Well, Christmas is coming... does anyone have a suggestion for a great book about collecting? I'd love to be able to share the name with my family and fingers crossed, find it under the tree!
I still have more questions than answers 20 Nov 2014 08:19:18am
re: Best reference book about collecting?
We need more specific information on what you collect to answer that question. It's like asking me what stamp should you buy. I want US #2 on cover, but you may not even collect US and that would be of little interest to you.
Standard Handbook of Stamp Collecting
Author: Richard McP Cabeen
Publisher: New York, T.Y. Crowell Co. (1965)
628 pages
Sure, it is a little dated, but it has a lot of information covering most all of the aspects about stamp collecting. Something useful no matter how you decide to specialize.
If you are interested in US stamps, I recommend The Encyclopedia of United States Stamps and Stamp Collecting.Edited by Rodney A, Juell and Steven J. Rod. Copyright 2006, United States Stamp Society, and published by Kirk House Publishers, Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to the Chairman of the Board of the United States Stamp Society, this book is a one-stop resource for all United States stamp collectors.
"Fundamentals of Philately", by L.N. Williams is offered through the American Philatelic Society. It can be purchased by members and non-members. Probably available on eBay or Amazon too. The most recent edition is from 2008, and it is 862 pages long. A great reference volume of the hobby.
I can also recommend Otto Hornung's book. It fits neatly between "juvenile" Stamp Collecting for Dummies -type basic books , and the more specialised reading.
It gives a resume of different approaches to collecting, and while it is very readable it captures the essence of each subject in sufficient detail to be tantalisingly interesting without getting into so much detail that it will only interest the already expert. It can also be dipped into in bite-sized chunks - so you don't get bogged down in detail
If you need it the ISBN number is 0 600 01797 4
It is quite an old publication ( my copy is 1970 ! ),but it is no less useful for that.The author was one of the " elder statesmen " of European philately who also wrote a lot of articles for UK magazines.
It should be available from Amazon ( discontinued from Libraries perhaps). You may have to source it in the UK -I am not sure how widely available it was in the USA when it was in print.
Not sure about the best but this link is to free downloads for a number of stamp/philately books. Most are no doubt out of print but still relevant. They also have foreign language books.
Using the search feature on the left leads you to lists where you can select your download.
Hi, I just joined the stamp hobby a year a go; I have the following stamp books:
The Complete Guide to Stamps & Stamp Collecting by Dr. James Mackay 256 pages 2014
The Unitrade Stamp Collectors Handbook 144 pages 1997
The Postal Service Guide to Stamps 31st edition 576 pages 2003
Officcial Stamp Collectors Bible by Stephen R Datz 542 pages 2003
2013 US/BNA Price Guide by H E Harris 400 pages 2013
The Postal Service Guide to US Stamps 33rd edition 352 pages 2005
2014 Canada Postage Stamps CWS 160 pages+
Stamp Collectors Handbook by Samuel Grossman 192 pages 1968
My question: Should I need another book? Are the ones recommended by you guys that much better? If so,... I can hunt some down.
I have stamp albums for US and Canada. I am also using World stamp albums for the rest. I do see a time when I will be moving some to stock books.
Anyways,..will very much appreciate some of your thoughts.
Art, you have a very good basic philatelic literature collection for US and BNA. The answer to whether you need more is how much more specialized do you want to become, and about what. You have more reference books than most first year collectors. If I buy additional books, it's always to answer questions I'm eager to ask.
David
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