Either Sg Catalog Or Colnect Is Having A Bad Day.

So today I got my (orange) 1980 simplified Stanley Gibbons World Stamp Catalogue and I tried looking up a stamp in the big book. I then tried to look up the SG# in stamp cataloging website. I could not find it, I then realized the book doesent seem to have catalog number for it but still had a number for it I am confused, how do I read this catalog?




I tried look up the #53 2 cents, but Ca 53 is not the catalog number and the finer number 268 for example are the catalog numbers. So why don't all the stamps have an SG number?

They do. The number in bold below the illustration isn't a catalogue number, but an illustration number ("figure 53", one might call it). It takes you to the issues that use that design, which bear the actual catalogue number. For instance, if you look at illustration 63, you find the stamps in that design have catalogue numbers 319-3324. You may also find that catalogue numbers have changed since 1980. The simplified catalogues do not include all of the stamps that appear in Gibbons's main catalogues.

I know you are on a tight budget so I will only suggest that you look carefully at the introduction pages up front. They should tell you how to use the catalogue and give a few pointers on stamp basics. I will reserve my real advice until later.

@GeoffHa

I cannot find out where the figure # catalog number breakdown is, I read the introduction but no dice.

First column is the catalogue number, second column in bold typeface is the image number.

You might find the second listing after the image has catalogue number 287 and image number 53 in bold typeface. It looks l ike catalogue number 276, should have had a bold 53 in the second column as well.

oh I am so smart! I found it on the next column just a few glances away, I don't know how I mist that but atleast now I know, thanks!

Is image nr. 47 similar to 53, but with 1 cent?

Yes, more or less it says it's from 1928, making sure it's the same catalog? I think I'll use the firgure numbers to keep track of my "type" stamps, I ain't really into to the subtle varieties.

The website search has some problems also.

Joe, I use the SG catalogues nearly all the time but I find I sometimes need to go back and read the instructions in the front of the SG catalogues, The orange "Stamps of the World" catalogue is simplified, which can perversely make it harder to identify the stamp you are trying to identify. If you have countries that yu specialise in I would recommend you get the Catalogue dealing with that area. Unless you have access to unlimited ice packs and acetominophen I wouldn't recommend the SG Great Britain specialised catalogues. I have spent an hour reading one sometimes and come away with nothing but a headache and a suspicion that i'm more dum than I thought.