Scott Catalogs

I am sorry if this has been posted before but I was not able to find what I was looking for. I am really not even sure what it looks like.
I wanted to buy the scott catalog for us stamps. I went on ebay to look and I found:
Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue 2014,

STAMP CATALOG SCOTT 2009 Volume 1 US UN COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD A-B pdf on CD,

2011 SCOTT Postage Stamp Catalogues complete 6 vols set COLOR A-Z US UN 1-6.
I am thinking the last one is what I am looking for, if so I didn't realize it came in a 6 vol set. Does anyone have a picture or a link or even understand what I am looking for. And by these prices I need an old version. Please help if you can.

What I believe you want is the "Scott Specialized Catalog of US Stamps and Covers". The "cover" of the catalog changes each year. It is only one volume (the other six volumes are for worldwide stamp listings). Here's a listing for the 2013 edition of the Scott Specialized Catalog currently for sale on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCOTT-2013-...em3393d46035

Although new catalogs can be pricey, do keep in mind that the 2015 edition is due out from the publisher in October, so typically the older the catalog the less expensive they are. Most people do not need a new catalog every year.

If the pricetag is too expensive, you can opt for the Scott Pocket Catalog of US Stamps (less information, but less costly, too). Or you can opt for the Postal Service Guide to US Stamps (again, less information but less costly), available from many post offices or through the USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services at this link:

https://store.usps.com/store/browse...gs-yearbooks

In all cases, new catalogs are due out in another month or two, so if you want a new one now, it will be a year old in just a few weeks.

As wt1 mentioned, the older catalogs are much cheaper. A 2013 edition can probably be found on Amazon for half the price of the new one or less, and there won't be a lot of changes, with the exception of course that issues from the last 2 years won't be listed. A pocket catalog is good if you just want basic information on the stamps only. The Specialized lists things like values for first day covers, cancellation types on older issues, value on cover, etc. It also lists values for Confederate stamps, postal stationery, revenues, US Possessions, local issues & postmaster provisionals, etc. The pocket catalog contains prices for mint and used stamps, a picture of the stamp, year issued, denomination, color and not a whole lot more, which is probably fine if you're collecting mostly modern stamps. Once you start getting into the older, more expensive stamps you'll definitely want a Specialized.

For US either volume 1 of the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue or the Scott US SPecialized. As others noted, the specialized has a lot more information. Unless you collect world-wide, you don't need vols. 2-6.

In between vol. 1 of the Standard (6-volume) set and the US Specialized is the Scott Classic Specialized. It is worldwide but only to 1940. So it includes US to 1940 and has more information than the US section of volume 1 of the 6-volume set but has less information than the Scott US Specialized. So, assuming you collect later than 1940 US, your choice is between vol. 1 of the 6 volume set or the US SPecialized.

For all of these catalogues, if you don't mind being a few years behind on new issues and prices (which haven't changed all that much), buying an out-of-date used copy is the cheapest way to go.

I don't mind the prices being "out of date" because I generally get prices from a recent dealer's catalog, or (in this day and age) from ebay or Bidstart on the Internet.

I use that dealer's catalog for identification (mostly) then the Scott's Specialized if I need detailed information on perhaps a variation or some such thing. A 3, 4, or 5 year old catalog does just fine for me. You can find a 2 year old one on ebay for WAY less than half the price of a new one.

I HIGHLY recommend purchasing the SPECIALIZED catalog, even if you aren't sure you need it. You'll find it contains lots of extra details and information that is quite interesting on a rainy day.

Like you, I don't buy a new one every year, but the current one looks like this. And by the way, at Amos, they call it Volume 7 (1-6 being the world) ...

Why buy it when you can use it at the library for free !!

I will check the library, at least I can look at it first and then I will know for sure if that is what I want to buy. Thank you all for the good information. I'm looking for a good way to catalog my stamps and to know what they are. Haven't found a good method for cataloging yet. Somehow or another I want to have one list or something for my mint stamps and one for my used. And something else for my want list. But for now I do know what to look for to find out what my stamps are.

For convenience sake. I would hate to have to go to the library every time I check my 2013 Scott Specialized Catalogue (cost me $55, used, another $4 for shipping). Besides avoiding the time and expense of the dozens of trips I would have made by now, it is also convenient to have it in proximity to the stamps or covers in my collection that I'm seeking info on.

But it is a free country (for now) so if using a library copy works for you, go for it. For others, $60 is a small price to pay for the convenience of having it handy.

There are thousands of price changes every year. So if that is of concern to you buy the most recent or the last one. But, face it, I don't find that those prices are all that valid to begin with. As far as keeping a record of your collection or help identifying your stamps recent used catalogue should suffice. There are several on ebay, as well as, Amazon.