Questions On The Newer Scott International Album Pages......

Hi once again... just had to post an update!

I'm currently merging the new Part 1 pages with Parts 2 thru 4 and am about 1/3 through. My existing Part 1 (with thousands of stamps) sits in a separate Big Blue binder - awaiting the time when I pull stamps and move to the new part 1 pages. Here are some more thoughts I would like to share:

- I love the new pages and their format. They merge fairly will with the Part 2, but the BOB sections can be annoying as the various types often share the same page. As my part 2 is the yellowing and has some frayed edges, I do believe I will get a new part 2 (a&b) to install.

- "If I had known then what I know now"........ If I had known 4 years ago that I would have gone head over heels back into the Hobby, I would have bought a whole new set (thru 1960) to start. Heck, I might even have bought the Vintage edition that replicates the old Scott Brown albums. But, I had no way of knowing the hobby would grab me again like it did, so ............

- Most all of my stamps are installed with the old Dennison hinges. Yup, I paid dearly for them but I'm glad I did - as it will sure pay off when I start pulling them from the old Part 1. I also used a few packs of Fold O Hinges, and they work fairly well - better than others I have experimented with.

Anyway, just wanted to throw my observations out there ..............

Hi - another update....

I got the new Part 1 fully merged with the existing Parts 2- 4, which fills up 7 Scotts binders. I managed to collect binders for Parts 1 thru 8, so I'm all set in that regard. Anyway, I'm currently transferring "A country" stamps to the new pages. I suspect it will take 6-12 months to complete the project without numbing my brain or tongue.

Today I ordered a new Part 2 (1940-1949). My existing part 2 pages are a bit yellowed, and frankly it doesn't merge as nicely with the Part 1 as I would like. And to be honest, I find the stamps from the beginning thru 1950 or so are the most interesting and IMO, meaningful.

Anyway, you guys are the only ones I know that might relate to all this, and I would love to hear your stories of "relocating" your stamps.

ENJOY,
Mobilman44

Mobiilman44- sounds very nice indeed! Getting a newer format and pages Part II is a great choice.

The old "if I knew then what I know now" sentiment , I think , we all share. I know I would have approached my collecting choices differently.

Hi once again,
I ordered the Part 2 and got it very quickly (thanks to Bill at NOLA Stamp Shop). Last evening I finished merging and transferring stamps to "Album # 1", which goes from Aden to Chad. That's one down, and 7 albums to go........... Anyway, I've got some observations and thought I would pass along to you all.
- Thank goodness I used the Dennison hinges (and some Fold O Hinges) on the original pages, as the stamps came off easily without damage.
- I won an auction for 10 packs of Dennison, so I've got about 15 of them to redo the stamps from 1840 thru 1949. I will need more, but there is not urgent need.
- The merging of the new Part 1 with the Part 2 went very well. There were a few minor hiccups in merging in the part 3, as it is an early issue. Yes, perhaps sometime I'll get a new part 3 (and 4), but for now this is not a problem.
- The new pages have the holes indented more than the older pages. It's an inconvenience, but not much more than that.
- In the transfer of stamps, I found a few duplicates that I had applied on different pages, and I also found 5 or 6 stamps that were put in the wrong spaces. Definitely a rookie error on my part.
- One thing that hit me and I'm pleasantly surprised by it.... In installing the stamps on the new pages, I find myself having a new appreciation for them. Hard to explain, but its more about the stamps than about getting them installed.

Of course my only regret is that I didn't do all this from the start, but I just didn't want to spend the money at that time.

ENJOY,

Mobilman44

Thanks for the observations.

I agree Dennison hinges are the way to go. I notice I husband each hinge, and try to use each one- even if it has a wrinkle- they are like gold.

Floortrader,

I'd love to know where you get your binder labels for your Scott Internationals? They look like custom labels and they match well to the binders.

Chris ---I purchase them from Subway Stamp Shop in Altoona Pa.

I tried to e-mail Mobilman44 directly, but the system doesn't allow e-mail for "new" members. How many posts do you need to have before you can e-mail another member??

Anyway, I will post my e-mail questions to Mobilman44 here in hopes that he will see them...Thanks!

Hi Mobilman44,

I was reading your posts regarding buying the new Scott Internationals. I was thinking of doing the same thing and just wanted to check back with you to see if you still like your new albums. I have an older 2-part Vol. 1 that has a copyright in the early-mid 1980s (I think). It has the nice thick pages, but doesn't start individual countries on new pages like the newer ones do. Plus, I'd like to get a new Part 2 so I can go up thur 1949.

I had thought about going the Vintage Reproduction (Browns) route and actually purchased the first volume (covering the 19 century), but now realize it will cost me a fortune to buy the other 5 volumes (they are about $200-$300 per volume), not to mention a fortune to buy all the stamps to fill them!

Last question, I saw on one of your posts that you purchased your albums from NOLA Stamp Shop instead of Amos, is that correct? I guess I thought that you could only purchase them from Scott (Amos), but seems like NOLA is cheaper. I assume they are the same as what Amos sells? Is the paper thick? What about the illustrations, do they look like the ones in the older editions, or do they look more like a "copy of a copy"?

Sorry for all the questions, but as you know, in this day and age, you generally can't go to the store and see and feel the item before you buy it anymore.

Thanks,
Chris

Chris- I know your question was directed at Mobilman44, but I might be able to help.

Amos these days tends to print Part IA1,IA2,IB1,IB2 (Four sections of Part I 1840-1940) on demand. They of course have all the good qualities of recent editions: thick paper, and countries begin on separate pages etc, so Part I is easier to integrate with Part II 1940-1949.

But alas, the stamp image cut is not as clear as earlier editions- the "copy" of a "copy" look - darker with less definition. Not a "deal ender",in my view, but one should know...

Thanks Jim, that is good to know.

Ok, wondering if anyone has both the Vintage Reproduction "Browns" from Subway and the "new" Scott International Part 1 from Amos. Trying to determine if the pages of the Scott Internationals are the same or similar to the Vintage Reproductions or if they are heavier.

Thanks!

The Vintage Reproductions are on 70 pound paper, printed on one side of the page. I believe the 4 part "Blues" are 60 pound, printed on both sides of the page. But I can't confirm where I got the 60 pound figure.

Thanks Bob!

Yes, I have confirmed that the most recent version of BigBlues have 60lb weight paper. And, as you said Vintage Reproductions use 70lb paper...and the Minkus Supreme Global 80lb paper.

Not sure if I should resurrect this thread or start a new one with my question. If a new one should be started, could the mods move it please.

I have the blue International albums up to 1990 and am just finishing putting them in binders, with interleaving, and will have a huge number of stamps to put away.

I was wondering if it is easier to use the albums as issued and put in binders, or if it would be easier in the long run to break them all apart into countries to keep the pages for each country together.

I am thinking continually pulling binders out to put 1 or 2 stamps in a binder at a time could be a lot of wear and tear on the pages and albums.

If they were separated into countries, it would be easier to work on one country at a time.

Has anyone tried it both ways and which do you prefer and why.

Comments and reasons why would be greatly appreciated.

I have my British Empire/Commonwealth collection, such as it is, in three blocks of SG albums - the Imperial, covering QV-GVI, the GVI set and the QEII New Age albums. I don't find this a problem, although the norm for Commonwealth collectors is to divide by reign. For the rest of the world, I agree that separation is a pain. My SG Ideal albums end in 1936, which means I need different solutions for later issues. But the nature of the Big Blue, which, to a British collector, looks needlessly complex with its separation of charity and air-mail stamps, means that putting them all together could make for a more difficult collecting experience than keeping them in separate volumes.

You could do what most of us do. Choose a solution, then, some time later, undo it!