Figuring Out Sizes For Older Stamps.

Hello!I'm in the process of making my own album of Bulgarian stamps from 1879 until 1949.. The problem is some of the older stamps I do not yet own I can't find the sizes of them online!only perforations... have you guys ever encountered this problem? do you have any solutions for it?Should I just make pages as I get the stamps?

Thanks!

-Michael T

Michael,

I'm running into this problem as well. Here are a couple of possible solutions:

1. Get a subscription to the Steiner pages (costs $50 currently). Convert the pdf file to MS Powerpoint (not free) or LibreOffice Draw (free). Click on the boxes and see what the dimensions are... This is tedious but highly accurate.

2. Get the "World Stamp Collector" database (search for it, it is free) and learn how to use it to generate Album Easy pages. I checked Bulgaria and it has most of the early issue sizes.

John

This should give you a good idea

http://worldstampalbum.com/Contents...x?ItemId=150

Here you can find album pages for Classic Bulgaria
https://bjornb.seymourfamily.com/bhb1/album-e.htm

Hey john!

just so you know powerpoint is actually free and does not require a membership microsoft offers these apps for free but they are cloud based/online and require internet and a free microsoft account :)

https://office(dot)live(dot)com/sta...int(dot)aspx once you login in with a msft account you have access to word/excel/powerpoint and all the other apps

Hi MaryMonty,

I actually saw that site before and his album is very good just not a fan of the comic sans and there are some mistakes in the pages both text and stamp order I have emailed the person who created it offering to translate to Bulgarian and even to correct the other stuff but I have yet to receive a reply!

Actually, you don't even have to install and learn the World Collector software, Collector Dave, the creator of World Collector, has exported many of his albums in AlbumEasy format. These can be downloaded here:
https://www.thestampweb.com/albums/...stamp-albums.
You can download and use the albums as is, as the basis for a custom album using AlbumEasy, or if you prefer, because AlbumEasy files are plain text files, you can simply edit the text file and copy the sizing information.

Edited to add: When I don't have the sizes, nor the stamps, I simply wait until I have representative issues of the necessary stamps that I can measure before creating a particular page.


Clive

Really cool to have you on here clive I actually discovered album easy prior to making an account on here and have been watching your tutorials on how to use album easy

also thanks for your help!

mic-8538,
I hope that you find the tutorials useful :)
I am always happy to help if you have any queries, I can be contacted via this forum once you have enough posts, or via the contact form on my website.
Clive

Michael,

You are quite right - Powerpoint is free for online usage. I have the offline access version, which requires the annual subscription to the office suite.

Clive,

Unless I missed it, Bulgaria is not one of the pre-made Album Easy files offered by Collector Dave at your site. There are a few pages of Bulgaria offered, but not much... To get the full monte, you have to download the database and take it from there. (Disclaimer - I am still a tyro when it comes to the database, as it takes quite an effort to figure out, with minimal help files available).

BTW, I am a big fan of your wonderful program Album Easy. It makes editing/creating your own pages a snap! For Steiner fans, it brings a whole new level of possibilities...

John

Note about Steiner. The boxes aren't always accurate, but they are close enough in most cases. Have been some that required changes, though.

Here is an example page from a Berlin album using AlbumEasy and the World Stamp Collector database. Very simple - no border (although any kind of border, including Steiner can be added easily).

AlbumEasy has one tremendous advantage compared to hacking Steiner pages using Powerpoint or LibreOffice Draw. No issues with fonts or spacing (you specify the fonts to be used throughout the pages) or centering of images if you choose to add images to your pages. The images will be perfectly centered, at the size you choose, within the stamp box. Not always the case when using the Powerpoint or Draw method...

I think this page probably took me ten minutes or less to do. With lots of pages under your belt, you will be spending a few minutes on each page!

John

p.s. Of course this page is cut down, and not a full sized page.

but how do you get the picture to be on scale then john?

Michael,

Great question. The bottom line is that it does not matter at all. In the AlbumEasy source file, the image is scaled down to fit the stamp box. Assuming the stamp box size is correct (actual stamp dimension + 3 mm space, for example), the image will be scaled down appropriately inside of the box. All of which is customizable.

Neat!

John

John,
I am pleased that you find AlbumEasy useful :)
Thanks for the vote of confidence. Your sample page looks great.

You are right about the premade World Collector Bulgaria album, unfortunately, it only contains a few pages and ends in 1901, I hadn't taken a close look.
Clive

Having encountered the original question- How to find the sizes of stamps not in your possession. If you have the perf size and find an image of the stamp online. Simply count the perfs along the width or length, Divide that # by the perf size and multiply by 2. That's the size in cm. Again,tedious but workable.