Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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You might try The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps published by the USPS. They contain full color illustrations of all stamps and retail pricing information. Also the relevant volumes of Linn's U.S. Stamp Yearbook, edited by Fred Boughner or George Amick.
Another source is, what I call, one of the best starter books for U.S. collectors ever published. It is Encyclopedia of United States Stamps and Stamp Collecting, edited by Rodney A. Juell and Steven J. Rod. The book was published in 2006 by the United States Stamp Society. Has a wealth of basic information, but also a large list of print resources.
Good luck in your search.
Mel
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the Durland catalogue is one of the best resources for PB information. it's updated every four or five years and uses Scott numbering
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David is 100% correct. The Durland catalog is a MUST! And if you only care about pre-1982, you can pick up an older catalog for less. I see a '97-'98 catalog on eBay for $15 plus $4.50 shipping. A 2005 catalog is $25.99 with free shipping. The 2012 is cheaper on Amazon at $40 including shipping.
I have a 2005 catalog and have never needed anything more current. It all depends on what you collect as to how new of a catalog will be useful. Another option, if you only need to check a few things and don't need a copy for your personal library, is to borrow a copy from APRL. If you are a member of APS, you can check out a copy directly from APRL. If you are not a member, you can still arrange for an inter-library loan with your local library. Visit http://stamps.org/About-the-Library to learn more.
Lars
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Thank you Mel & Juicyheads for taking the time to respond to my question.
Mel, I have all of the Linn's Yearbooks. But as you probably know they begin with 1982. That is precisely the problem I am running into. I read somewhere (probably Linn's Weekly News) that Linn's was considering going back and covering some of the years previous to the original start. The Encyclopedia of U.S. Stamps is a good resource for general information but does not get down to the level of detail information I need. Now, as for the Postal Service Guide - when did the Post Office start issuing them? I have a few of the more recent issues. If they were published before 1982 I would be interested trying to find them or borrow them from the APS library.
Juicyheads, I use Durland a lot. They do not provide the information I still need. The only issue I have with Durland is that I question some of their valuations. For example a plate block with 25,000 printed can have the same valuation as one with 250,000 printed. Actually this has been of help to me because many dealers rely on Durland for pricing and I have been able to pick up quite a few very low printed plate blocks at very little cost. I also use the Bureau Issues Check Lists for a lot of the detailed information I use.
If either of you are interested in the information I use I can easily provide it to you and any of our readers.
Mike
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Mike,
I am not sure when the Postal Service Guide was first printed, but they just published the 40th edition, so I would guess (not assume) that it was first published in 1974. I agree with you re: The Encyclopedia of U.S. Stamps, but it has 18, 2 column pages of resources and one page of internet resources that may have some of the information you seek. It may only come in bits and pieces and take lots of research, but it may be worth a look if you haven't already.
Mel
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The guide you cited with its 40th edition is under the United States Postal Service, The United States Post Office Department issued a better one long before that. I had a few f them. I only have one from 1946 and one from 1955. They do have all the plate number information on the stamps issued during the years from 1847 to date of publication.
I believe that the 1946 book was the first, as the 1955 edition says it is "Publication 9". This is where alot of the information contained in the catalogs came from.
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06:36:54pm
I have a rather basic question. I am working on putting my U.S. plate blocks into my self-designed album. For each plate block issue I research and add that information in a strip to the left of the stamps. From 1918 till 1951 there is quite a few very good publications that provide most of the information that I need (Griffith, Goble, Johl, Hale, Rustad, Davis, Baur, Glass and others). From 1952 till 1970 I have relied on 1847USA. It is missing some of the information I would like to have for example: last day of sale, for regular issues it is missing number of stamps issued, last day of sale and in many issues stamp size. However after 1970 till 1981, outside of Scott's Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps & Covers which provides some information, there seems to be nothing published covering this period. Does anyone know of publications or online sites that can help me with obtaining this information?
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re: Modern (1971 till 1982) U.S. Plate Block Information Source(s) Needed
You might try The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps published by the USPS. They contain full color illustrations of all stamps and retail pricing information. Also the relevant volumes of Linn's U.S. Stamp Yearbook, edited by Fred Boughner or George Amick.
Another source is, what I call, one of the best starter books for U.S. collectors ever published. It is Encyclopedia of United States Stamps and Stamp Collecting, edited by Rodney A. Juell and Steven J. Rod. The book was published in 2006 by the United States Stamp Society. Has a wealth of basic information, but also a large list of print resources.
Good luck in your search.
Mel
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re: Modern (1971 till 1982) U.S. Plate Block Information Source(s) Needed
the Durland catalogue is one of the best resources for PB information. it's updated every four or five years and uses Scott numbering
Login to Like
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re: Modern (1971 till 1982) U.S. Plate Block Information Source(s) Needed
David is 100% correct. The Durland catalog is a MUST! And if you only care about pre-1982, you can pick up an older catalog for less. I see a '97-'98 catalog on eBay for $15 plus $4.50 shipping. A 2005 catalog is $25.99 with free shipping. The 2012 is cheaper on Amazon at $40 including shipping.
I have a 2005 catalog and have never needed anything more current. It all depends on what you collect as to how new of a catalog will be useful. Another option, if you only need to check a few things and don't need a copy for your personal library, is to borrow a copy from APRL. If you are a member of APS, you can check out a copy directly from APRL. If you are not a member, you can still arrange for an inter-library loan with your local library. Visit http://stamps.org/About-the-Library to learn more.
Lars
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11:46:33pm
re: Modern (1971 till 1982) U.S. Plate Block Information Source(s) Needed
Thank you Mel & Juicyheads for taking the time to respond to my question.
Mel, I have all of the Linn's Yearbooks. But as you probably know they begin with 1982. That is precisely the problem I am running into. I read somewhere (probably Linn's Weekly News) that Linn's was considering going back and covering some of the years previous to the original start. The Encyclopedia of U.S. Stamps is a good resource for general information but does not get down to the level of detail information I need. Now, as for the Postal Service Guide - when did the Post Office start issuing them? I have a few of the more recent issues. If they were published before 1982 I would be interested trying to find them or borrow them from the APS library.
Juicyheads, I use Durland a lot. They do not provide the information I still need. The only issue I have with Durland is that I question some of their valuations. For example a plate block with 25,000 printed can have the same valuation as one with 250,000 printed. Actually this has been of help to me because many dealers rely on Durland for pricing and I have been able to pick up quite a few very low printed plate blocks at very little cost. I also use the Bureau Issues Check Lists for a lot of the detailed information I use.
If either of you are interested in the information I use I can easily provide it to you and any of our readers.
Mike
Login to Like
this post
Approvals
re: Modern (1971 till 1982) U.S. Plate Block Information Source(s) Needed
Mike,
I am not sure when the Postal Service Guide was first printed, but they just published the 40th edition, so I would guess (not assume) that it was first published in 1974. I agree with you re: The Encyclopedia of U.S. Stamps, but it has 18, 2 column pages of resources and one page of internet resources that may have some of the information you seek. It may only come in bits and pieces and take lots of research, but it may be worth a look if you haven't already.
Mel
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this post
re: Modern (1971 till 1982) U.S. Plate Block Information Source(s) Needed
The guide you cited with its 40th edition is under the United States Postal Service, The United States Post Office Department issued a better one long before that. I had a few f them. I only have one from 1946 and one from 1955. They do have all the plate number information on the stamps issued during the years from 1847 to date of publication.
I believe that the 1946 book was the first, as the 1955 edition says it is "Publication 9". This is where alot of the information contained in the catalogs came from.
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