Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I am ready to answer and explain the fields below - I do have most of the related data saved in Visual Foxpro Tables so I don't have to manually enter everything. I am working with VFP 9 and plan to prepare an installable database application and at the same time experiment with a database organizer to prepare an inventory program.
Country
Year
Scott no.
Variant (number suffix)
Denomination
Date of issue
Issued at
Topic
Variety description
Category
Series / Theme
Color
Perforation
Watermark
Paper type
Gum type
Tagging
Format
Plate numbers
Design size
Design type
Designer
Engraver
Illustratr
Typographer
Art director
Printer
Press
Printing process
Quantity issued
Usage (rate issued for)
Usage period (rate period)
Notes (miscellaneous data on stamp)
Inventory stamp
Condition
Grade
Condition notes
Inventory cover
Inventory postcard
Postmark
Inventory FDC
Inventory Plate Block
Date purchased
Stamp paid
Cover paid
Purchased from
Date evaluated
Inventory value
CV MNH
CV MH
CV Used
CV Cover
S.G. No
Michel No.
Y & T No.
Subject details
Generic picture
Collection picture
Cover picture
Login to Like
this post
"Is there any stamp related data-field that I have overlooked?"
You might want to insert fields that document expertization performed on an item (e.g., Issuing Body, Date Performed, Cert. No., Opinion).
Login to Like
this post
Thanks for mentioning these fields - totally missed these as I do not have very many Certificates! Will include these fields as I modify database structure.
The field list encompasses everything I need to look into without checking other tables - the database organizer has five page view with headers - "General", "Technical", "Financial", "Details", "Image" pages. Most of the data I had manually entered over the years while using VFP6 and the other required data (images, Plate Numbers, etc) are in separate directories. In the organizer I will have to link data and when preparing reports I will just include the general data.
It's just a begining of an idea and I want to proceed with input from other collectors so that the form, report and list views are presentable to others.
Login to Like
this post
09:10:09pm
I know you have design sign and type, would you also want the design number? When I catalog my stamps I use the Scott number, design number and description.
Login to Like
this post
Hi Lisa,
The design size is for the printed image size - it differs in Rotary and Flat Press printings. The design type is for listing the Lithographed, Engraved, Photogravure, etc stamps.
The 'Design number' you mentioned is different for each catalog and it won't say much if I am including the images of the particular stamp in the database.
To explain a few other fields furthur - the Cover, Postcard inventory fields are long enough to write the postmark details (city name, date, etc) whereas the Postmark field will have other related data on the particular postmark for example - Three Bar red CDS,etc.
Login to Like
this post
10:29:07pm
Saleem,
That makes perfect sense. Thank you for the explanation of some of the other fields 
Login to Like
this post
Saleem - I have a question/comment and Suggestion:
Question - Why do you have the Variant (number suffix) column? Isn't that part of the catalogue number?
Comment - I really appreciate the effort that you put into this but there is no way that I would enter in all that information for every stamp I owned. Hopefully most of these fields are not mandatory.
Suggestion - I would remove the Scott, S.G., Michel, Y & T. columns. Make it more generic. Call the main number just catalog number which would be the users default. Then make a column called something like Alternate Catalog Number and then Alternate Catalog. Let's say I was entering a grey-black Penny Black. I normally use Scott, so I would put the Scott number in the main catalog number (1). Then I would enter "3" in the Alt. Cat. No. and then enter SG in the Alt Cat. There is also the possibility that the collector uses a totally different catalog. I use Facit for Scandinavia and Zumstein for Switzerland.
Good luck!!!
Bob
.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Dear Bob,
Appreciate your interest and suggestions - to explain the points you mentioned : I have used the Variant field to make it easier for sorting purposes, if the catalog number is fed as 1258A (major number) and 1258b (minor number for 1258) than if the records are sorted 1258A will be below 1258 and 1258b lower than that. If the variant are fed in a separate field than the records will sort as listed in catalog. At the time of putting in the records in variant field 'b' suffix will have a blank space before it and the 'A' major number will not have this space.
Most of the information is already available with me in separate VFP tables all I have to do is to combine records and input some other data that are in text files (just copy and paste in the field). My current effort is US centric therefore I am thinking only of US stamps.
My collection is based on Scott catalog numbers with equivalent SG numbers in a separate field - if I made it generic than sorting records will be confusing. What I will do is to add another field with header 'Other catalog number' and make it user editable so that catalog numbers from other catalogs can also be added. Of course all the different catalog number fields are sortable as are the date of issue, variant, topic and theme fields.
Maybe I lack all the data I intend to put in the database - I will be asking around for help in this matter, leet me finish the first part of US issues from 1847-1920 and then you can view it and possibly edit the data at your leisure.
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
I have been developing a database for my own personal collection which is limited to four countries but is diverse in terms of variety. I have searched and prepared fields that are to be included in the database - most of these are related to the way I collect but could be used by others also. Is there any stamp related data-field that I have overlooked?
I am ready to answer and explain the fields below - I do have most of the related data saved in Visual Foxpro Tables so I don't have to manually enter everything. I am working with VFP 9 and plan to prepare an installable database application and at the same time experiment with a database organizer to prepare an inventory program.
Country
Year
Scott no.
Variant (number suffix)
Denomination
Date of issue
Issued at
Topic
Variety description
Category
Series / Theme
Color
Perforation
Watermark
Paper type
Gum type
Tagging
Format
Plate numbers
Design size
Design type
Designer
Engraver
Illustratr
Typographer
Art director
Printer
Press
Printing process
Quantity issued
Usage (rate issued for)
Usage period (rate period)
Notes (miscellaneous data on stamp)
Inventory stamp
Condition
Grade
Condition notes
Inventory cover
Inventory postcard
Postmark
Inventory FDC
Inventory Plate Block
Date purchased
Stamp paid
Cover paid
Purchased from
Date evaluated
Inventory value
CV MNH
CV MH
CV Used
CV Cover
S.G. No
Michel No.
Y & T No.
Subject details
Generic picture
Collection picture
Cover picture
Login to Like
this post
re: Database for Personal Stamp Collection
"Is there any stamp related data-field that I have overlooked?"
You might want to insert fields that document expertization performed on an item (e.g., Issuing Body, Date Performed, Cert. No., Opinion).
Login to Like
this post
re: Database for Personal Stamp Collection
Thanks for mentioning these fields - totally missed these as I do not have very many Certificates! Will include these fields as I modify database structure.
The field list encompasses everything I need to look into without checking other tables - the database organizer has five page view with headers - "General", "Technical", "Financial", "Details", "Image" pages. Most of the data I had manually entered over the years while using VFP6 and the other required data (images, Plate Numbers, etc) are in separate directories. In the organizer I will have to link data and when preparing reports I will just include the general data.
It's just a begining of an idea and I want to proceed with input from other collectors so that the form, report and list views are presentable to others.
Login to Like
this post
It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. - Aristotle Onassis
29 Mar 2013
09:10:09pm
re: Database for Personal Stamp Collection
I know you have design sign and type, would you also want the design number? When I catalog my stamps I use the Scott number, design number and description.
Login to Like
this post
re: Database for Personal Stamp Collection
Hi Lisa,
The design size is for the printed image size - it differs in Rotary and Flat Press printings. The design type is for listing the Lithographed, Engraved, Photogravure, etc stamps.
The 'Design number' you mentioned is different for each catalog and it won't say much if I am including the images of the particular stamp in the database.
To explain a few other fields furthur - the Cover, Postcard inventory fields are long enough to write the postmark details (city name, date, etc) whereas the Postmark field will have other related data on the particular postmark for example - Three Bar red CDS,etc.
Login to Like
this post
It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. - Aristotle Onassis
29 Mar 2013
10:29:07pm
re: Database for Personal Stamp Collection
Saleem,
That makes perfect sense. Thank you for the explanation of some of the other fields
Login to Like
this post
President - West Essex Philatelic Society www.wepsonline.org
31 Mar 2013
09:43:30am
re: Database for Personal Stamp Collection
Saleem - I have a question/comment and Suggestion:
Question - Why do you have the Variant (number suffix) column? Isn't that part of the catalogue number?
Comment - I really appreciate the effort that you put into this but there is no way that I would enter in all that information for every stamp I owned. Hopefully most of these fields are not mandatory.
Suggestion - I would remove the Scott, S.G., Michel, Y & T. columns. Make it more generic. Call the main number just catalog number which would be the users default. Then make a column called something like Alternate Catalog Number and then Alternate Catalog. Let's say I was entering a grey-black Penny Black. I normally use Scott, so I would put the Scott number in the main catalog number (1). Then I would enter "3" in the Alt. Cat. No. and then enter SG in the Alt Cat. There is also the possibility that the collector uses a totally different catalog. I use Facit for Scandinavia and Zumstein for Switzerland.
Good luck!!!
Bob
.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: Database for Personal Stamp Collection
Dear Bob,
Appreciate your interest and suggestions - to explain the points you mentioned : I have used the Variant field to make it easier for sorting purposes, if the catalog number is fed as 1258A (major number) and 1258b (minor number for 1258) than if the records are sorted 1258A will be below 1258 and 1258b lower than that. If the variant are fed in a separate field than the records will sort as listed in catalog. At the time of putting in the records in variant field 'b' suffix will have a blank space before it and the 'A' major number will not have this space.
Most of the information is already available with me in separate VFP tables all I have to do is to combine records and input some other data that are in text files (just copy and paste in the field). My current effort is US centric therefore I am thinking only of US stamps.
My collection is based on Scott catalog numbers with equivalent SG numbers in a separate field - if I made it generic than sorting records will be confusing. What I will do is to add another field with header 'Other catalog number' and make it user editable so that catalog numbers from other catalogs can also be added. Of course all the different catalog number fields are sortable as are the date of issue, variant, topic and theme fields.
Maybe I lack all the data I intend to put in the database - I will be asking around for help in this matter, leet me finish the first part of US issues from 1847-1920 and then you can view it and possibly edit the data at your leisure.
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.