Getting To A Crossroads With The Scott Internationals.......

Hi,
I have the Scotts Internationals - Parts 1, 2,3, and 4. Even after pulling the USA section, and after inserting several glassine dividers, the binders are stuffed. I estimate each haa perhaps 15-25 percent of the spaces filled - which means that with more stamps and dividers, "somethings gotta give".

I figure the alternatives are:

- Add additional Part 1, 2, 3 and 4 binders and spread each section into two binders.

- Combine the countries (easy for parts 2, 3, 4 - hard for part 1) and install in the existing binders.

- Get new binders and install by country (i.e. A-C, D-H, etc.)

I really didn't expect to get to this point so soon, and of course I am looking to you all for your experience and suggestions......

Thank you!

Personally I think this is your best solution

- Add additional Part 1, 2, 3 and 4 binders and spread each section into two binders.

I've always thought rearranging binders is a little strange if you're using binders that have the contents printed on them. If you use two part I binders and split part I in half, your binder printing will still make sense. Otherwise, you might as well buy any binder since the details printed on them won't be correct.

I think this will be an "each to their own" type of scenario. It sounds like you need an extra binder or two.

For my primary collection, I have 8 jumbo International binders and four regular sized binders. I have two jumbos set aside for Portuguese colonies and a new re-arrangement for North America. The remainder of the world wide collection; Intl. Parts I through V; is in alphabetical sequence in the remaining 10 binders. None of my binders have Intl. parts/contents printed on them. I put address labels on the spines with the contents.

As an aside, I got my pages in the early 1980s and so Part I is messed up in the alphabetical sequence.

I just re-did the North America during the holidays and thus re-aligned everything, except the Portuguese colonial binder. In the North America jumbo, I now have Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Canadian provinces, Cuba, Greenland, Mexico, St. Pierre/Miquelon, UN-New York, USA, US possessions (Canal Zone, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico (no DWI)). Yes, I know some will quibble that I should have included more of Central America and the Caribbean. But this set-up is what works for me.

I wound up splitting the parts in two binders. A-H in one and I-Z in another. You can get spine labels that say "Pt IA, Pt IB, Pt IIA, Pt IIB... etc. I did this I started counting my stamps and it is a great way to keep track. I write down the count on the inside cover pages.

Agree- there is no "right" way, as it is a matter of organizational taste.

There are the "Lumpers" vs the "Splitters".

"Lumpers"-Combine a countries issues into one grouping (Ignoring Part I,II,III etc).

"Splitters"- Organize by time period (Part I 1840-1940, Part II 1940-1949+ etc).

As I put much more emphasis on the WW 1840-1940 era, I chose to be a "splitter".

As far as binders, just add some more if the original is getting too full.

Yes, it seems to come down to "lumpers" and "spliters". Ha, I can argue pro/con for both. If only the Part 1 was in order and considerate of a countries end, rather than jamming them on the same page.

One of the things that brought this to a head is the arrival yesterday of an auction item I won. It was an unused Part II 1953 edition and binder of the Scotts International. The thing is "new", but what threw me is it absolutely fills the binder to the max. How in the world it would hold any amount of stamps (much less dividers) without splitting the thing is beyond me.

OK, I need to chill........... When I was collecting back in the 1950s and 1960s, I would have given anything to be in the position I am now with the albums, stamps, etc.

You know, there is another option - albeit possibly a short term one.........

I could remove the pages from those countries for which I have no stamps and don't foresee having any. If I ever do get stamps for them, I would just pull the pages from storage and set them back in the album. Anybody out there ever do this?