International Album Users- A Question

Approximately when did Amos change the paper type on these from the old original lightweight pages to the heavier stock? I recently bought two units of this album in original wrap, copyright on title pages is 1994. Am I OK in assuming these are the better page stock and therefore compatible with other units I may buy?

These pages have a yellowish tint that I don't recall on other International pages I've used. The shrink wrap appears to have creased/dinged all the pages at LR. Probably not a deal breaker but maybe better to just buy new pages to build my set.

It's hard to say for sure. Well, it is for me anyway but I think Scott/Amos increased the weight of the pages and darkened the color from "too white" (in my opinion) to "fairly pleasant yellow-white" some time in the 1990s. The increase in paper thickness was necessary because the earlier pages just did not hold up with use, and the holes tore repeatedly. The new weight of pages is significantly better in that regard. I also like the new color much better, personally.

The copyright dates would be a good guide to when this happened.

I'd also contact Amos Media (Scott Publishing) and just ask them. They have people trained to know things, unlike the usual phone answerers who just take orders but otherwise don't have a clue about the products they sell. Just tell the person who answers that you'd like to get in touch with someone knowledgeable about the International pages, etc. and they'll either give you someone's e-mail address or a phone number.

There is also a blog/forum called "Filling Spaces" which has had at one time or other some fairly detailed discussions of the history of the Scott International album and how it's evolved over the years, including recently. There may be a way to 'search' for these threads on that website -- or email the person in charge (blogmaster? forum-master?) who is very nice.
http://globalstamps.blogspot.com

One small complication was the Scott/Amos continued to sell their older International pages for some years until they ran out -- even after they made the changeover. So knowing what year pages were sold is not a reliable guide to which pages you're getting. Often on ebay (and this happened to me), it used to be possible to buy new/unused pages still in their shrink wrap which were sold not too many years ago, and just never used, so you thought they must be the newer pages -- but they weren't. Scott/Amos may have still been selling older pages at a fairly late date, still trying to get rid of old stock. Or another seller of Scott products might have been selling "new" old stock pages still in shrink wrap. Even today I still see new International pages on ebay that appear to be old stock, thinner, whiter pages -- and again, knowing their copyright date (or do the pages show a printing date--not sure?) may be a guide to which pages they are. I'd always ask the seller to confirm this -- if it matters to you. Some bargain hunters may not care. I do care because I want my albums to look consistent. A mixture of thin and thick, white and yellow pages looks very strange to me. Also, it seems to me that the older pages were a very small amount narrower (or was it shorter? can't recall for sure) -- but I could be wrong. In any case. older pages among newer pages will look different in your album. They are not the exact same size by a small margin of width, along with the different paper weight and color, as I've said.

Good luck

Drew great reply and thanks for the link.

I think buying older sets like this on ebay is asking for problems. You can at least expect consistency in page tint, etc if you buy from current stock. I have messaged the seller re the page damage on the sets I bought. I will need to look hard at these and decide how much of an issue this is for me.

Sometimes a bargain comes with a hidden price...

Stamps: I bought my original International Parts I through V around 1983 or '84. Part I was on fairly thick paper that has held up well. Part II was pretty thin. Other parts were generally OK. The tint was white. Outer edges are yellowing very slightly, not unexpected considering all the handling. I don't recall seeing a printing date on any of the parts.

I've added quite a few blank International quadrille pages. There I found that the Scott/Amos pages weren't as thick as the same G & K product bought from Subway, who I assume licensed the product from Scott/Amos. Having the blank pages hold up is important as I've "cycled out" all of the Part I pages for Portuguese colonies, and couple other countries, as the original Scott pages aren't comprehensive enough.

I took another look at the pages today. My inclination is to send them back. Part 1A was sent unwrapped and every page in that has some issue, all have a ding of several mm size on the LR. If this were on LL or UL it wouldn't be too apparent. As is it sort of ruins the appearance on them. Part 1B is still in original wraps I didn't take them out but they look to be dinged as well. I compared the 1A pages to some specialty pages I have and they look pretty yellow. There's a reason I got a good price o these. Seller said they were 'like new' etc.

Will order these from Amos once this is resolved.

I have 1994 copyright Part 1A and 1992 copyright Part 1B Big Blue 1840-1940 paper, and it is quite acceptable in thickness, and is a cream color.

It is certainly better than my 1969 copyright Big Blue, which is on a more white paper, and thinner.

But Amos might sell even thicker paper today. I note that my Minkus Supreme Global paper purchased last year from Amos is quite stout.

Just for the record, the main differences between the old and new Scott International pages which should be almost immediately noticeable to anyone are:

Older Scott International Pages (to 1980s? 1990s? Might still be sold as "new old stock")
Off-White color
Thin paper, very smooth feel, more delicate
Holes close to left margin where they tend to tear easily
Large SCOTT logo on left side of page

Newer Scott International pages:
More yellow-white color
Thicker paper, less smooth, more "rugged"
Holes farther from left margin to reduce tearing
Smaller SCOTT logo on left side of page

When combining the two types of pages, there will also be some difference in the right-hand margins. This is due to the placement of the holes on the two types, with older pages sticking out a little farther to the right compared to the newer pages. This gives albums which combine the two types of pages a somewhat messy appearance in that regard.

I prefer the newer version because it minimizes the "back-to-back" problem where for example Danish W Indies and Danzig are on the same piece of paper. As a reseller I much appreciate the newer version.