Preferred Type Of Labeling "Spare Stamps"?

I've walked around this question in a previous thread, and I'm still undecided as to what to do.

Is it "better" to label those stamps without an album space with the Scotts number, or year?

I've got several hundred to apply this to, and want to do it "right". Of course they will be sorted by country and type (regular, airmail, postage due, etc.). The stamps will be mounted on plain Scotts quadrille pages, and I am not looking for more "work" than a simple ID.

Thank you!

Isn't this a duplication of a thread you started already? Why start another one?


"How do you organize / label your "extra" stamps in your album(s)?"

Unless the duplicate stamps have something which adds to the collection, such as an unusual cancel or year dated cancel, why add them?

I have thousands of duplicates and I use them as give-aways to students in my college classes or when I get a nice group, I sell it on ebay. I've also donated thousands of stamps to the APS's "Stamps Teach" program for a tax deduction.

Chris2015 - I started this thread so as to isolate the specific question. The other thread went off in various directions and this question was not specifically addressed.

Stampman2002 - I am not talking of duplicates. I am referring to stamps that are not space allocated in the Scotts International Albums.

Are these duplicates or varieties of stamps in Scott that do not have discrete Scott numbers. If the latter, I usually notate them with "var" after the Scott Number.

If the former, there is no "right way" just do whatever way you feel makes sense to YOU. It's your collection, and you organize it the way you want.

I find the benefit of writing something is that it helps me to remember why I kept it! So I'd add something along the lines of "SG250, 30/11/1895, shade" etc.

Ahh, I see the problem now.

It really is a matter of personal choice. If it were me, I'd add the page and note the year at the top, along with the name of the issue(s), the add the stamps, with the catalog number underneath. If it is a short set, you can probably add a couple of them to each page. If longer, you might need to use just one page for that series, or even a couple of pages.

It's much like making your own album pages.

Well, thanks to you and the Forum, I have come to a decision. On the blank quadrille pages I'll sort by type of postage, group as best I can, and label with Scotts number and year.

To most the answer to the question is rather obvious (to them). For me, being back in the hobby heavily for only a short time, I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something. It would not be fun to get midway into the process and realize I should have done it differently so as to conform to what long term "pro" collectors do.

Thanks again!

Agree with GEOFFHA ,write something .If I have one or three stamps I place them on the side margins with a No.2 pencil note as to why it is there . As more stamps get on the page ,then I include a separate page. I erase my pencil notes and put a note at the bottom to see the next page .