Unitrade Editor

Thank you for getting back to me on this topic Robin. I can understand your predicament, and, I know it is not always easy.

In my view anyway, it would be more difficult to state to other collectors the reasons for not allocating a stamp variety in the catalogue than it would be to accept it. Just my opinion of course.

Glad to have you aboard as a member.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Hello, Mr. Editor.
The horse may have left the barn on this, but here's something that drives me nuts regarding the Unitrade numbering system:

Why can't you use the same suffix for the same variety on all of the stamps of the same issue. Specifically, when you look at the large queens, the Bothwell watermarked varieties are
22a on the 1c
24iv on the 2c
25a on the 3c
27b on the 6c
...and so on.

Why can't Bothwell watermarks be ##x, where x remains the same for all
Likewise, stitch watermarks can all be ##y
shades can have the suffixes a, b, c, d, e,
perf varieties can be either ai, aii, or something similar
Re-entries can be a series like v, vi, vii, viii...
That way, one need only learn some basic rules to be able to both determine a catalog number, and knowing those rules would allow one to see a catalog number and determine the type of variety

This could be done for the pence issue, the cents issue, the large queens, and other series of stamps, keeping consistency across denominations.

PLEASE consider this. Even though there would be some short-term problems for catalog, album makers, and dealers, it would simplify things over the long run.

Thank you for your consideration.
Chip

Chip, you have to remember that Unitrade is licensed to use the Scott numbering system. The only way to follow your suggestion would be to have there own numbering system, something like Darnell.

chipg...Darnell tried there own numbering system I believe in the middle 90's because they did not want to pay Scott for that service..And where are they now..??..I will continue to buy Unitrade, but doubt I would buy another Darnell catalog..With a little patients, Unitrade's numbering system becomes easier to understand.

I don't think that I bought Darnell mostly because of its numbering system even though I agree with them starting the Dominion of Canada stamps with the Large Queens since we do celebrate 1867 as Canada's Confederation year. I mostly bought Darnell because of the many different varieties that it listed in it that were not listed by Unitrade. However, it appears that Unitrade has been catching up in this area over time. Since Unitrade is the most current and up to date Canadian stamp catalogue around, it is still my preferred catalogue for Canadian stamps.

jogil...That was what I was trying to get across in the thread I started below.

https://goscf.com/t/36311

chipg:

As BeeSee has noted, and as is explained on the first page of the Introduction of the Unitrade catalogue, the majority of catalogue numbers in the Unitrade catalogue are numbers assigned by Scott Publishing (the front cover of the Unitrade catalogues notes "featuring the established Scott Numbering System".

Any catalogue number with an "a", "b", "c", etc. letter is a number assigned by Scott (including "p", for phosphor variety). I must use these numbers as is; I cannot change them in anyway.

For varieties that Scott does not list, the Unitrade catalogue assigns a lowercase Roman numeral number (as in "i", "ii", "iii", etc.). A couple of years ago we wanted to assign a number to the straight-edged booklet singles that were not specifically listed by Scott. I asked and received permission from Scott Publishing to use the letter "s" for these varieties.

In a nutshell, the Unitrade hands "are tied" in terms of the vast majority of numbers. And, that is ok because we use the "established" Scott numbers. Here in North America, Scott numbers are certainly the ones used the majority of times (whether we agree or disagree with how they assign numbers).

re: Darnell varieties

One more time ... since I took over as Editor, the Unitrade catalogue will only list constant varieties.

I'm not sure how much simpler I can make that statement.

The vast majority of varities listed in Darnell's Canadian Philatelic E.F.O.s catalogue are not constant.

And, as I have said many, many times before ... I, along with probably every other collector, collect all kinds of varieties (constant, shifts, tagging, paper, etc., etc.). All of these varieties are important to the studying of stamps. A specialist who exhibits may/will likely want these in their exhibit.

The main reason the Unitrade catalogue has to "draw a line in the sand" is that virtually every stamp issue will likely have several different kinds of non-constant varieties. Just as it would be impossible to list all of the personalized Picture Postage(tm) stamps that have been ordered by the public, so too is it impossible to list all of the possible different kinds of perf shifts, colour shifts, shade varieties, 'donuts', etc.

Please continue to post these new finds and ask if they will be listed in the Unitrade catalogue. Be aware though that you will keep getting the same answer from myself.

Robin Harris
Editor, Unitrade Specialized Catalogue of Canadian Stamps


(As an aside, personally, there are two kinds of varieties I do not like: double prints and colour shades. I'm not sure if I had a bad dream at one time about these, but whatever the reason, they are not my favourite.)

Does Michael Milos have or has had anything to do with the Unitrade Canada specialized catalogue at all?

Michael Milos has passed along e-mails to myself and others with suggestions for items to be included (paper varieties, etc.).

Robin Harris

Good to see you on the list (identifiably) Robin - you and the people you work with have made the hobby much more enjoyable and rewarding for those of us who collect Canadian stamps. On a different note, as a some-time (and small-time) publisher myself, I am curious to know how many copies of the catalogue are printed each year. I have an idea of the cost to print a full-colour book of any size and this is a large undertaking. It also says something about the number of active collectors out there.

I think that the large catalog is printed in China or Hong Kong and the larger the order the better the cost per catalog. Here locally, I have found Canadacopy to have good prices for printing.

Re: number of copies

These are the parts of the catalogue I do not have a first hand involvement in:

* pricing
* cover illustration
* recruitment of advertisements
* printing details (who and how many)

So, to answer the question directly about 'number of copies' ... that is something determined at the Unitrade Associate offices in Toronto (remember that I live and work in rural Manitoba)

Re: pricing

The first page of the catalogue lists several stamp dealers who provide the price changes each year. Unlike myself, they have the necessary experience in this area as they handle and deal with stamps on a daily basis. In early June I will ask them to pass along their pricing suggestions for the new catalogue. From their submissions I make various changes to the prices. (I have already forewarned them that I would like many, many more price suggestions this year.)

[One of these days, when some of my other work subsides, I will pass along the process that I go through to create a listing in the catalogue.]

Robin Harris
Editor, Unitrade Specialized Catalogue of Canadian Stamps

I just wanted to say thank you for posting on here. Your openness and letting us peek behind the curtain is very informative.

Robin...Quick question for you...Your catalog even says it is hard to distinguish between paper types and gum types..I know like a lot of people who are collecting would appreciate any information that would help them with any classification of paper or gum types...Question is..Would it be unreasonable for Unitrade to add an extra page with samples of gum and paper..Ya, I know it would add a heavy price increase, but I would be willing to pay for it, and a lot of other people would to..Or is this just a wish list and unreasonable to expect..??

I mean actual samples.

Robert