Storing Large Used World Wide Collections

that's the 2 I will retain

A lot of people loathe modern hinges, but I think they're just fine as long as you don't overdo it on the moisture. I just moved some used stamps that were hinged about 10 years ago and they peeled off pretty well, actually, but these were pretty much all used stamps. I think they adhere a little more strongly to mint stamps than do the older hinges. If hinging stamps with gum, I'd recommend using a "premium" older hinge like Dennison or Fold-o-Hinge. But save your money and buy modern hinges for used stamps. Just go lightly on the moisture - a caveat which applies regardless of the type of hinge.

HI. This is a great thread. I've read it through twice now.

I've tried pretty much every method for my general collection over the years - pre-printed albums for Canada, Steiner pages for Australia and stock books for most everything else.

Last year I decided to bite the bullet and move to Lighthouse Grande binders and Vario pages. I liked the flexibility of loose leaf stock pages and the binders look really great on the shelf.

After spending the past several months moving my Sweden collection from several stockbooks to the Vario system I've learned a few things:

- Vario pages are heavy! My entire Sweden collection spans 63 Vario 7 row and 5 row pages, which pretty much fills one binder. I could add 2-3 more pages but I'm calling this one 'full.' The pages weigh 2kg and when you add the binder and slipcase it's 3.3kg. I was shocked when I picked up the full binder for the first time.

- Compared to stockbooks, however, it's not too bad. A well filled lighthouse 64 page stockbook weighs 2kg. But that's only 64 'sides', whereas my Vario binder has 126 'sides' (63 two sided pages.) So maybe my setup is actually lighter. Although I rarely need to pick up two stock books at the same time.

- The Grande binder is bigger than I need if I'm using regular Vario pages. But the price was cheaper for me than the 'G' binder and they look awesome. And I used the large binder margin to lay out the stamps I was working on so I used the space. LOL.

- I have several used pairs in my collection which I had to store sideways in the Vario pages. Not preferred. I'd have the same problem with stock pages but I can see myself working up digital pages to display them properly.

I love the speed, look and flexibility of the Vario pages. But they are pricy, for sure. The binder and pages cost me around $95CAD. That's nearly double the cost of two 64 page stockbooks. (I can buy a 64 page Lighthouse stockbook for around $25CAD in quantity.)

My Sweden is worth that investment, but my modern GB and Australia sure isn't. I'd have to buy a binder at a time to ease the sting if I ever wanted 60 or 70 of these on a big shelf! I bought 4 Grande binders and have 3 to go, but I may have to rethink this before I add more of them. I still want to buy stamps too!

Mark

Hi Madbaker - welcome to the party!
Yeah, the thread is great, lots of interesting thoughts. Seems all have their own approach in one way or the other - which really is fascinating.
Funny you've just done Sweden on vario pages! - I'm just working Sweden myself, in 2x64 stockbooks - however I am kind of regretting I did not go for the vario myself from the beginning. I am quite confident your increased cost will be heavily compensated by the flexibility it allows. As an example - I had once dedicated space for all Swedish issues, strips etc in my 2 stockbooks. The goal was I would never need to have need for more space... Well, I just aquired a loaded Sweden collection - by a collector that used a more advanced catalog than my system was based on - an now I am 'out of space'... I am managing by compacting - however it would be much quicker and look much neater if I could just have grabbed a few more vario sheets in between....

Stick with the varios madbaker - that is my recommendation anyway! And as a bonus you might even risk to develop some biceps from lifting those grande binders!

As for the digital pages - you've seen the thread on that topic?
Happy stamping.

Thanks Blaamand.

It's funny, I usually don't find much about Sweden on the forums, but now there's the scans of your Stockbooks, and a new (to me at least) Sweden definitive blog. Lots of fun.

My page 1 is the 1878 issue however. I took a good long look at your 1855's!

The varios are really nice when it comes to large blocks or souvenir sheets. Covers too. I can use a 2 pocket sheet and insert it somewhat chronologically in the binder.

I'm following the digital page thread too. I think it would be a good way for sorting postmarks without moving them out of the main collection.

Regarding storing "large" collections: I know there has been a lot of talk about the different storage options, but in my limited experience it's more about the process. Do you have a good system for bringing new stamps into the collection systematically and efficiently? Do you know what you have and what you need? If you have a system that works for you (and maybe that's filling spaces in a Scott International even) then you win. I've not found a system that stuck with me for more than a year or two.

An aside: the most fun I've had in ages was filling spaces in a Panini sticker album during the last World Cup. Only one decision - if you need it, stick it in the album. No blocks, multiples, postmarks, selvedge, etc.

Mark

Blaamand and Madbaker- you've inspired me to take a fresh look at my Sweden. Originally I was only interested in completing the three crowns issues but also accumulated a fair stock of posthorns, 1921-36 King Gustav, 1951-64 Gustav, and numerals along the way. The problem is I have no idea what's there and thus don't have a wants list. I bought 3 or 4 Sweden-only collections over a period of time (mostly MNH but some of all condition types). Pulling out the definitives (and used for my future large used WW collection! ) will reveal duplicates and hinged items I can sell off to buy different stuff.

Perhaps I will tackle it this weekend. What's cool is that all these stamps are very small and will look amazing in 8S Vario pages. Thanks guys for the inspiration!

If I am dealing with a mix of stamps I use a set of 2009 Scott Catalogs to look things up.
Mounts are a pain for me... I use older Dennison and Fold o Hinges for most of the stamps and I have to admit I will reuse hinges where I can. I only use modern hinges as a last resort. One thing I worry about is protection from water damage. I've had a couple close calls but so far no stamps have been dunked. I keep track by counting the number of stamps in each album. I don't have any want lists and this surprises people. It would take too much time for me. Of course I sometimes buy the same stamps twice, but not too often.

I am surprised how few collectors have a really organized collection . There is a race to accumulate more material and spend too much time designing pages that add very little to resale value . The lack of information is a big reason that most dealers offer a low price when purchasing a collection from a estate . If you don't know if the stamps are MNH or hinged in plastic mounts ,if you don't know if the sets are complete, if the watermarks are not identified , none of the perforations are checked and noted that is the problem with keeping any large collection .
Glassines and envelopes are a mess to figure out value .I am surprised when viewing large auction lots how little effort is put into keeping a organized collection that shows the previous owner took pride in what they had .

Great thread shermae. I've enjoyed reading all the posts.

Here's my 2 cents worth

I consider that I now have a decent size collection. Here's is how I have mine stored:

-52 Binders (of various types and colors) with Steiner pages that I printed on 24 cotton paper that is both acid free and archival.

-Stamps that are sorted by country but have not found a home in a binder are stored in 4 by 8 by 3 inch boxes(from the dollar store)

-Spares are stored in 30 or so stock books.

-Stamps that are unsorted or need to be soaked are stored in 12 photo boxes.

The past year I have had little time to spend on my collection. I have in the past 2 weeks made myself sit for a couple of hours each day and I spend most of Sunday.

I'll try to get a Picture of what my stamp room looks like shortly.

Dianne

Floortrader said:

"There is a race to accumulate more material and spend too much time designing pages that add very little to resale value . The lack of information is a big reason that most dealers offer a low price when purchasing a collection from a estate ."

I know that is the habit I'm trying to break! I tend to only make one or two purchases a year these days, and try to focus on organizing what I have. My motivation isn't resale value, but still, it's important to me to know what I have.

What I hear you saying Floortrader, is that if I'm going to take the time to make nice pages, I better identify the stamps well (and properly.) Id assume that stands for any notes in a stockbook too. Sounds like good advice to me.

Mark

I've got my German-area collection on Steiner pages in 9 Vario F binders (Pre 1945 inc colonies, Danzig, Saar, etc) and Berlin) and 5 Vario G binders (3xBRD and 2xDDR). Most of the rest of my collection is in an additional 21 Vario G binders housing Steiner pages as well as another dozen or so 2" office binders. And that's just most of Europe plus a handful of other countries, I don't attempt the whole world. If I had to do it over again, I probably would not have printed pages for a few countries and my collection would be maybe 2/3 of its current physical size. But...the way I figure it, I hope to be collecting for another 30-40 years and I may end up with fairly complete collections of some of them without even really trying.

Shermae,
I'm happy to hear that! Sweden have some beautiful classics and they sure knew how to strike their stamps nicely - and then it's the beautiful Stanislav engravings from the 60's and on - enjoy your Sweden project!

Dianne,
Ha ha, that Sunday sounds like pure quality time!

Madmaker,
Same goes for me - my motivation is simply to relax and enjoy I am sure you have the same joy from your own Sweden 1878 page as I have for my '55. I think the monwy-value is secondary to the fun of filling the spaces

TheArtfulHinger -
what a bright future!

Time to bump this up again - it's still one of my favourite threads here.

I spent some time this afternoon comparing how I have my Sweden collection laid out in Vario pages with how it would look on Steiner album pages. I used the stamps issued in 1970 as a test. Some observations:

* 1970 spreads across 4.5 pages in the Steiner setup.

* My 1970 stamps fit on two sides on a Vario 7 row sheet. Now, I'm missing a few stamps so let's call that three Vario sides if I had them all.

* -1 to Steiner since I have a few 3x3 sided pairs for which there are no spaces on the pages

* -1 to the Varios because I have one large stamp stored sideways. A 5 row sheet would be better for one stamp, while the remainder of the year would look lonely in a 5 row sheet.

My very unscientific, small data point hypothesis with this test is that maybe Vario pages aren't as bulky as I originally thought. I can fit a lot more stamps on a page than with the Steiners.

I'll fiddle around with making the Vario pages look nicer (right now the stamps are simply in rows in Facit catalogue order) and post a few pictures.

Mark

PS - I'm posting it in this thread to share my thoughts on designing a collecting system before I grow my collection. Sort of like how Blaamand designed his stockbook setup first then started adding stamps. I'm in the 5000 - 10000 range right now but have big plans.

Artful Hinger wrote on March 22: "don't overdo it on the moisture........." Amen, brother (sorry if I sound like Hulk Hogan). I've lost track of stamps, in collections that I've bought, I've damaged or had to re-soak because somebody slobbered too much.

Floortrader wrote on March 25: "spend too much time designing pages that add little to re-sale value......" I also agree, but don't always follow. My 1840-1965 (few countries into early '70s) collection; now in 13 jumbo & regular Scott International binders; is pretty organized. I've had to dispense with the Intl. pages; at least through 1940; for my Portuguese colonial, Mexico, & Canada/Newfoundland collections because the Scott pages are far too limited. I use Intl. quadrille blank pages for most of those.

I've mixed in some Schaubeck and Scott Specialty pages here and there through the worldwide collection. Looks a little messy at first, but the pages are neatly trimmed to fit, if indicated. Everything is identified and in appropriate order. Yes, I ID stamps in mounts as LH or NH; ID perf varieties; shade varieties; cancel varieties; and so on.

madbaker, you hit on a good point on using Vario pages, as one collects more stamps you will run into more and more souvenir sheets. With most printed albums other than a Specialty Album there won't be places for souvenir sheets. I run into many CTO souvenir sheets and I have them in a separate album of Vairo sheets and stock pages along with all the other strange issues from CTO's and other dubious countries. Another feather in the cap for Minkus Supreme line is that they have more spaces for the "Grenada Grenadines" type of stamps and Scott International does not. For souvenir sheets of major countries I put them on quadrille sheets and stick them in roughly the place they should be in the album.