Though sophisticated U.S. albums are available from Lighthouse Publications (a German company), DAVO (In the Netherlands), and others, the highest quality affordable U.S. album is published by Scott and available from a number of sellers including Amos Advantage (which is the Scott Publishing Co. now owned by Amos Press).
It's called the Scott National Album. It's a few hundred dollars with binders and pages. You have a choice of 3-ring or 2-post binders. The 2-post binders are more classic. The 3-ring allows pages to lie flat and pages to be added or removed, but there is more wear on the holes as you turn the pages over the rings. Also, the 3-ring binders are much larger in depth to fit the rings, so they tend to hang off normal bookshelves unlike the more classic 2-post binders. Pages are the same for both types of binders.
Used binders can be found on
ebay as can used albums. This might be a way to get started very inexpensively. Quality varies on used items, of course.
As to Minkus if you want to go that route, I"m not sure if U.S. pages are still published but they may be. I think Amos Advantage (which has also taken over the Minkus line of albums after Minkus went out of business and tries to keep them in publication) might sell pages and supplements but the supplements one by one will be very expensive. Binder choices are very limited -- essentially one, a fairly clunky 2-post binder (in my opinion). Check their website. Keep in mind that Minkus albums are not as well supported as Scott and others.
An alternative is to use the Stamp Album Pages website which can print pages (their own design) in both the Minkus and the Scott album sizes (as well as 8.5 x 11 three-ring binder size). It would be possible to purchase from them all the pages you are missing and do so fairly inexpensively, though the paper will not match the Minkus paper in thickness or shade of white. Or just purchase an entire album of pages from them from beginning to end, and all the pages will match. Page layouts are very basic, just boxes with no pictures, but are very well done. Search online for this website. They are called the Steiner pages after their designer.
Mystic Stamp Co. publishes its own 3-ring binder albums for U.S. stamps. To me, they're a little elementary and lack elegance compared especially to the Scott pages which are larger and more sophisticated. Scott pages are a cream color while many other pages are brighter white which makes a difference to some. I think the Mystic pages are bright white. You may find the Mystic pages just fine for your taste, however. These only fit a 3-ring binder so no option for more traditional 2-post pages.
You can order samples or entire albums and compare them. Returns are usually accepted within a few weeks of the ones you don't like as much.
Posted 08/04/2016 11:05 am
