Best Way To Store/Mount Large Volumes

Ringo - If I had ventured into such a project I would not hesitate to use black (double-sided) Vario-pages. They provide top flexibility which is a key aspect, especially when considering the dunes and at the same time wanting to minimize shelf space. Then you can simply set up pages for what you got - and when getting any new sets/sheets/blocks or whatever - put in a new variosheet. Easy to expand - easy to shift around the stamps on the pages, no need for hinges, you can set up your pages anyway you want - and it's looking really nice. I really regret I did not start using only Vario pages myself when I took up collection again. That's my 2c. Good luck with your ambitious project!

Betty Ann. I am probably in that category for 'rolling eyes' on the dunes. When I see your good peoples sincere interest in these, I realize I have to be more humble and work on my own prejudice. Until now my 'storing solution' for any of these dune issues, has been close to Hitlers 'final-solution' - I have ditched them in the bin without hesitation or regret, convinced I did stamping a favor. Obviously we are all different, so in respect of you all I will stop ditching them and put them into lots for sale. Sorry for the damage already done. I am glad you find pleasure in them!

Steiner's pages can be printed as you go, of course, but there are around 1200 pages for the complete set. It's doable with 6-8 large binders, but I think stock books or Vario sheets would be more economical, space-wise.

Hmm. 50 Vario pages = £25. The price of around 1,000 sheets of A3 that you can cut to size.

In terms of a storage system, I've pretty much decided on the binders kindly offered by Geoff above. I think these will be substantial enough to hold as much as I will ever accumulate. I do appreciate the benefits of Vario pages, but I just don't 'like' them somehow. I think they can look great, but something inside me just wants paper albums. With that in mind, I am interested in the Bill Steiner pages, but in all likelihood, I'll just use plain paper cut to size. I think the lack of a definitive catalogue, plus the abundance of selvedges, blocks and mini-sheets means that I will just accumulate, date, and slot into the collection as I go. It wil be open-ended.

Shermae - I suppose the aspiration to collect them is somehow connected to my childhood collection, as you say. I remember some of the sets fondly, despite having ditched them all when I got older. I mentioned some Yemen stamps on that other thread, and yes, I'm up for collecting Yemen too - not strictly just the crucial Trucials, so much as my favoured states/countries from the region.

Hey Blaamand - don't throw them out, give them to me! I have to say, I also had a prejudice against them once, but when I look at my own country's stamp issuing policy these days - bloated sets of pictorials, with little or no postal needs - I don't see much difference to be honest. How many GB stamps were issued to 'commemorate' the olymipic games? Dozens and dozens, plus the associated FDCs, presentation packs, collector's packs and goodness knows what else. Contrast with when England hosted the World Cup back in 1966 - just two stamps - that's all.

Times have changed, and what the Trucials got up to no longer seems so outrageous to me. Plus, honsetly, some of them are damned fine stamps - the old master paintings from Umm Al Qiwain for example, or some of the colour-tinted Kennedy stamps. They are pretty impressive designs in my humble opnion.

Ringo - - you're quite right about comparison to number of stamp issues for the recent years - even for most western-world countries - it's almost comparable to the dunes or other wallpaper-countries. For just that reason I am no longer actively collecting issues after 2000, I simply cram in whatever comes my way in the back of the albums without much affection.

I will start keeping the dunes - and whenever I get a decent pile I will offer it as give-away in this forum.

Good luck with your pages - please post pictures once you get going!

Less to forget some of the engraved 'masterpieces':


(sorry for the watermark; I just grabbed the image from my blog)

This is likely one of the finest Olympic stamps I've ever seen.

-k-

Alright, some of them are rubbish, but even Beethoven wrote the odd bummer. What about these ones?

keijo - great engraving!
Ringo - looks nice, particularly without CTO and on black stocksheets.

The agent for the Trucials in the 1960's was decently smart about producing nice looking "stamps." Some were odd, but the ones just above are very interesting. And they remind me of my young days as a collector- especially the Fish sets from Sharjah.

Ringo, if you do decide to pull the trigger, as we Yanks say, I have some material I would be happy to gift to you from a large lot I bought years ago for the Scott-listed stamps. I have no clue as to mint, CTO, or condition but would be happy to give them to a collector who really wants them. Just stay in touch and feel free to SCF-mail me.

Hi Shermae - have sent you an email. Many thanks for the kind offer - will be a great help in getting started.