Finding A Home For Those "Other" Stamps............

Using the Scott International pages, I've found that most of my stamps have a designated assigned place. But, after about five years, I find myself with at least 1000 stamps that are "homeless".

As talked about in an earlier post, I decided to use Scotts quadrille pages and label these stamps with the Scott number and year(s).

Well, I'm through the "A" countries and I've found a home for each of the "leftovers" - using the Scott's catalogue and ebay and other sources for identification.

Anyway, what I've found is:

- the majority of the stamps fall into categories that Scott didn't print on their pages (i.e. Argentina gov't overprints).
- some of the stamps were duplicates (already placed).
- some actually had a place in the album, but I had overlooked it.
- some in a series were of a value that Scott chose to ignore.

Of course none of the above is a surprise. That said, I was pleased that I - so far - have found a home for each of the stamps, and perhaps more importantly, am having a heck of a good time in the process. Thinking about it, isn't that what a hobby is all about?

Steiner accomodates, should you be interested.

I've considered doing this as well, but isn't it a pain to take the album apart everything you want to add extra pages?

Or do you take the album apart once and go through and add 1 or 2 blank pages after each country?

Good question. My original thing was to add the blank pages where I thought I would need them, which I did. But now that I'm starting the actual process, I realize it will be a pain having to keep the album apart or just add pages one by one, etc.

Soooo, what I'm doing is building pages up on the work desk, and putting them aside. When I finish one album (I have 8), then I'll open the album up and place the pages where they belong.

As we surely agree, the less handling we do with the album, the better.

That's why I choose a three ring binder style for my albums. It is very easy to add or move pages.

"isn't it a pain to take the album apart everything (everytime ?) you want to add extra pages?............" Like Mobilman, I use Scott International binders. I do try to "batch" pages when I work. Meaning if I'm using the blank quadrille pages, I'll finish mounting a multi-page project before inserting them into the album.

"the less handling we do with the album, the better........" I don't think it matters how often an album gets handled, or taken apart, as long as the actions are done carefully, not haphazardly. Most of my binders were purchased around 1983-85, at the same time I bought Parts I through V of the International pages. Those binders have held up well with 30+ years of handling. Of course, I have no kids, no cats, and don't drink coffee. ;-)