Is There A List Of Stamp Issuing Countries ?

Hi!
I collect worldwide from the beginning thru 1960. During this span of time, lots of stamp issuing entities changed their names - some more than once.

My question is, is there a list "out there" of issuing entities - and their predecessors and successors?

Yes, among others Linn's Stamp News offers this:
http://www.linns.com/reference/enti...ntity_a.aspx

The Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue has, alphabetically, the countries - live and dead- that issued stamps prior to 1940- by flipping through their catalogue. Would be a start.

This Wikipedia link may have more than you need. It's pretty interesting though. Compendium of Postage Stamp Issuers:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compen...tamp_issuers

As far as I know the man who would have the best (though even he acknowledges it is still imcomplete) listing of postal authorities would be forum member Warrehouse. Let me see if I can get his attention.

A place to start:

http://mujweb.cz/geophila/menu2_e.htm

mobilman wrote




I've made a Word file of all 1060 entities contained in the online Michel catalogue. If interested, drop me a mail.

Klaus

Thanks folks! Lots of info here and I will see if I can so some downloads to "word" and streamline the listing for my needs. I've written KlausR to get a copy of his list, and maybe that will be all I need.

Thanks again everyone, those links are a wealth of information!

Thanks Smauggie! There are an estimated 100,000 issueing entities worldwide, nearly half are found in the USA. It's complex. Where do you draw the line? In the USA your largest group coming from Precancels and locals! Real or fantasy! I'll dable into this more if interested!

Amazing statistic, Warrehouse. Who would have guessed?

Thanks Climber Steve, If I ever find the end I'll get you a definitive number!

(Hope posting a year after the last post won't get my post lost).
To know what stamps are "real" stamps, isn't it enough that some of that entity's stamps will be used for mailing purpose?
So even if there are political/international/jaberwakkian reservation of that entity, the stamps fulfilled their postal purpose and therefor are stamps?
So, for example, if someone in the USA received postal material, where the postal fee was paid by stamps of Lundy or Antarctic territories, those must be real stamps?
I'm having hard time to know what's real stamps and what's bogus/cynderelas.

RobRoy, if you go by the Wikipedia link provided above you will be safe in my opinion.

Peter

Thanks Peter,
I saw that link, but, for example, I couldn't find Lundy there, yet I could find online postal usage of those stamps, as seen in my uploads.

RobRoy, for a discussion of Lundy please google it. It will tell you all about that "country".

Peter

I did, and it left me confused.
I can't figure out what makes Jersey legit and Lundy not, Isle of Man legit and Isle of wight not.