you're collecting Great Britain or Ireland, Stanley Gibbons is the way to go.

A number of Irish collectors have told me that I should use the Hibernian catalog, since it covers more and has greater variety. That's fine and all, but Hibernian uses it's own numbering system, and I have never seen that numbering system used by a stamp dealer, ebay auction, or online forum.