Whats In Your Library?

FFE (Fakes Forgeries Experts) vol. 1-10
Vol. 15 shown here:

Just arrived -- some excellent Generalgouvernement handbooks.

One of my favourite philatelic books, written by the great Scott, the late James Mackay. His articles on the British Philatelic Bulletin, were also wonderful

Picked just this morning at a Barcelona's flea market: "On the Origin of stamps and stamp-collectors". By J. Majó Tocabens, a Barcelona seller and philatelist. Printed in Barcelona in 1950. 400 pages of interesting reading...I hope.

thank you all
very good pic......

These are rarely used for obvious reasons, but are interesting to see how far prices have came.

I have a very interesting old book that I picked up a few years ago that I obtained from an old elementary school that was discarding library books they felt were obsolete.

The title of the book is "Let's Start a Stamp Collection" by John S. Turner. Copyright 1940, Library of Congress Cat. # 40-27714, 152 pages.

Though geared to elementary school age children, this book is a very interesting read, mainly because it gives a very good barometer of what stamp collecting in the 1940s was like. All of the stamps described therein are from the classic era. It contains chapters on how to build collections, how to identify paper, perforation, and watermark types, history and anecdotes of some stamp designs, and how to mount and display collections. A great bonus is a fairly comprehensive stamp identifier at the back of the book, which I have actually used from time to time. I think the greatest draw of this book is the fact that it came from a time when stamp collecting, (and life in general) was not so complicated. An interesting aspect of this book is that it sometimes referenced current prices for things philatelic in 1940. How about a Minkus world-wide album holding 15,000 stamps $2.95 bound or $3.95 loose leaf? Or the Supreme Global 2 album set holding 76,000 stamps for $27.50? Geez, nowadays, that's the cost of 5 packages of Vario sheets!

Spanish Philippines Special Catalogues 3 volumes
by Nigel Gooding.
Free online.
Excellent reading.

This raises concern,
It seems someone is collating information from wikipedia
then printing it in book form, and charging $37.

Russian Forgeries with Irish stamps on the cover?

I personally have the 2010 6 volume Scott catalog set, the 1999 Scott us only catalog (I got it for free, so even if it is a bit raggedy, I can't complain). I also have the linns "stamp identifier" which is useful when I come across those weird stamps I keep finding in Austrian lots (Ukrainian, in fact) or when someone posts a stamp I can't identify. I also have the us postal services guide to stamps (2009, I think) and a lot of auction catalogs (regency superior). I have the encyclopedia to us stamps and stamp collecting, a book on starting a stamp collecting I sent my aunt, several antique Scott catalogs (1936,37 and 41). I have several other similar publications, but they are currently residing in my grandmas attic (to be rescued soon). I have the 1999 Scott us FDC catalog, but only because I found it for free (along with the 1999 us specialized). Where I live your trash isn't picked up at the curb you have to drive it 20 miles down to the "transfer station". They have a "library" there where you can swap or dispose of your books. I think somebody is a stamp collector in my area, as outdated philatelic texts have turned up surprisingly often. I also got two 1984 Scott catalogs, a 1965 Scott catalog and a very moldy book on local post stamps I promptly discarted when I got home.

My most recent stamp book purchase was a booklet called "good wins specialized united states handbook" from 1919. I haven't used it too much, but it is quite detailed. It was $12 at a local Aquarians bookstore

What a great idea! Bravo to the person who instigated that.

Since I have a Balbo Cover, I had to read the history about the mass flights.

Received today Catalog of United States Postal Slogan Cancels (1953) by Moe Luff

Nice one Russ,
I have the Western Australian Equivalent.

One I have waited 10 years for..........

Who's a happy chappie

My own Stitt Dibden!

(Thanks to Bill Barrell, Lincolnshire )





and a catalogue that will carry me through to the old wooden box...