Reliable Catalogues For Issue Dates

PomDave:

You have encountered the same delimma that has confronted stamp collectors and postal historians since the day the second stamp or cover was encountered:
"What exists?"

But no one else has wanted to look at the data in the same way that you do, because you are unique, and look at things from a different point of view.

The solution is the one that countless collectors have taken:
"Create your own catalog."

So, get out your trusty Spreadsheet, and start tabulating information. The following is a simplistic approach, but you should get the idea:

• Create the list of stamps of interest by country


• Record the catalog numbers for the stamps with the numbers used in your catalogs


• Add any descriptive information you desire


• Create a column for the "official" release date if available from the issuing Agency


• Create a column for the release date associated for each catalog or other source.


• Start recording dates


• Perhaps start a column for unofficial sources for the release date, like newspapers or philatelic publications, especially if they show a date different from the "official" sources. Add a column to record the source.


• Look for First day covers if they exist

Eventually you will find a pattern, who has the best information, the most consistent information, etc. But in the long run, it is YOU who will have to decide what is accurate and reliable, and who is not.

Then help out the philatelic world, share and publish what you learn.

That's the nature of the beast.

Good luck, and enjoy.


Mike

I'd suggest that simply using cancellation dates on First Day Covers (if they exist) might be the a good way to go...

Best Regards,

InforaPenny

Much of the information in stamp catalogs is public domain; stamp color, number produced, denomination, stamp design, issue date, series name, etc. Catalog number do not meet the 'creativity' criteria to be copyrighted although some catalog publishers threaten and saber rattle about this topic. From my lay-person chair, the only content which could be declared as being under copyright are the images they use, the values they assign, and certainly any articles, introductions, and advertising that might accompany the primary catalog information for each stamp.

For many years the USPOD published all the information that was typically found in all the US stamp catalogs in their annual publication "Postage Stamps of the United States 1847-XXXX". These USPOD books had a wealth of information in them and were easily attainable at little or no cost. Yet collectors would rather pay significant amounts for a catalog number and a 'catalog value' which did/does not reflect actual market values?

And of course, much of the stamp issue information is also published by various countries and made available through the year of issue. For example, the USPS currently issues its quarterly "USA Philatelic Catalog".
Don