Advice For Creating Own Album

I have been contemplating the possibility of creating a stamp album and had a few questions and ideas. Any feedback is welcome.

I am interested in starting a collection for Newfoundland. I have no illusions about acquiring some of the higher value stamps, but I really enjoy the look of stamps from there. The idea of creating an album for this location seems manageable because the stamps are from a limited period of time, and it might be a nice way to learn.

One of the questions I have is does anyone know of a place where the stamp images would be public domain?

I was initially thinking of binding the album, but this seems like a bad idea? It might be nice to be able to add pages in case I ever come across pairs/blocks, so I will likely take the guts of a binder and make my own leather cover.

I have some nice cream toned thicker paper stock, I am wondering if there are considerations for the type of paper used? Should pages be printed double sided? Or is there a disadvantage to that? It seems albums usually are for space, but that should not be an issue.

In terms of order, I plan on going by date of issue. Does anyone have any insights as to why other albums put air mail, special delivery etc in 'back of book'?

I am sure I may be missing many considerations, please feel free to point them out!

I know I am not likely to come anywhere close to filling this album anytime soon, but it seems like a great way to learn about an area of interest for me.

Hi oceanguy

As far as the paper is concerned, I use acid free paper. I have used it for years, and, so far, the pages have stood up quite well. To save time, when I did my own Canadian pages, I did not use any images but, named the set and year etc., and followed the Unitrade Catalogue. Hope this helps?

Chimo

Bujutsu

As for your question about order, I am with you. Especially airmail stamps, coils and booklet stamps do not realy need to go to the "Back of the Book"!

Peter

There have been many many posts here and other discussion groups about making your own albums. Yes, a nice thick cream color paper printed on one side works well. Most people use some kind of loose left binder to allow the addition of extra pages. In terms of making the actual pages, you can either start from scratch using some kind of software or you can just get Steiner pages (entire world album pages in PDF) and modify them to your taste.

Good luck, Newfoundland are indeed beautiful stamps!

This topic have been discussed many times, here and on other fora.

Besides modifying Steiner pages, here are some links for you to consider:

Postmasters excellent Scribus scripts:
http://www.germanstamps.net/pmgssapg_scribus/
https://goscf.com/t/32942&SearchTerms=Scribus

This is also a great project:
http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopi...f=13&t=39798

You can go as advanced as you want. Here is a 800-page specialised album for Norway:

http://albumark.com

Another fantastic design is the 'Machin Connoisseur album":

http://www.connoisseurcatalogue.net/album.htm

Spend some time researching this. There are many sources of inspiration. When you stop looking and start doing, you have to stick to your design. So make sure it is the right one

Stampworld has Newfoundland images - I can't imagine it did much worrying about IP when inserting them in its pages

http://www.stampworld.com/en/stamps/Newfoundland/

Double-sided saves space, but has no other virtue, as you then need to insert glassine between the sheets to stop the stamps mating with one another. In any case, Newfoundland won't take up much room!

In GB and, I think, Germany, stamps are usually housed in order of issue. The back of the book is restricted to postage dues, officials etc. In France, air-mails are usually separated. Scott is unique in separating whole categories of standard issues, including within sets, which makes for some forty-page leaps within country albums.

Enjoy.

Another thing, have you considered adding more to the pages besides just stamps?

PostmasterGS has created some amazing pages where his collection almost becomes alive:



http://www.germanstamps.net/album_imp_kol_dng/

(Warning! Don't click on the link unless you are prepared to start wanting to collect Germany...)

I realize the preference to create your own album. But, you may take a look at the downloads offered on this site:

http://www.nfldstamps.com/

Full color files for Newfoundland and another for other colonies.

I don't think it's possible for some images to be in the public domain, and other images of the same stamps to not be. All copies are of equal status legally, but as noted above, not something you need worry about.

I wouldn't go fast-bound, for the reason you mention. Plus, if you want to re-work a page for some reason, you're hampered.

Paper - fine, so long as it's acid-free, as mentioned above.

I would say no to double-sided. Stamps don't like being face to face and snagging on each other. This can be largely overcome with mounts or interleaving, but I'd still say better not to - it's a personal decision though depending what look you prefer. Even interleaving can cause problems if the edge of the interleaf falls onto a page of stamps while you're looking through.

Whatever you decide - have fun!

Thanks so much for all of the great ideas, links and advice. You have all given me a lot to think of, and then some.

I checked and the paper I have is acid free. Petert4522 & Geoffha I am going to do things in order by year and have no back of book. No having to leap through the album to find stamps. Having them at the back of book in the Canadian album I have just does not feel right. No double sided pages, as space won't be a big consideration in this case.

I am not going to do fast bound Ringo, makes total sense to maintain the ability to change it. Will find the guts of an appropriate binder to make my own cover.

I don't think I will modify the Steiner pages, as I want to create something with my own descriptions based on doing some research of my own, which will then allow me to develop a deeper knowledge of the stamps from Newfoundland. ClassicStamps - the pages of PostmasterGS are absolutely incredible! I want to something along those lines with additional information and dig a bit deeper into the history. I am also going to spend a bit more time researching this as you suggest, both on the side of album production and the stories the stamps tell. You are too late about your warning in regards to collecting Germany, as I am already thinking of doing so, but I need to cut my teeth on something more manageable (which this seems). Having said that, if the right collection comes along at a good price, I won't be turning my nose up at it ;-)

You are all amazing and thanks for helping me think this through. I will keep you posted on how things progress.

You did good Oceanguy. Here is one link to a website for free album pages. I have used this site for many tears and it allows for all kinds of designs. Check out http://thestampweb.com .

Peter

Thank you Peter4522! I am going to check that site out and give it a try! Sounds like (from a quick read) it has the potential to make my life MUCH easier ;-)

Don't loose time to redo everything, order a $ 40 CD from Steiner's so you can use the boxes already made. You can open and edit the Steiner's page with LibreOffice Draw and change everything you want, it's a free software, ( actually it's an open source ) and it's replacement for Microsoft Office.

With everyone (just about) using the Steiner pages which generally get printed on standard 8.5 x 11 paper, there is really a sameness to these albums. I might suggest using larger sized album pages of the traditional variety from Scott, Lighthouse, Schaubek, etc.

I've found Schaubek's blank and quadrilled pages to be the best bargain, and they're very high quality pages of a larger album size which fit into their own binders (6-ring, 2-post, or springback). Although it would be possible using a wide-bed printer to print the Schaubek pages onto blank (not quadrille) Schaubek (or other) paper, it might be even more creative and satisfying to make your own "hand-drawn" (more or less) pages as collectors used to commonly do.

You don't have to hand draw all the little rectangles, but can simply mount stamps as you see fit using mounts which act as the rectangles themselves. Using quadrille (otherwise blank) paper allows you to line everything up neatly. Adding your own titles, brief identifiers, or explanations makes it personalized. The result is very sophisticated looking more personal pages.

If we all end up using Steiner pages, we're going to create a generation of standardized album pages which show no individuality whatsoever. Steiner pages are great, for sure, but especially when you are collecting one small area of the world, it might be worth trying this method from the olden days, and it's a lot of fun. You end up with stamps mounted more elegantly on larger pages you've designed. That gives a much more individualized look to your collection and adds more sophistication than sticking stamps into rectangles already made for you which, for all the thrift of Steiner's pages, is just what we used to do when we were kids.

Using Steiner pages produces no more "sameness" than using published albums. And while I do agree that the larger (than 8.5"x11") format pages and "hand-drawn" pages can have a better look (YMMY), one has to have the time and the creativity to make such pages. So for me, the Scott Nationals for my U.S. collection, the PSS Bureau and T&T albums for my U.S. precancels, the "Machin Nut's" intermediate album pages for Machin's, and Steiner's for my WW collection. I did make my own pages for my U.S. PNC collection, but it is just boxed on 8.5"x11" sheets.

That said, kudos to anyone who takes to the time (and effort) to create their own customized album pages.

One could also argue that using Steiner pages may increase the value of a collection slightly when it is sold, because such a collection when sold on its pages may match the other Steiner pages that a buyer has for other countries. For buyers already using Steiner, it would be more attractive because it is easier to integrate.