How Often Do You Purchase Or Receive A New Catalog

I hardly ever purchase a new catalog. I collect pre-1940 U.S. I have a 20 year old Brookman catalog whose pages I tore out back to about 1930 that I use basically as a checklist. For serious values I use the Stamp Market Quarterly put out by Professional Stamp Experts (PSE) and going rates on ebay. Seems to me prices of US classics haven't changed all that much in decades (especially if you put faith in Linn's Stamp Indices.

I have never updated a catalog I bought, because it was only in the last four years that I got reacquainted with the hobby. I have obtained a number of catalogs by now, and the next one I need to update is my Specialized catalog. I may bite the bullet and by a 2013 after the 2015 one comes out. I got a glimpse in one, and it seems to have alot more information in it.

I buy at the post office their USA postal guide when the old one falls apart, I have the 2000 guide falling apart and the 2009 guide

I found on the library free cart a 1961 specialized stamp catalog and grabbed it.(until I read your post I thought it was a regular guide- I never realized it was the "specialized" catalog until this very moment- wow haha lol!)

and I bought for the first time recently a month ago a scott 2013 specialized on eBay-cause I wanted to see all the things I was missing in the postal guide

I update my Scott catalogs about every 4 years. I just got a Stanley Gibbons catalog for British East Africa since it lists some varieties that Scott does not. I need a new Afinsa catalog for my Portuguese colonies.

I note the original poster of the poll just said "catalog." Interesting that most everyone assumed he is talking about Scott catalogs.

When listing modern sets that have been soaked and sorted a good reference to name them only comes around very 2 years for me.

The names of some the 2013 sets are a bit creative at present.

I just got a 2007 Stanley Gibbons Concise Great Britain for $.78 +$3.99 S&H on Amazon
2008 Scott US specialized for a total of $5.88 shipped, Amazon
And all 6 2009 Scott standard volumes for $58.36 shipped, Amazon
Scott 2002 Classic Specialized for $17 shipped, on ebay
Encyclopedia of US Stamps & Stamp Collecting for $5 shipped on ebay
Linns stamp Identifier, Nassau Street, and Linns Who's who on US for $9.12 Shipped.

These are the first Catalogs I have ever purchased. The last few being just books.

I chose "Just started collecting, still on my 1st," though technically: (1) I've been collecting for a decade, (2) recently purchased not one, but two -- 2011 Vol I A-B and 2013 Specialty, and (3) got by for the first few years with a couple of "cheap" catalogs I cannot even remember the names of which now.

Given the narrow focus of my collections -- US airmail and aviation themed stamps -- I don't see myself buying another unless there are new aviation themed stamps issued (and even then, I don't know that I'd buy just for that reason). I don't place much stock in Scott's "CV," so I don't need new ones to determine value. I can get a good estimate of value -- for the stamps and covers I collect; I realize this might not be the case for other areas of collecting -- from ebay or Bidstart.

Basil