2022 Scott US Specialized Catalog Changes

Just got the 2022 Scott Specialized Catalogue of US Stamps and Covers.

To my great surprise, two previously present sections have been removed.

To quote Amosadvantage.com: (text bolding and color are my changes)

"NEW FOR 2022! An amazing 80 pages of images were added to post 1994 stamps picturing everything to make identification easier. Because of this addition, two sections were removed from the U.S. Specialized catalogs and turned into separate publications: the Scott Stamp Values U.S. Specialized By Grade, 2022 and the Scott Identifier Of Definitive Stamp Issues, 2022, 1st Edition. By purchasing this bundle you will receive all three titles.

2022 Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers

The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers is the essential reference work for collectors of United States postage stamps and postal history. The catalog also includes listings for postal stationery, revenue stamps, hunting permit (duck) stamps, essays, trial color, die and plate proofs, Confederate States of America, U.S. possessions and territories, and United Nations stamps.

Scott Identifier of Definitive Stamp Issues, 2022, 1st Edition

It's now even easier to identify stamps while using your Scott catalog. The Illustrated Identifier, formerly included near beginning of the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States and Covers, is being published as a separate book for the first time. The 2022 first edition of the Scott Identifier of Definitive Stamp Issues will be available for purchase later this year as a softcover book featuring 6-inch-by-9-inch pages in a two-column format.

Scott Stamp Values U.S. Specialized by Grade, 2022

Here's some great news for collectors of graded U.S. stamps: The popular section in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States and Covers that provides market values in eight different grades for selected U.S. stamps is available again as a stand-alone publication. The 2022 edition of Scott Stamp Values U.S. Specialized by Grade will be published later this year as a softcover book featuring 6-inch-by-9-inch pages in a single-column format."

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In other words, if you want to know the values of a stamp in any grade other than the Scott default of VF80, this 2022 catalog is useless; no more yellow bordered pages section. We will have to wait for Amos to get around to publishing the deleted sections. Until then, we'll have to carry our old catalogs to shows and auctions.

PDF the grading pages and load them onto your device(s).

I never referenced Scott grading values anyway. PSE publishes a great pocket sized value guide that is more in tune with the market Siegel uses PSE data.

The real problem with removing the yellow pages is that one always knew exactly where postage ended and the airmails began. If one uses the catalog on a daily basis it made life just a bit easier. I noticed those two missing sections immediately because of that; the whole "rhythm" of basic searching changed.

I know people who have done that; it's too much like work. It usually takes me a few hours of working with it and I am back to knowing about where the things I usually need to see are.

I assume they will charge for the new booklet, so it is a defacto price increase for the catalog. It might backfire on them if some people only order the new booklet instead of the full catalog.

The definitive guide being separate does have advantages and for the stamps issued for the first 174 years should not change much so buying one of these every four or five years or more makes sense if one is not concerned about the definitive issues of this century after 2021. Me I use the identifier from an older catalog while using the listing pages of my most current. Then I will pick up the stand-alone ID guide perhaps in 2026 or 7.

For those worried about graded stamps, they don't need the catalog as the certificate providing the grade identifies the Scott Number as part of the certificate. And as pointed out said information is available elsewhere besides Scott which can be more up to date regarding population counts as well. Scott does not list population counts on high grades. Additionally Scott limits what stamps it provides graded pricing for while any stamp can be graded.

Me, I use post-it notes to mark my sections of interest.

My 2022 US Specialized is not yet in my hands and when it is I will see the additions. Then I will know if I find them worthy.

I was not aware of the change when I purchased a 2022 for my Dad. I did not see the bundle option but was not looking for it either since I knew nothing about it. The graded pricing is also in Linn's and the identifier does not change much.

The box it came in was oversized so there was room for about 1/2-inch book.

"population counts"

The PSE pop reprots are only for PSE graded. Does not include those graded by any other service. Not saying they should include the others since they don't all grade the same (for instance PSAG tends to be more liberal), but the numbers are still a bit misleading. More misleading is when a stamp graded by another service is offered and the PSE pop number is quoted.