Billigs Handbooks : Seek Full Set.

(Other thread 2012) locked.

Still looking for a full set (44 volumes)
Have been discussing with Leonard Hartmann
He is offering 32 cloth books for $525 shipping to Oz $327 (50Lbs= 23 Kg) Priority Air Mail (US no longer offers surface rates)
That's about $1,400 Australian.

Any comments please? what are "cloth" editions?
Will it be difficult to find the 44 volumes from 1 vendor?
Any tricks, "heads up" advice please.
I feel like remaining patient for the hardcover types.

Thanks all.

http://www.centralfloridastampclub....2011insa.pdf

"Cloth" is a synonym for hardback, Rod.

Thanks Randy,



Well I never! really!?
Never met with that before, thanks Geoff.
I still find that hard to believe.

So, $565 for 1-32 that leaves $300 for 33-44 makes around $27 each
based on a CV of about $900 US for the set.

Def cheaper to buy the entire set.

some of the 33-44 are going for $60 and upwards.

I wouldn't consider it an investment, but they should hold their value over the next 10 years.

For what its worth, there are no paperback versions. Also you might already know that a group of later volumes from about #34 are The Robson Lowe Commonwealth encyclopedia books reprinted, so if you have those already, it's just duplication. If you don't, they seem to be more reasonably priced in a near-set than the original volumes are nowadays.

I've seen almost no 100% complete sets on collector or dealer bookshelves over the years, so it might be a real job to get a complete set. You certainly can get close. Be aware there are revised volumes with somewhat different content so using an index in other volumes might lead you to an article where you don't have the right edition. Been there, done that. The indexes do tell you if something is in the original or revised volumes, though. You might start building volume by volume since the Billigs are often offered that way and maybe just try to be selective IF a seller will give you the list of contents. I only have one or two Billigs myself. All the stuff online and/or downloadable nowadays is probably a better quality resource, in my view.

And then there's the Stamp Specialist series and the Congress books. Just like in Billigs, there's fluff that makes good reading that you will never use ranging to some seriously useful articles. I am missing just one volume of the Stamp Specialist series (bought that way long ago) and I do have the volume with the full index, but it's a major matter of being able to know/remember something is there in the first place. It also refers to volumes by color, so am I looking for the faded green book or the faded emerald one? Making a cumulative index of every philatelic reference I have was attempted once but was taking way too much time for my taste. Shuffling links of online references is bad enough and they don't always point to specific content I'm looking for. A tip of the hat to you to be able to find the references from your collection you've shown on SCF.

Cloth bound/hardbound: The Stamp Specialist series is hardbound, with perfect bound/stitched pages. But the outer covers are paper-covered boards of varying quality and therefore faded on shelves long ago. The spines will probably fall off eventually.

In fact, and sadly, most hardbacked books no longer have the attractive cloth covers - which, as a description, differentiates from leather/Morocco bound.

Thanks HB, for your experience, helpful and saved.




Yes, I can find anything I have come across in the past 20 years, in about 30 seconds tops.
(depending on the text strings I used, and improved over the years)
I sought partners off and on over the years, but no one showed any interest.
It is bearing fruit for me now.




Yes I have some of those, there are indexes on line somewhere,
I just type in "The stamp specialist" and up pops the contents.
Mahogany for example

My Mahogany example was Gifted to "Phil" from Bill Powers, 10 days before my birthday.
Then pencilled, Gary Watson (Prestige Philately?) 1988 $19

Billig's — Anthology
Billig, Fritz. BILLIG'S HANDBOOKS. Published 1942-1961. #1-44 edition. HB. 44 vols. Illus. Worldwide scope, incs. the reprints of Lowe's Encyclopedia of the British Empire. Vols 1-4 are the latest editions. Some cover wear and small flaws but in good readable condition throughout with tight bindings and intact pages.
Literature #5468 | Price: $975.00 | Your Price: $828.75
https://www.philbansner.com/philate...-results.htm
Billig's — Handbooks
Billig, Fritz. BILLIG'S HANDBOOKS. Published 1942-1961. #1-44 edition. HB/49 vols. All editions. With index for vols. 1-32. Vol 33 U.S. fancy cancels. Vols. 34-43 reprint of Robson Lowe's British Empire series. Vol 44 Guidelines to the Penny Black.
Literature #11997 | Price: $1,100.00 | Your Price: $935.00
https://www.philbansner.com/philate...-results.htm

Search Billig's. Sorry there are no items that match your search.
Want list only.

Thank you all, gentlemen.
Sit rep.

I was seconds away from pulling the trigger on the Literature #11997
Then some colleagues advised reflection on the current shipping situation.
I am not a tad confused, and shall currently pause.
Total was around $1,500 ship (in 2 boxes) with $1,000 insurance cover.

The following from a recent Harmer Schau sale 122.




Just take your time and watch everything

Mike

Thank you Mike,
that has to be, (for me) the biggest shock I have had in Philately.
Generally speaking, $900 is the going rate for 44 Vols.

I doubt very much, I will see that price again, but it certainly brings me back to earth.

Thanks for posting.

Hi Rod,

Check out Abacus auctions, lot 604 in the current auction.

Opening at $38 for Vols. 1-30 & 34-35




EDIT: They also have all 6 volumes of Lowe's Encyclopedias.

Thanks Bobby,
If I manage to get it, I am happy to pay for a dinner with your wife
at a place of your choice. (Sorry no alcohol inc)
Appreciate the heads up.

UPDATE
Bobby, sure you have the correct auction
I had searched the auction last week for Literature, without anything piquing my fantasy.

I look at Lot 605 now, and it is in "coins"


Oops..found it !

What am I missing?
Cheers my friend.

Wow!
I am going to have to learn to refresh my browser.
I missed all those.

I was in contact with Abacus this morning, I was eyeing off a 34Kg
lot, and was curious about ship.
They cannot give an estimate without knowing dimensions of the lot.
They do get reduced rates, based on volume.

Cheers Rod, happy to help as always!

Hi Bobby,
sorry, you missed out on a dinner for two

I took it up to $650, (Abacus Estimate = $50)then had a glitch, I pressed the bid button, without success, and away it went.
No worries, I was really at my limit, based on the fees $200
I can get some other time.
I was the underbidder.

The Robson Lowes all went above what I would pay,
One book may have reached a world record price.

I came away with a carton of Literature for $46

I enjoyed that, you have to be on your toes, approx 6 secs between bids, before it is knocked down.

The Auctioneer has an amazing Philatelic knowledge

Geoff Kellows Victoria Catalogue reached $300 ?
Have to Check.

Keep an eye out for me for Billigs please.
Curious the Robson Lowe was not under Literature.
Over and out.