Need Help With These Oldies

i found these while sorting stamps today they seem to be very old and they have numbers on the back I willflip them over and scan the other side can anybody tell me if it means anything?

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The upper left is Bulgaria Scott #149.

None of them are U.S.; the red one is obviously Mexico. I'd try posting this in the World Stamps forum.

The purple 20 with Diestmarke is Back of the Book Germany and the Purple one with Espana is Spain. That much I know.

Also the big green stamp with Poste Italien on top is Italy.

Best wishes!

i wanted to know what the numbers on the back mean

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sorry if I didnt ask it right

The printed numbers on the back of the stamps from Spain (Espana) are control numbers, and are common on the back of many issues of that era.

The handwritten numbers on the back of the other stamps roughly correspond to various catalog numbers/prices. Many old-time dealers had a habit of writing the stamp catalog number/price on the back of the stamp. Some collectors now consider this to be a stamp fault, others don't care. Some collectors like it because it helps them ID the stamp. In general, this practice is frowned upon today, because it does often introduce damage to the stamp, especially if you are a "hard" writer.

It has been my experience that the ID is sometimes incorrect (people make mistakes). There is also a problem with catalog numbers changing over time (Scott includes a list of number changes every year, but these lists are not cumulative). So use these penciled in ID numbers with caution. Of course, completely disregard any price they may have written in.

thanks for the info I've only come across a few out of probably 8,000 and about 25,000,000 at least to go if not more

You're making good time Tina. You should be finished by the time you hit 90 or so!

i didnt mean for the last 3 zeros to be on there guess I should proof read before I send sorry lol so in 50 years I can sort that many stamps huh laswabbie?

It goes faster as you gain experience Tina.

But then with experience comes obsessiveness and things start to slow down again.

Dianne