seegod1
Member 
Mostly lurking these days, but enjoying everyone's input!
Posts: 164 
What I collect: Canada, Cats, Soccer, Religion, Royalty, Titanic, Stamps on Stamps, Number Ones
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Post by seegod1 on Jan 25, 2023 12:25:19 GMT
Hey everyone! So I was just cataloguing a book I've received (by mistake! But was told to keep it because it's not worth the company spending the money for me to send it back to them... oh my! They've put the correct one in the mail to me) and I got to wondering... As a collector of stamps of Canada, is there any particular stamp literature that I would find useful, generally-speaking? Has someone out there actually written... you know... "The Definitive Guide To Collecting Canadian Pieces of Paper Covered On the Back with a Glutinous Wash", by Teddy J. Postmark"... you know... that kind of thing?!  What would collectors of Canada out there recommend for us generalists? Thanks |
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REL1948
Member
Posts: 583 
What I collect: 1840-Pre-Decimal, GB and Colonies, 1840 1 penny reds, Postal Histories
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Post by REL1948 on Jan 25, 2023 17:09:01 GMT
Hello seegod1,
I can think of several books but a great starting point would be "The Postage Stamps and Postal History of Canada" by Winthrop S. Boggs. It's readily available in used format on eBay and AbeBooks among others. My copy was copyrighted in 1945 and reprinted in 1974, it's thick, 870 pages. It was originally available in two volumes but later reprints combined them into a single volume. I highly recommend it for a thorough background on, philatelic basics, inks, printing, papers, cancellations and Canadian postal history up to the mid forties. It has lots of illustrations and photos. Dated but still worth owning.
My second recommendation is simply for a "Unitrade" catalogue. If you don't already have one, they're readily available used, prices vary by year. I turn to mine regularly (2022) for many things beside value. In my opinion, it's a wonderful catalogue, well laid out, uses Scott numbering, is printed in color and contains tons of helpful notes throughout. I find it indispensable.
Rob
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Jan 25, 2023 18:12:13 GMT
Do agree with you REL1948 ! Have both but do not use very often Boggs's voluminous book (but full of details not found in Unitrade), bought in 1982 ($60) by my late dad. René |
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Jan 25, 2023 19:42:12 GMT
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seegod1
Member
Mostly lurking these days, but enjoying everyone's input!
Posts: 164
What I collect: Canada, Cats, Soccer, Religion, Royalty, Titanic, Stamps on Stamps, Number Ones
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Post by seegod1 on Jan 26, 2023 11:36:41 GMT
Okay, thanks guys! Yes I've been onto Ebay just now and spotted a copy of Boggs for sale... and SOLD by gum! 46.00US or so, not completely unreasonable! Look forward to adding it to my library.
As for Unitrade, of course, I do keep one on hand, although I generally will only get one every 5-10 years because of my EZStamp membership which helps me track prices as well. I do love the beautiful high quality glossy nature of the paper copy though. Beautiful work!
Cool! Keep the suggestions coming!
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,404
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Jan 26, 2023 12:26:09 GMT
seegod1 - Kudos for seeking out the literature - you go girl! I've never regretted any money spent on philatelic books. The more you learn, the more you enjoy the hobby. And the books themselves sometimes end up being as collectible as the stamps they discuss. I remember back around 1980 I found some really bargain priced books at a used book store near MSU in East Lansing, Michigan so I grabbed them for our next club auction. One of them, a Sanabria Airmail catalog generated the most spirited bidding seen in many months. That was an eye opener for me.
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seegod1
Member
Mostly lurking these days, but enjoying everyone's input!
Posts: 164
What I collect: Canada, Cats, Soccer, Religion, Royalty, Titanic, Stamps on Stamps, Number Ones
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Post by seegod1 on Jan 27, 2023 11:41:18 GMT
 Ooooh philatelia _, should I see if I can get Million$ for my copy of Stamp Collecting for Dummies?!  |
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,404
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Jan 27, 2023 12:01:24 GMT
OMG seegod1 I didn't know that they did a dummy stamp collecting book! Too funny! I bet that is a hoot and a half to read. Who is the author? Oh wait, I zoomed in hmmmm Richard L Sine? Name seems familiar. So which of the recommended books above most piqued your interest? |
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daniel
Member
Posts: 2,148
Member is Online
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Post by daniel on Jan 27, 2023 16:57:26 GMT
OMG seegod1 I didn't know that they did a dummy stamp collecting book! Too funny! I bet that is a hoot and a half to read. Who is the author? Oh wait, I zoomed in hmmmm Richard L Sine? Name seems familiar. Are you thinking of R L Stine author of the Goosebumps books?  Daniel |
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,404
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Jan 27, 2023 20:39:51 GMT
Huh maybe that’s it, Daniel! Thanks daniel |
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cjd
Member
Posts: 1,107
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Post by cjd on Jan 29, 2023 16:06:32 GMT
Robson Lowe's Encyclopedia of British Empire Postage Stamps Vol. 5, British North America, is well worth picking up when you see it at a nice price.
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seegod1
Member
Mostly lurking these days, but enjoying everyone's input!
Posts: 164
What I collect: Canada, Cats, Soccer, Religion, Royalty, Titanic, Stamps on Stamps, Number Ones
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Post by seegod1 on Feb 10, 2023 11:55:43 GMT
Yay! My Boggs just arrived, and yeah, it's not in bad shape at all! Wow, a substantial volume! Hooray for me. Look forward to leafing through it... maybe on Monday when I head out for Day Off Breakfast after a gym "Rolling Hills" sport walk treadmill session... gcULfnBoI8ISDpgDC1vD
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Feb 10, 2023 13:46:36 GMT
Yay! My Boggs just arrived, and yeah, it's not in bad shape at all! Wow, a substantial volume! Hooray for me. Look forward to leafing through it... maybe on Monday when I head out for Day Off Breakfast after a gym "Rolling Hills" sport walk treadmill session... gcULfnBoI8ISDpgDC1vD Glad you got a copy, 870 pages of good stuff, history and I consider this book a "reference" for Canadian Postal History, which still has my late dad's sticknotes in his researches. Since it is in black and white - I prefer the Specialized books for Large and Small Queens and its color illustrations of stamps. Enjoy !! René |
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seegod1
Member
Mostly lurking these days, but enjoying everyone's input!
Posts: 164
What I collect: Canada, Cats, Soccer, Religion, Royalty, Titanic, Stamps on Stamps, Number Ones
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Post by seegod1 on Feb 11, 2023 11:51:06 GMT
Yeah, thanks René! I'm definitely a generalist so this will probably suit me juuuuuuust fine! Not to mention enjoying the stares of my waitress (and my buddy) Lynn at Denny's on Monday as I show up with a TOME to read, LOL! |
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GeorgeL
**Member** 
Posts: 5
What I collect: Canada 1942 War Issue, PEI RPO's, Canada WWI, Early UK Revenues
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Post by GeorgeL on Jun 21, 2023 19:03:33 GMT
I can second cjd about the Robson Lowe volume. A good general overview with proofs and postal history also. The books published by BNAPS on Bill Longley's website are also a great reference if you want to specialize in a specific topic. Most were written by exhibitors and are very professionally done. Many Canadian reference sources are available also.  |
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