Not sure if this is the right section to post this, but does anyone know if Durland will be publishing a 2020 catalog? Seems they issue a new one every four years or so.
And if you have a prior edition, is it worth owning?
I have an older edition of the Durland Catalog. I got it to help identify certain stamps of the same design through their plate number. Can only be one Scott number, if you know the plate number. Makes it quite easy (no measuring, etc.)
It's an interesting catalog, and has some additional information beyond the plate numbers as well. Like Lars, I recommend it too for US stamps.
I have both the current Durland Plate Number Catalogue (I am a contributor to the catalogue) and the Herbert's Plate Number Single Catalogue (from the American Plate Number Single Society (APNSS)).
I am a member of the APNSS. I collect used marginal markings of US stamps from 1976 to 2000. That is the 13-cent to the 33-cent era. As well, I collect used marginal marking of United States Air Mail stamps.
I feel that both catalogues compliment each other.
David Giles
Ottawa, Canada
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"President, The Society for Costa Rica Collectors"
Herbert's lists and prices plate number singles rather than blocks. I was going to give an example but I seem to have misplaced both of them the last time I cleaned up and put them somewhere where I would know where they were. J
They really do compliment each other and depending on your collecting interests you don’t need the latest edition.
Dialysis, damned if you do...dead if you don't 10 Aug 2019 03:57:01pm
re: Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog
Stamp Smarter has virtual every plate block number (over 57,000) in an online, free database. (The only plate numbers missing are the very deep back of book.) It also supports a ‘reverse plate block number lookup’ which a a handy tool for finding the catalog number if your have a plate block in hand (can’t do this with a hardcopy catalog). http://stampsmarter.com/features/PlateBlockHome.html
Don
"Herbert's lists and prices plate number singles rather than blocks. I was going to give an example but I seem to have misplaced both of them the last time I cleaned up and put them somewhere where I would know where they were. J
They really do compliment each other and depending on your collecting interests you don’t need the latest edition."
Well said! I have both but I personally only use Hebert's for pricing. Durland is the standard for defining plate numbers of US stamps, but if you are interested in buying plate number singles, (which I use a LOT as mini-certs of authenticity) Hebert provides realistic pricing.
(But it's Hebert, not Herbert).
Lars
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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."
So forgive my newbie question. I only collect from before 1977. From the comments, it seems like I can buy an older version for identification purposes and save some money.
But does it also give estimated values? If so, it seems like I would want the most recent issue.
Based on the comments above, I'm definitely buying one. Now I just have to decide whether to get an old one or wait for the (hopefully) 2020 edition.
"Stamp Smarter has virtual every plate block number (over 57,000) in an online, free database. (The only plate numbers missing are the very deep back of book.) It also supports a ‘reverse plate block number lookup’ which a a handy tool for finding the catalog number if your have a plate block in hand (can’t do this with a hardcopy catalog).
http://stampsmarter.com/features/PlateBlockHome.ht"
"As I read this the only difference is the pricing of blocks and singles. They would then have the same basic stamp content (plate numbers, etc)."
No, Durland has MUCH more info. If you only get one source, that's it.
Hebert will work, but it is a very abbreviated work. I only use Hebert to determine the value of plate singles versus plate block of the same issue.
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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."
"So forgive my newbie question. I only collect from before 1977. From the comments, it seems like I can buy an older version for identification purposes and save some money.
But does it also give estimated values? If so, it seems like I would want the most recent issue. "
I tend to buy a new Scott Specialized every 5 years or so to keep up with pricing, so it's not unusual for me to buy a catalog from two years ago to save a BUNCH of money! I also keep the previous 2 or 3 catalogs so I have a Scott Catalog from around the same time-frame as my latest Durland catalog, which may be 10 or 15 years old. Then I can just look at the price for a plate block versus a single during the same timeframe and apply that ratio to my current singles catalog to estimate catalog price for a plate block now. It's not perfect, but meets my needs.
Lars
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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."