I recently ran across this 1965 book on how to write-up a stamp collection, and I thought it would be fun to start a new thread for people to show off their hand-written stamp pages (if anyone still does this!)
I know what you are thinking...my handwriting is so bad, I could never do this. Well, I feel the same way, but I was intrigued by one chapter in the book on using "ready-printed labels on gummed paper for sticking on the album leaves...For those who are not satisfied with their handwriting."
Anyone out there printing up labels on the computer and using them to label their blank or quadrille pages? Anyone out there still hand writing-up their blank or quadrille pages?
I love seeing old time collections that are hinged to either blank or quadrille paper. Someone who is very meticulous, has an eye for detail and has interesting handwriting can make phenomenal pages. It has an authenticity and personal touch that can't be duplicated.
From a very early age I felt that handwritten, personalised pages were a better bet than the pre-printed pages supplied with children's stamp albums (mine was a 'Movaleaf' spring-back), and I mounted British Commonwealth stamps in a curious A5-size ring-binder which came (via the school's stationery cupboard) with lined pages. This had the built-in advantage of horizontal guidelines, and an A5 page was adequate to the limited number of stamps I had for each country (I was about 11 years old).
Much later I bought several stylish albums with high-quality quadrille paper, but then, as ever, my handwriting was not to a satisfactory standard. Just before PCs came in (with their printers' inbuilt limitation to A4 sized pages) I started a section of my WW2 collection, a truncated page of which I offer below.
I'm afraid it is still not what I really want (never mind the poor scan quality!), and so about thirty of these pages await re-mounting on the standard A4 template I have since devised for other parts of my collection. Nevertheless I harbour a fondness and respect for the perfect copperplate layout, which for me beats any computer-generated page when I look at them at displays.
Thanks for the comments! I think it works pretty well for me (since my handwriting is not that great!). It really gives maximum flexiblity. Right now I'm just using them to house extra stamps that don't have a dedicated space in my Scott International, but I could envision in the future completely replacing certain countries that I want to collection deeper.
I just make up the labels in Powerpoint and print out on Cream colored opaque text paper. Labels look lighter (or off white) because the quadrille pages are so dark. But as you said, gives it a nice contrast.
They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin 24 Dec 2015 04:22:02pm
re: Hand-written album pages
I like it Chris. It does present an excellent visual, pleasing to the eye and (for those of us bordering on OCD) the ordered mind as well.
Login to Like this post
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"
That's one of my favourite stamp books. I've read it so many times I nearly have it memorized. I especially love the descriptions or fountain pens, calligraphy techniques etc. Talk about a blast from the past.
I'm travelling over Christmas but will post a scan or two of my ragged attempts when I get home. I'm loving the pictures you've all shared so far. Keep them coming!
Mark
Login to Like this post
Please Note: Postings that were loaded from the old Discussion Board cannot be edited.