Rational Catalogue Prefixes And Suffixes Discussion

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I don't think that different configurations like horizontal and vertical pairs need suffixes.

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Hibernian (Ireland) provides an example for its stamps T69-T71. These are pairs that, if you split them up, may be difficult to discern from T66-T68 and T72-T74. T69-T71 are numbers for pairs and come with suffixes v and h for the vertical and horizontal pairs, respectively.

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How would you list:
US Scott # 505 and its brothers?

In reviewing the catalog, there seem to be standard varieties such as perfs, shades, horizontal pairs, and errors. There may be a few others but everything seems to be of a nature that is covered by the standard suffixes I have proposed. All that said, I am not knowledgeable regarding US philately, so please assist me in understanding if I missed something. I have been working from a standard Scott 2009 catalog set. Do I need to review the Classic Specialized for more varieties?

Inverts not printed in error but by design, especially in the proof versions, e.g.1869 issue?

My assumption is that Scott provides notes covering the nature of such issues (I can't find them in my standard Scott's. A catalog adapting a more helpful prefix system should be satisfactory

JPJ perfs, 12, 11x12 and 11 as well as the current 1289BL

Perfs would be numbered- p1, p2, p3, etc. This way users would know these are perf varieties, and the catalog would provide detail in the same way it does currently.

Color missing errors, will the missing color(s) be accounted for?

Yes. These would be listed as errors, or "e" numbers, and the catalog would list details on which is/are missing. If there is more than one error listed, they would be e1, e2, etc. How nice would it be to be able to look for only "e" numbers if that's what you collect?


US 1341 is not listed as air in Scott but is listed as such in other catalogs. How long must the stamp be "special" before being general? !341, two weeks; Q1-12, JQ1-5 were just 6 months, so what is the break? Or all of the now valid Airmail stamps no longer restricted to airmail service usage?

A bit beyond my knowledge- for stronger philatelists than myself.
That said, all stamps should only be listed one way, forever, in my opinion.

What about a document tax stamp R which is repurposed to collect non-document taxes on US postage and value of incoming foreign parcel post matter separate from delivery fee, custom clearance fee and duty fee? In such usage it was to collect a 'postage tax due' your "RAJ" prefix.

Very complex but your analysis makes sense to me.

With your NG (No Gum) do you mean NGAI or Gummed as issued but now not gummed. What about gum errors where a stamps is fully ungummed when the issue was intended to be gummed--this is only demonstrated by multiples of ungummed stamps with attached fully gummed stamps.

Excellent catch - ng is removed in my next iteration as it serves no purpose for cataloging minor varities.

"f" listing would require what level of plate flaw? Will that include a flaw caused by a flawed transfer roll.

High enough level to be catalogued. A topic beyond my knowledge as I don't collect plate flaws. SG does a good job with plate flaws- needs to be obvious when the stamp is observed casually. Bermuda plate flaws, as an example, which have been covered in great detail by DIckgeisser (in the book you sold me) are exceptionally voluminous and so most can't or shouldn't be catalogued.

Watermarks you list, "w" and "wi" but there are reversed and sideways (both left and right) watermarks, with some such by error and some printed without regard to the watermark's position on the paper in reference to the finished printed stamp design. There also watermark errors such as the "USIR" US examples on postage stamps.

You found another defect in my system. I will think about how to correct this so it's simple and useful.

Bisect, "b" is that for authorized examples only, unauthorized but accepted examples and what about unauthorized and rejected bisect examples. Then there are the trisected stamps.

Scott's currently lists these stamps as "a & b" varieties, so I included bi in this proposed system. The level of detail you're exploring is deep. Perhaps there is a need for a trisect suffix? I need guidance.

Your, "AIR POST SPECIAL DELIVERY CE" would than include the current airmail only listed stamps, e.g. US C3 which included the SD service fee as part of the face value? What about when US Special Handling stamps where expanded from paying for Special Handling (a service between post offices) to include for the same price, Special Handling and Special Delivery ( a service between a post office and addressee)? There, the initial printings (QE1-4) were made when only SH was provided but later printing (QE1-3 and QE1a-3a; QE4a was produced before the service expansion but without checking detailed records I cannot say now that it also went to press after the service expansion) over decades paid for both SH and SD. Of course while still valid after 1997, the SD service was no longer provided as part of the SH fee collected.

Not trying to reinvent the wheel, just simplify and enhance existing systems. Decisions on what goes where is an editorial one, well above my pay grade (and knowledge for that matter).

So while the general majority of items in any nomenclature system will fall into place, it is the minority items which will cause the head aches. Eventually, one gets to a point that one often just concedes, "this is good enough" and moves on. Of course just because a new system make 100% complete and logical sense, how many folks would remount their collections into the newly purchased albums which reflect the new 100% complete and logical listing method. Those who do not make the change will continue to use the old catalog system as the new would provide them little usefulness.

So when you need a break for thinking about the new identifying system for stamps; think about what you call that thing on the floor of your car, gas pedal, go pedal, semi-gas pedal or semi-go pedal? Yet on a cycle with pedals, the pedal is the pedal when you must pedal even with "go" assistance; yet they are still called pedals when attached but not needed because you have a "go-throttle" on your pedal machine whether it has one, two or three wheels. Electric cars are motor vehicles but electric cycles (those with throttles) are neither motor vehicles nor motor cycles.

Now that sheds light, I trust, on why 100% complete and logical never exists --- HUMAN POLITICS,

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How would you differentiate shades other than with an "s" suffix, since there may be numerous shades for a single issue?

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Ah, now I get the "normal" thing. This is frequent when a stamp is more common as variety than normal. Of course, if your intention is to have a rational listing, why continue this and not assign a main number to the normal stamp and give the variety a 'variety' listing? 'Rational' listings should not compromise.

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DISCLAIMER: I'm a Michel homer, and I love their system of prefixes and suffixes.

I personally think attempting to get specific within things like paper varieties (thick, thin, chalky, etc.), would quickly become unworkable on a worldwide scale.

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For example, the 1 cent blue Franklin, Scott numbers 5 through 9, is just a single number. Michel uses suffixes to denote all the varieties listed in Scott. I can hear the howls from the well-heeled collectors already. If it's not a major number the price will probably drop precipitously.

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I need more examples to understand what you are trying to propose here. Let me try to see if I understand...

USA Scott 554 design A157 perf 11x11 flat plate.
Would your new catalog number be something like this?
157.p11x11

Then the same design A157 Scott 634A die II perf 11x10.5 rotary press,
157.dII.p11x10.5

and 634b die I carmine lake shade,
157.dI.p11x10.5.s2

Seems awfully complicated, please clarify my misunderstandings.

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My concern with the system used by Michel is that there are a lot of "I's" and "II's" as well as "a's" and "b's," none of which convey useful into to sellers and collectors.