Numbers In The Back Of The Stamp, Ordering A Lot Of Stamps.

Hello everyone!

I have purchased a big lot of used stamps, and I have noticed that some of the stamps have a number in the back side, the yvert catalogue number.
the stamps arefrom a lot of countries. Many of them are definitive, and only can be distinguished by the perforation, or the watermark.
Do you think that numbering the back side of the stamps is a good idea?
I don't want to do something wrong with the stamps.
It is clear that the pencil can be erased, but imagine to erase two thousand stamps.
If numbering the stamps in the back side is not a good idea, how do you order them in the stockbook? I place little pieces of paper with the catalogue number in the stockbook, but it is very time consuming.
I will appreciate any idea about how to order the stamps in the stockbook in correlative catalogue number order.
regards, Ignacio

Catalog numbers change and sometimes new varieties are discovered years later . It is always safer not to mark up the back of stamps because your catalog numbering can be different than the next buyers .

I can't imagine writing on a stamp I wish to collect (or one someone else might want.)

Igro, as for arranging the stamps, I've been thinking about scanning or photographing my pages, once I'm happy with them. I'll then print out a copy of the page with all the information I want. Essentially I'll have two stock books--one with real stamps and one with facsimiles.

Igrodri, also make sure you use the correct kind of paper. When I add a note in one of my stockbooks / Vario pages I use paper from a second hand Scott album. That way I know I am using acid free paper!

Peter

You may also find some early Greek and Spanish stamps with serial numbers printed on the back by the printer.

I bought a huge lot of world used one time and discovered - to my regret - that every single stamp has its Scott number written on the back - in ball point ink. That made them effectively worthless. Even a pencil notation is a very bad idea.