Choosing the right album  

 

I need some advice, please.

Since I'm collecting mostly used singles, I thought I would get actual albums (rather than stock books). I'm thinking of getting one for the US, one for Canada, and one for Japanese stamps.

I know there are a variety out there to choose from, so here are some of the issues I'm considering:

1. I don't want a "beginner's album" where there are very few spots to fill and I'd have to make my own spaces or add extra pages for anything other than the most common stamps.

2. On the other hand, my collection is mostly NOT rare stuff, so I don't need a pre-printed spot for absolutely every possible variation. (I'm not actually sure if this is an issue or not. Do albums ever include a spot for inverted Jennies?)

3. Would it be best to stick to a Japanese maker for the Japanese album? If so, does anyone know what the big names are in the Japanese stamp album world?

4. I've seen some "print your own" CD-ROMs, but they don't appear to have much detail. I don't need a full paragraph on each commemorative, but at least a title and catalog number would be good.

5. In this thread, http://goscf.com/t/56717

I saw some great album pages made by members of the forum. I wouldn't mind trying that myself (either for special issues that weren't included in the album, or for certain years before or after those included in the album). But I think it would be too difficult and time-consuming to make an entire album that way.

Anyway, what do you think are the best albums out there? All advice appreciated. Thanks.

If you're looking for good coverage that largely omits the very rare and very expensive stamps, the Minkus Global Supreme provides comprehensive coverage including spaces for many complete sets and a good many rare and uncommon stamps. Scott International is a very popular choice, but has far less spaces than Minkus. Both albums are world wide volumes, so if you think you might expand beyond US, Canada, and Japan, then they may be a good choice for you. Neither the Minkus Global Supreme nor the Scott International are perfect albums, and both have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Your other option is the Scott Specialized albums for the countries that interest you. Note that the Scott Specialized for the US is called the "National Album." These albums will provide spaces for every major numbered stamp in the Scott catalog, but do not generally include any spaces for minor varieties. Yes, the National Album has a space for the Inverted Jenny on its own separate page.

Hope that helps.

If you are only collecting a few countries, a specialty country album that has all the spaces works out better in the long run. "Representative" albums one tends to outgrow.

I use both Big Blue (Scott International Albums) and the Minkus Global Supreme albums as I am a WW collector. But if I was only collecting a few countries, a specialty country album would be my choice.

U.S. - Mystic or Scott National Album

Mystic's Premium Hingeless American Heirloom Album Volume I 1847-1934

Canada - Scott Specialty for Canada or?

Japan - Steiner pages, or more elegantly, a Palo Album

http://www.stampalbums.com/

All of these albums follow the Scott catalogue for spaces.

Or you could save a lot of money and just use Steiner pages for all three countries

I make my own pages so I can include what I do want and collect and not what somebody else thinks I should collect. I can also choose what type of paper to use, which at present is 110 lb. cardstock. There are a number of great programs available to create your own pages, but it's a lot of work. Once you get above 50 posts, I can email you some samples of the pages I developed using PowerPoint.

Here is a link to Japan hingeless albums sold by a British specialist dealer:

http://www.japanphilatelic.com/prod...1-1871-1945/

Probably more specialized than the OP was looking for but IMO bargain priced and standard size three ring pages.

White Ace makes Japan albums, and their pages usually include a small write-up of the stamps depicted on each page IIRC. https://www.washpress.com/showWhite...p?themeId=12

Check out Lindner for your Canadian collection. Expensive when new but you can buy used. It has a space for every stamp without going nutty on varieties. Best protection money can buy.

Thanks again for all the advice, everyone.

I was able to get a used, hingeless Scott album for Japan up until 1991. (It sounds like Scott isn't making them anymore themselves. Maybe they're collaborating with Schaubek?) Anyway, that will keep me busy for a while.

I love the hingeless idea, but they REALLY are expensive.

I also like the fact that it includes the Scott Catalog numbers for each stamp. Do any of the other albums follow Scott? Or do I need to buy Scott albums only if I want Scott numbers?

One of the privileges of being a Scott Speciality album is they get to use Scott numbers in the spaces because Scott also has the catalogue, and they were the same company (now Amos Advantage).

Any other company album that uses Scott numbers in their spaces will get sued for copyright violation. The exception is if one buys a permit to do so, or is allowed to do so, as I think the U.S. Mystic album has them.

However, the Steiner pages follows the layout of the Scott catalogue almost exactly for major numbers, so quite easy to figure out the Scott numbers for the spaces, even though there are no Scott numbers printed for the spaces.

JPR,

I know this isn't going to help. I have Mystic, Palo, and Davo. Love 'em all.

Jack Kelley

For earlier US, you could consider Bill Weston's excellent free US Classic albums that cover 1847 to 1940 (Scott #1 to #902).
They can be downloaded as ready to print PDF files, or as AlbumEasy files that you can customise to create your own custom albums without the hard work using the free AlbumEasy program.
Unfortunately I can't post a link, but a search for AlbumEasy should get you there.
Clive

Once you have settled down to be serious about specific areas (you mention 3), suggest you consider Palo Hingeless albums.

More expensive up front perhaps, but no mount costs and they look great!

I have the US revenue albums and love them!