Mystic 'Hingeless' Pages Without Mounts

Nope not mad at you or anybody. I just thought I'd done some infraction of board protocol or something. You are listed as a mod, after all.

That's good. I was worried. Stamp1962, I am really looking forward to your write up on this endeavor. Pictures would be great, too!

Jack Kelley

Just started mounting stamps on these.

One persistant pet peve of mine about printed albums are publishers who fail to make the spaces large enough to accommodate mounts properly. I hate having bought precut mounts to place them n an album space and find they either do not cover the space or cannot be centered in it. Probably that is something peculiar to me- but it just doesn't look right and that is what I am running into with these pages. The regular Heirloom pages have spaces sized large enough to enable a mount to be placed in the space and have room left over so that the mount is framed. These do not, probably because they are sized to be used with clear mounts.

Something I have done in the past with tnis situation is to place a black mount so that it protrudes just slightly over the bottom frame and is framed on three sides- that doesn't look too bad, really. And, that is what I am doing with these pages. Everything else seems just fine with them, will update later.

Stamps1962,

Glad to hear things are working out. Can you post a picture with the black mounts when you get a chance? I take it that the pages are thicker than the regular MYSTIC pages. The ONLY reason I didn't go the MYSTIC hingeless route is because, like you, I prefer black mounts.

Jack Kelley

Stamps1962,

How are those MYSTIC pages working for you? I tried to order a Volume One set but they didn't know what I was talking about. They just said they only had blank regular pages and blank heavy pages. The heavy pages are for the hingeless albums. I really want to know more about this because the whole idea is quite intriguing. Pictures would certainly help, Stamps1962.

Thanks,
Jack Kelley

That's strange- I find with Mystic you sometimes get some operator who doesn't know their stuff. When I called I and asked I was placed on hold while she checked then came back and said I could order a set. Mind you, I just ordered pages for part one, to 1934. I plan to order the balance for my wife to give me for Christmas- so hope I don't run into this when I do. Did you try telling them you know a guy online they sold a set to? Also it helps if you call in the daytime when the regular staff are there, call evenings and you get part time help.

I am working this weekend on these, have most of the mounts placed and stamps installed in reverse order back to midway through the Washington-Franklin's. I hope to try to post pics next week. I was worried about remounting my White Plains sheet and wound up putting it on a Hagner black page with a sheet protector, looks fine.

Stamps1962,

When you post a picture of a completed MYSTIC Hingeless page, it would be helpful to see the page with some of the stamps mounted and some not mounted. That way, we will be able to see how the boxes are too small for the mounts, like you were saying.

Jack Kelley

I don't thinhk it's been mentioned in this thread, but the Mystic hingeless pages are on heavier weight paper. That would be the main reason why someone would want to do this.

If it was mentioned. I apologize. Sitting at the computer feeling like complete cr*p. Trying to distract myself from my headache.

I have some items to scan and list on ebay, that's my project for tomorrow, after that I will try to scan a few pages.

I have to say, I am on the fence as to whether I want to continue this project. I liked the looks of the pages much better on the regular Mystic pages, there was more room allowed for the mounts. Not sure if that is sufficient drawback to put up against the fact that I don't need to use protectors on the pages to make them more sturdy.

I am VERY fussy about how my pages look- most folks are not and that's ok. Maybe feedback from others will help me decide.

Stamps1962,

I've been following your progress very closely. I, like you, am interested in having "heavier" MYSTIC pages and was disappointed in hearing that the boxes on the heavier pages are smaller than on the regular MYSTIC pages. I would still like to see your pages with and without your Hawid mounts. I am using black backed Showgard mounts on the regular MYSTIC pages and, in all honesty, look very nice. However, I like the idea of using the Hawid mounts on my pre-1940 material. I am looking forward to seeing your pages.

Jack Kelley

I've sent emails to both Mystic and Amos asking if they'd be interested in selling their pages as a downloadable PDF that we could print on any paper we like. The people on the phone thought it was an awesome idea. When it went up the food chain it got rejected.

I also tried to get Amos to offer Minuteman album pages on Scott National paper and a custom print-on-demand option. Again the CSR thought it was a great idea. Management shot it down.

Andy,

I've found that they are great at giving lip service. Full of lip and no service.

Jack Kelley