When it comes to Germany Michel Catalog is a must.
If you are not interested in current values in Euros you can pick up a used one on ebay for a fairly reasonable price.
For the best pages go with DAVO, leuchtturm or Lighthouse, Scott also has pages. Actually I should have a set of Scott pages though I don't know up to when. If interested PM me.
My main collection is Germany. My DDR is complete with the exception of some of the extremely off the wall costs of various Officials.
If you plan to have a complete DDR collection, do not depend on the Scott catalogue because half of the regular issues in variety are missing. There are a number of stamps that were issued perfed and imperf. Same as souvenir sheets.
An absolute must is the Michal catalogue.
As for pages, I can't help you there - I make my own in Microsoft Word. I'm not one for commercial pages and the few times I've looked at some, I noticed they usually only cover basic issues.
I get my paper at Staples, make a general template in Word that has a nice page border and heading, create the boxes for my stamps in Word by measuring the stamps and adding an extra cm or so. I use clear mounts so I don't have to worry if the mount is slightly off centre.
Kelly
I have decided to collect West Berlin, used... and make my own album.
Any other tips from folks are welcome!
Thank-you!
David
David, so did West Berlin trump DDR? or are you doing both?
David
I collect that as well. Anything German from the States right through to reunification. I'm no expert but I'm always here for questions or suggestions. Definitely get yourself a Michal catalogue though. That's the key to everything German
Kelly
David:
West Berlin trumped DDR.
I'll get a Michel Catalogue.
Thank-you all for your on-going tips.
What a great help this site is.
David
I've got a very nice 5 volume numbered Borek hingeless DDR album that also has pages of background information. Unfortunately, it's all in German and my German is not that good.
I think I still need about 100-200 stamps scattered here and there to complete it, not counting minor varieties.
The Berlin collection is a little bit easier to complete -- you just have to watch out to make sure you get the genuine BERLIN overprints, which tends to be the most difficult part unless your willing to pay for a certified set.
Best wishes!
I ordered a Michel Specialised Part II and the Lighthouse Deutschland-Berlin album to-day.
I'm on my way!
David
Sounds great! I don't have any LH Germany albums, but in general I prefer the LH albums for non-US material.
Have fun, David!
I purchased the Lighthouse West Berlin regular album... outstanding!
I have a German friend at the stamp club helping me with the language, etc.
David
Hi Kim & David,
for the Berlin overprints it is best to make a template from a low value genuine stamp by cutting it diagonally across. This then can serve as a handy checking tool to when buying the more expensive values. Apart from seize and color, the angle of the overprint is the decisive criterion. Also, the basic stamps actually were reprinted for the purpose of overprinting. The genuine Berlin overprinted stamps thus often have distinctive shades compared to the non-overprinted varieties. I do not know enough about it to be of further help.
Arno
Thanks for the tip, Arno!
I am considering collecting DDR.
Does anyone have any thoughts on a catalogue, album, and study group?
Thanks!
David Giles
Ottawa, Canada
re: DDR (East Germany)
When it comes to Germany Michel Catalog is a must.
If you are not interested in current values in Euros you can pick up a used one on ebay for a fairly reasonable price.
For the best pages go with DAVO, leuchtturm or Lighthouse, Scott also has pages. Actually I should have a set of Scott pages though I don't know up to when. If interested PM me.
re: DDR (East Germany)
My main collection is Germany. My DDR is complete with the exception of some of the extremely off the wall costs of various Officials.
If you plan to have a complete DDR collection, do not depend on the Scott catalogue because half of the regular issues in variety are missing. There are a number of stamps that were issued perfed and imperf. Same as souvenir sheets.
An absolute must is the Michal catalogue.
As for pages, I can't help you there - I make my own in Microsoft Word. I'm not one for commercial pages and the few times I've looked at some, I noticed they usually only cover basic issues.
I get my paper at Staples, make a general template in Word that has a nice page border and heading, create the boxes for my stamps in Word by measuring the stamps and adding an extra cm or so. I use clear mounts so I don't have to worry if the mount is slightly off centre.
Kelly
re: DDR (East Germany)
I have decided to collect West Berlin, used... and make my own album.
Any other tips from folks are welcome!
Thank-you!
David
re: DDR (East Germany)
David, so did West Berlin trump DDR? or are you doing both?
re: DDR (East Germany)
David
I collect that as well. Anything German from the States right through to reunification. I'm no expert but I'm always here for questions or suggestions. Definitely get yourself a Michal catalogue though. That's the key to everything German
Kelly
re: DDR (East Germany)
David:
West Berlin trumped DDR.
I'll get a Michel Catalogue.
Thank-you all for your on-going tips.
What a great help this site is.
David
re: DDR (East Germany)
I've got a very nice 5 volume numbered Borek hingeless DDR album that also has pages of background information. Unfortunately, it's all in German and my German is not that good.
I think I still need about 100-200 stamps scattered here and there to complete it, not counting minor varieties.
The Berlin collection is a little bit easier to complete -- you just have to watch out to make sure you get the genuine BERLIN overprints, which tends to be the most difficult part unless your willing to pay for a certified set.
Best wishes!
re: DDR (East Germany)
I ordered a Michel Specialised Part II and the Lighthouse Deutschland-Berlin album to-day.
I'm on my way!
David
re: DDR (East Germany)
Sounds great! I don't have any LH Germany albums, but in general I prefer the LH albums for non-US material.
Have fun, David!
re: DDR (East Germany)
I purchased the Lighthouse West Berlin regular album... outstanding!
I have a German friend at the stamp club helping me with the language, etc.
David
re: DDR (East Germany)
Hi Kim & David,
for the Berlin overprints it is best to make a template from a low value genuine stamp by cutting it diagonally across. This then can serve as a handy checking tool to when buying the more expensive values. Apart from seize and color, the angle of the overprint is the decisive criterion. Also, the basic stamps actually were reprinted for the purpose of overprinting. The genuine Berlin overprinted stamps thus often have distinctive shades compared to the non-overprinted varieties. I do not know enough about it to be of further help.
Arno