Blocks Of 4 - What Do You Do With Them?

I have an exhibit on the papers that New Zealand used during the KGV era, and used blocks are my primary goal for updates. Mint blocks get in the way of seeing the characteristics of the paper. :)

Just in case... I'm on the prowl for used blocks of the Cowan Esparto paper used on the definitives from the 30s, as well as used and mint singles to fill in those holes in my collection.

Good to see that you good people appreciate the blocks! Thank for all inputs

Billsey - Sorry, I cannot help you on any kiwi blocks - good luck in your hunt for those paper varieties

Usually, serious collectors don't like it when you fold blocks and discount price when there is a fold between stamps. They consider this to be - not really damage but a lowering of the condition of the block.

So you may want to keep this in mind. I keep my nice blocks in Hagners. You can also buy Lighthouse pages that are just like Hagners with a selected number of holders per page. These are nice in that you can see the back of the blocks also.

So what I'm hearing is take the selvage off including the numbers as a block of 4 is a better way to save them. Doing that would allow would allow them to fit in a Vario 3S page, a nice way to display them. Is that what you would do?

So, I finally set aside time to deal with my block-of-4s. I've accumulated a box crammed with blocks from all the worlds corners. I decided to go for Lighthouse albums with Vario 4S pages, first of all for the flexibility to add pages and without needing hinges or mounts. This was my first experience using the Vario pages. After having organised some 4000 block-of-4's I have to say I really enjoyed it - and the blocks are looking amazing on those pages. So now I am again considering to use Vario's for my entire WW collection (and not only the block-of-4s)

Has anybody else made a separate WW collection for block-of-4s?

All of my blocks of 4, and bigger multiples, go into my Scott International Big Blue albums on blank pages. Multiples of the Portuguese colonial Ceres issues (1914-1926) are somewhat hard to find, so I don't want the ones I have hidden away in some stockbook. I have multiples of some of the Mozambique issues, upwards of blocks of 30 or 40. They reside with my Mozambique stamps in the album.

I have USA 1940s to 1970s plate blocks in glassines in a shoebox. Hard to see them, so eventually they'll be mounted. My collection of 1938 Presidential plate blocks are all in the USA part of my North America album, except for the $5 plate block yet to be mounted. So, no, while I have stock books, they are used exclusively to store singles.

Interesting to see what others are doing, thanks Steve.

Yepp, I have the same feeling myself, so my better blocks are displayed with my main collection.

When my collections start to get specialized, I add extra pages for multiples, plate flaws, print and color varieties, and cancellations. Pencil notations are helpful reminders.

Bob - cool, I like your approach!
I am considering to shift my main collection from stockbooks and into vario sheets. If so, then I will be able to do exactly as you do with the blocks, as it will then be easy to add extra pages in between.

I have different areas of focus, I don't have one collection per-se.

For US blocks post 1940 or so, I largely have those in glassines. I guess that's because I don't focus on these as much.

For earlier 20th century blocks and/or slightly nicer ones, I use Vario and Hagner pages, both. I guess I should be more uniform there.

For classic blocks that fit into a specialized collection of a stamp, or period of stamps, I mount those in clear Hawid mounts, cut to shape, and insert in my Lighthouse stock-books. That way I can move them at will. These are together with other similar single and multiples of the same stamp. I often type up a description of plate positions, print that out, and cut the description to shape. Then I insert that in the stock-book adjacent to the block. It makes it look a little neater.

Sounds like you have a nice set-up txstamps! I've always used stockbooks myself until now, but for the blocks I'm with the varios to make it as easy as possible to "move at will"

I'm more in the category to buy the block of four and then break off the stamp with the number to use on first day covers which seem to be my speciality.