What's Best British Commonwealth Album & Catalog Approach?

Jack

I think you may have to wait and see whether the restructuring works after the blood-letting of the incompetents who previously headed the business and saw the share orice trashed

http://stampboards.net/viewtopic.ph...99&start=300

Geoff

Hi Group,

Classical Stamps wrote earlier in this thread that "The standard for British Commonwealth is the Stanley Gibbons catalog. You would want the 1840-1952 version. New editions comes out every year." I have a couple of questions about this:

1) Is the "Commonwealth and British Empire 1840-1970" version as good? Better?

2) Do these particular SG catalogs include GB as well as the Commonwealth stamps?

I am coming in from the ground floor and assume that these catalogs are needed as the first step in the process. Both editions are currently available and I would like to know which one to buy!

Thanks,
Jack Kelley

Geoff,

Thank you for your input. This is turning out to be an exciting venture. I am thinking of using Vario sheets until SG gets their act together. I've been reading David Giles' excellent article on the KGVI stamps. Until earlier this week I didn't even know what KGVI stood for!

Jack Kelley

Jack

The 1840-1970 catalogue is the one to get - I think that was what was meant by 1840-1952. It includes GB. You can usually pick up older ones second-hand - I'm happily using an early 1970s edition! I think there's a simplified, two-volume catalogue that also covers more recent issues, if they interest you.

Enjoy!

Geoff

Thank you Geoff. I see you do not have any ebay listings at the moment. I am going to start with the 1937 Coronation. The is an offering from MOBY390 which, I think is MOBY Stamp and Kinross Stamp Shop in GB. The offering looks pretty good - 74.49 Pounds with shipping. Mint, hinged; all 202 stamps. I really want used but this is actually cheaper. I intend to HINGE in this new endeavor unlike my MNH USA in Showgard mounts. Of course, everything will go in the Vario sheets for now until Stanley Gibbons comes out with the new KGVI albums. Where abouts in England are you?

Jack Kelley

Most of my ebay listings are cigarette cards - one of my other vices - although I keep promising myself I'll start listing stamps at some point. I'd have guessed nearer £50 as the going rate for a 1937 set, but I'm no expert.

I live in south-west London - whereabouts were you based when you lived here?

Southwest London? Can't be too far from Rosendale Stamps which looks to be almost due south of London but well within the Ring Road. Its been a long time since we've been there. I was up at East Anglia RAF Lakenheath back in the day of Pound, Shilling, and Pence. I did spend some time down at S. Ruislip which has to be fairly close to you. I miss it. The last time there, we visited my wife's pen pal in Warrington. They started communicating about 1966 (Beatles) and continue to do so today. They even look alike. Both almost 5' tall and 100 lbs weight.

I ordered the Commonwealth 1840-1970 catalog. Figure that's a good place to start. I know nothing about this. Just want to learn. Sorry I paid too much for the Coronation set. It looked pretty good next to the other offerings. I sure have a lot to learn!

Later,
Jack Kelley

Group,

Having read a considerable amount of material about Stanley Gibbons and also having researched what SG albums are available from online sources, I am of the opinion that the Palo Premium (Gibbons Layout Pages) KGVI may be the way to go. Other than being pricey, any thoughts or opinions out there? Is the black and white page option less costly than the standard color pages?

Thanks,
Jack Kelley

Jack

As a means of comparison, the six-volume SG set costs £435

https://www.stanleygibbons.com/prd/...um/113338768

The hingeless version costs £650

https://www.stanleygibbons.com/prd/...ts/128592012

Geoff

Geoff,

Does the six volume unhinged set include SG stamp numbers? Does it include all GB and Commonwealth? India?

Jack

I have an earlier version of this. Gibbons albums don't usually include catalogue numbers. As I read it, this includes India itself, but not the individual states.

Geoff

Jack

I have both the Palo George VI set as well as the 2015 edition of the SG George VI set.

There are no catalogue numbers on the SG pages. The six volumes are 366 pages.

The Indian States are not included as they are in a separate 2 volume set.

If any further questions on either set, I will be more than happy to look up for you or anyone else that is interested in them.

John

Geoff,
I am re-reading this entire thread for the third time and see where you tell us that there is no numbering. I apologize for my redundancy.

John,
I find it quite interesting that you have both the SG KGVI and the Palo KGVI. I believe I've narrowed it down to a choice of one or the other. Please tell me more about the Palo. Does the page layout actually follow SG's? I see that Palo lists 432 pages for KGVI while Geoff says 366 for the SG's. Does the Palo show catalog numbers? Finally, (and this is the most important question of all!) which one do you like the best? Dying to know!

Thanks,
Jack Kelley

Anyone out there with covert ties to the Stanley Gibbons firm know if the New Imperial is slated to actually make a return to print? Any rumors? I heard peripherally about their management shake-up, but it seems that not much has changed...same website I believe... John

Svensson,

I have heard that too. But I've been hearing it for a long, long time.

Jack Kelley