Mystic Stamp Album Review

I have been using Mystic Heirloom since around 1996 to mount stamps since I was spending a fortune on Scott National supplements and seemed to be replacing as many pages as I got new. This worked until around 2002 when I gave making my own pages a try. I abandoned that and used Steiner for a couple years. I stopped due to other stuff (like work) and started accumulating sheets - no organization. The self-adhesive aspect had put a damper on collecting singles especially from booklets.

Now, after much renewed interest including inspiration from this forum, I decided to just order a new album set ($40) rather than deal with supplements.

What I got:
3 binders - similar as before - functional for the price
3 bundles of pages (I, II, III) through 2012
shrink wrapped supplements for 2013, 2014, 2015
The 2014/2015 supplements came with 2 sheet protector sheets each. I assume this is to spur interest in more?

The number of pages in the 2013-2015 time is significant.

The big difference is that the pages are numbered and spaces have Scott numbers. I was expecting and wanting this. The paper seems smoother and maybe a tad stiffer but that is subjective.

In the end, you will need many additional binders. The pages without stamps mounted do not fit in the 3 albums. I have 11 binders now to cover the entire period and likely grow by 2 when I start putting stamps in the late years so less likely to damage pages. The minisheets really use a lot of space.

I started looking back at some of the pages in the new set in the pre-1930 phase and they did reorganize number of pages in W-F area (focusing on 1900-1920 now) in minor ways.
Some for the better and some make me wonder why. At first I thought they were trying to reduce total page count but that does not seem evident.

The last numbered page is 1422 but some BOB pages are not numbered. For example, I see all 4 Warren Harding issues are now shown instead of 3 - like I can get the perf 11 version plus the famous Z stamp has its own page.

I plan to follow the Stamp Hack approach to correct specific pages especially with definitives (wet / dry Liberty, etc). I want to limit my time on creating new pages since I want to do other things.

It is still a great deal and if you order one you will get bombarded with mailings every week from Mystic. For any beginner it is a great way to get started. A great Christmas gift.

I also got the 10x lighthouse illuminated magnifer - love it - hands free like I wanted. More detailed review on that later.


Al

I've been doing the same for decades. I wait 10 years and purchase the set again to add the missing years as it's less expensive than purchasing the supplements and have 15 albums. I've also added page protectors to each page. I use the duplicated pages to add the wet/dry printings etc. For the most part, I've been happy with the layout and ditto on the hacks for those pages where I want to add more varieties. Those sheet protector sheets are for the larger sheet issues like the dinosaurs sheet(3136). I used the duplicated sets to also have one for mnh and one set for used and I also use the catalog as an inventory system. Mystic makes a decent product for the cost. I too became disillusioned with the self adhesives and decided to cut off my collection and now concentrate on adding the earlier mnh issues and have enjoyed putting the used collection together with different cancellations etc. Hope you can enjoy the hobby as much as I do!

I don't know this and am only speculating, but could they possibly be intended for one of the larger souvenir sheets? I've taken to using Vario 1-pocket clear pages for souvenir sheets, particularly the larger ones. They're easier and cheaper than mounts, and they are useful for smaller sheets as well. You can center the sheet within the Vario page and it pretty well stays put.

Or...they could be regular ol' sheet protectors and they want you to buy more.

It is interesting to note that thirty years of stamps (1940 to 1969) will fill up a Premium binder very nicely. On the other hand, the same binder will barely hold five years of the current stamps.

Jack Kelley

I think Mystic provided a sheet protector for the Dinosaur Souvenir sheet: Scott #3136



I have my sheet in a sheet protector in my Mystic album, and I seem to recall a sheet protector coming with the album.

I use sheet protectors on my Mystic pages- I have the non hingeless version. I also use black mounts and in the non hingeless version the frame lines around stamps are generous so you have a black mount with a neat frame around it. I have never found any other album maker that does this. My collection is housed in 13 premium binders.

Ditto for me, Stamps1962. But there is a Showgard mount for the Dino Sheet and I used that instead of the MYSTIC protector.

Jack Kelley

I always have a Mystic heirloom album on hand for our club show in March; if I find a young collector who really, really likes the hobby, but is struggling with one of those little paperback beginner albums, I present him with the album, free of charge. I've probably given away seven or eight over the last decade. For a bit less than $40 it is probably the greatest bargain in Philately.

And, who knows the effect it has on a young collector to get an album like that for his US collection. Maybe he'll stick with the hobby like I did.

The club also gives away hinges, tongs and loose US and foreign stamps to any beginners who attend the show.