Thank You To The Author(S) Of The Big Blue Blog!

I have used this blog to identify many stamps for the Scott International pages and it has been absolutely fantastic. I know one of the owners is "Jim", and I just wanted to pass along my thanks.

I know the task was huge, and several helped out, but I can attest it was well worth the effort to this "average" stamp collector.

THANK YOU !

Thanks Mobilman...

I started the blog in 2011 as I was putting my stamps into Big Blue.

I figured if I was going to do a checklist, others could use it too.

Since then, I have expanded the purpose to include a review intended for WW collectors of a country's classical era's stamps.

I'm not sure why there is confusion about the author/owner of the blog- it is me, and me alone.

True, at times I invite guest bloggers, and Bud, who has completed a BB, shows off his pages.

But I research/prepare/design/format/upload all the blog posts, and I am the sole author of the vast majority of entries.

Jim Jackson
bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com

Jim Jackson, one and only "owner" of BigBlue 1840-1940.

There have been several invited guest blog post written by others, including myself . Sometimes when Bud posts his pages, it is listed at the top "Bud's Big Blue" which may have led to some confusion by some folks.

Anyway, yes, a great blog and great asset for classic worldwide collectors!

Thus, I will add my thanks to Jim as well.

-Chris

Jim, I thought you were the "Man", but didn't want to assume.......

Your efforts are greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Jim Jackson, one and only "owner" of BigBlue 1840-1940.

Thanks for the kind comments and remarks mobilman, Chris, and Bee See .

It is very much appreciated!

This is indeed a fantastic resource and thank you, Jim!!

A superb resource, in fact. The confusion over whose blog it is comes, I think, from the internet habit of everyone using a "handle" instead of their real name, a practice I've always found both confusing and a bit silly. So, usually, you have no idea who "that" person really is. It's like we're all wearing masks. A truly unfortunate practice.

But, yes, Jim has produced a really first-rate resource. And it's available for printing out, too, which would make for a nice guide to what stamp belong where, which stamps can be substituted for impossible-to-find similar stamps, which easy-to-find stamps Scott (stupidly) left out, and so on. It ought to be a handbook used by most Scott International (oops, sorry, Big Blue) collectors, the "how to do it right" manual to the album. Someone ought to publish it in glorious color. I'd buy a copy.

I certainly agree. Tough my own 'project' is radically different, Jim's approach is 'governed' by pre-printed album pages (big blue or deep blue...) and I find myself unable to follow those limits. I still find plenty of useful information and inspiration in Jim's work, keep going Jim. Thank you for keeping a great resource for any WW collector.
Jon

I too want to chime in with thank. Useful and entertaining too. I really appreciate it!

Drew, Jon, and Joe - appreciate the complements.


Danish West Indies - from Bud's Big Blue

The Big Blue Checklist is indeed quite helpful for Big Blue collectors (Scott International Part I 1840-1940 album) because, after the first 10,000 common classical era stamps are put in, one has to pay more attention to what spaces are remaining. The Big Blue editors were somewhat capricious in terms of their space choices for this "representative album", and a guide is useful if one wishes to "collect to the album".


Austria "Coat of Arms" Issue in Deep Blue (Steiner)

Jon's comment that his stamp project is "radically different" (He uses stock pages to organize his collection) reflects an approach that is more common in Europe, although perhaps increasing in popularity here also. The nice thing about stock pages is one can organize them however one wants (simply, or complex for a detailed stamp issue study). And no add-on mounts or (shudder) hinges. I certainly grant that.

But the leisurely laid out Deep Blue (Steiner) pages usually afford room for a bit more detailed grouping stamp study also, as my "working page" for Austria illustrates. And one can additional quadrilled pages if necessary.

Jim, Nice page I know you have found a very good system for your needs. I applaud your way of doing things.

As a comparison, the Coat of arms set housed on the very first line on the Steiner Austria page is taking about 2 Grande pages in my Austria album. Then again, specialists that are using more specialized reference probably need even much more space. Nothing wrong or right, better or worse, main thing is to find a system that suits your preference. Thank you Jim for being an inspiration for more collectors to 'expand their horizon' when it comes to collecting WW stamps.

Hey Jim, I like that HORIC (Czech) cancel

Austrian Empire 1816-1867

Bee-See, you bring up a great point about early Austria - the huge territory and languages (German, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Ruthenian, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Romanian, Italian, Hebrew & Yiddish, and Ukrainian) that the Empire encompassed.

There were over 10,000 possible post office cancellations for the "Coat of Arms" issue.

He he, I like it Jim - you start thinking like a postmark collector, for which early Austria is a goldmine!


Great chart of the Austrian empire! It could be pointed out that these early stamps were also used in post offices outside the empire itself ( which most of you are already aware)

Just started collecting big blue this year thanks to Jim Jackson and his wonderful blog. I'm at 14,500 and growing...

Thanks again, Jim.....Ray