Plain Paper For Scott National

The pages for the Scott National are 10 x 11 1/2 inches (254 x 292mm), 80#, Manilla or Buff tone and I presume, acid-free. I use these blank pages trimmed to the dimensions of the pages in the Scott International albums (9.5 x 11.2 inches--242 x 285mm). I am composing my own pages to replace the incomplete pre-1940 pages that come with the International. I add all the missing major and minor numbers and put the Scott #'s in each space. The best price I have found for these pages is $6.99/20, or $0.35 per page.

In the hope of lowering this price, I am looking for a source for equivalent paper, except for the dimensions. The closest size of standard paper with NO border is B4 which is 9.84 x 13.9 inches (250 x 353mm). This size would result in the least wastage after trimming to the wanted size. Two other standard sizes that would work (but with more wastage)would be A3 or Ledger size paper.

If anyone knows of a source of this paper, please let me know.

Go to this topic and look for my post about the papermillstore and Neenah paper. They do custom cuts.

https://goscf.com/t/34713&SearchTerms=Neenah

Hi Antman

The suggestion I have is to go to a local "mom-and-pop" print shop. Not one of the chain print shops or Office Max or Depot.

These printers know paper and can probably match your requirement exactly. In addition they could even supply the size you want (they would even do the cutting to size if necessary).

Case in point. I use blank quadrille pages exclusively. I was disgusted with the supplier continually changing the style. I went to one of these local print shops and working with the owner we came up with what I wanted. It did take a couple of sample prints to get it correct. I have to look but I believe it was 50 pound stock in an off white color with a light gray border and quadrille grid. In addition the pages were 3 hole drilled. The setup (typesetting) cost was a one time charge. For more pages I do not have that extra charge as the printer saves the setup. Including everything 500 pages was $60. That is 12 cents/page. Another order would make that cost come to around 8 cents/page since I do not have the typesetting charge.

In general, the local print shop will work with you and are very accommodating.

Jerry B

I did exactly what Jerry B suggested before I went with ThePaperMillStore. The local shop was going to be too expensive compared to the online solution. Although you have to order swatch books from ThePaperMillStore for $5, I had already pretty much narrowed the field down to Neenah paper. And once I had three different swatch books in hand, it was clear the Neenah CLASSIC CREST Classic Natural White Paper 100 lb text was the closest match to Scott National (from my viewpoint) out of the three paper manufacturer brands I looked at (or swatch books really).

Ordering the paper and the paper cuts directly from ThePaperMillStore was as inexpensive as its going to be, provided you know what you want. I suspect the local shop will be doing the same thing more or less so it eliminates the middle man. However, the local shop will have already paid for their swatch books. Maybe they'll let you look at them. I felt like I'd be cheating them if ultimately I ordered directly from the big online store rather than them, so I did it myself.

Edit: I should mention that I did not require an exact match to Scott National. I just really liked the color, texture and thickness of their paper and needed it to be way less expensive and sized 9.5"x12.25".

I may have found a company that can be of help. It is Archival Products in Iowa. I sent them the following inquiry on their contact page: "I am looking for 80# B4 size, Manilla or buff tone Acid-Free paper." I sent that at 12:15 AM on Wednesday night and had an email from them at 9 AM Thursday. They spent most of an hour on the phone discussing my specific needs and came up with a possible solution. They sell an archival (acid free) folder designed to hold B4 size paper documents. They are made from 80# paper. They sell for $0.18 each but by trimming off the tab and the folded edge and trimming to length you end up with 2 sheets with minimal wastage of the proper size making it $0.09 each. That's 1/4 the cost of the Scott blank pages. They are sending me a sample to see if the color and weight are what I need. I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

I've always purchased from local print shops and had them cut down full sized sheets. I can get six pages from one sheet, or 1500 pages from one 250 sheet ream. They charge by the cut and by the drill in addition to the cost of the paper. It takes five cuts and two drills to do International size pages and five cuts and three drills to do modern Specialty sized pages. It wasn't cost effective to have a die made to punch the rectangular holes the older Specialty albums take. Last batch of pages I bought were in the $0.05/page range, up from $0.03 the first time. I wouldn't be surprised if that hasn't gone up more since I haven't had any made in several years.

My suggestion would be to go to a thrift store and see what they have availale e.g. springhill digital 110 lb 250 sheets for 49 cents or wausau 24 lb acid free 100 sheets antique parchment for 49 cents. I've gotten reams of white copy paper for 99 cents along with ink for my printer for a dollar a cartridge. I work for one repairing sewing machines, tube radios, nicer transistor radios. I've gotten stamp stock books and albums for $5.00 each. I'm sorry to say that we throw away as much as we keep. We only have 5000 square feet to work with half of which is taken up with furniture and clothes. Get to know the manager and clerks and they'll keep an eye out for you with the paper. Just my opinion. By the way I've yet to find a valuable stamp. Fun to go through the books.