Best Catalogue For Beginners

Hello all,

First off I wanted to thank everyone that helped me with the #35 question I had last week here on the Canadian forum.

After purchasing a large lot (not necessarily kiloware, just someone's collection from ebay) I found that a majority of the stamps are Canadian. They very much interest me and I'd like to make Canadian stamps a big part of my collection.

That being said, which catalogue(s) would you recommend for a beginner? I'm having a hard time locating a Scott album dedicated to Canada (maybe I am looking in the wrong place). I also came across the Unitrade Specialized Catalogue for Canadian Stamps, would that be a good item to pick up?

Thanks again. My apologies if this has been asked before- I searched the forum but didn't find anything that answered my questions.

Best,

-wheatcent

wheatcent

Unitrade Catalouge is the only book you will need...N.S.S.C. (Newfoundland Specialized Stamp Catalouge) is an extra for Newfoundland stamps...Enjoy

Robert

@wheatcent I was in the same position as you about 18 months ago, and Unitrade has been invaluable. Not expensive, and one a couple years old is fine. Also covers all the Canadian provinces.

Free, online Canadian Stamp catalog
http://stampsmarter.com/features/Ca...ntifier.html

Don

Unitrade is a great catalog. Not only is it a thorough specialized catalog for Canada -- the only catalog you'll need if you collect that country -- but they licensed the Scott numbers for the regular Canadian issues. The many, many additional varieties they list get their own numbers. They stay basically consistent with the Scott format: special-purpose issues get their own letter prefix, minor varieties get a lowercase letter after the number, and so on.

This is especially convenient, as Unitrade collectors and Scott collectors will use the same numbers for the same (Scott-listed) varieties. Also, an Unitrade-listed minor variety of a Scott-listed major number will be understandable to a Scott collector (i.e. they'll know what the basic issue is). A Scott collector can also deduce that "Unitrade CL7" refers to a local/semi-official airmail, even if it isn't in the Scott catalog, because in Scott "C" is airmail and "L" is local. It works well, as Scott is the most popular general catalog in use in both the US and Canada.

Don, do you have a Great Britain version like Canada?

Hi Pasco,
No, sorry.
Don

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll be sure to pick up a copy. Looking forward to the new adventure in Canadian philately!

Have you seen stampworld? It's an online worldwide catalogue. You have to create an account, if you want to use it. It's probably not as good of a resource as the Canadian catalogue that was recommended by Don, but it's useful.

Collecting GB Stamps is a very good online resource for Great Britain. All GB stamps are listed along with date of issue, perf sizes, etc...

I am not able to provide links because I am new here. But if you do a search, I am sure you will find the above two.

Unitrade Canada Specialized is great.....surprised we are still stalking about it as a novelty - but life is life in the Stamp World and for $C35 you can get it......as compared to other pricey Catalogs......it is the Bible for CANADA and its Provinces except Newfounland.....they were late into our Confederation and have their own.....which I do not own right now lol !