ij63
**Member** 
Inactive
Posts: 2
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Post by ij63 on Sept 1, 2023 23:36:05 GMT
Moderator Note: The original thread name Hi Fello Australians was revised to make it more descriptive of what the content of posts would be.
Hi All,
I have a large collection that started when I was a kid, but back then I just grouped my stamps together eg: KGV, animals etc. Now with some time on my hands, I want to actually catalogue them correctly, divide up the multiples into a an album each for our grown up children & maybe sell, swap any extra's. So here to learn all the details of identifying each stamp. So is this the basics of what I need to look at to correctly identify each stamp?
1. Date issue 2. Stamp issue 3. Watermark 4. Colour 5. Die Used 6. Perforations 7. Errors
The only thing I'm not quite sure about is in what order you do this procedure. Of course you start with what stamp eg: KGV 1 Penny, then colour?
Any help for a somewhat newbie would be really appreciated.
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Post by gstamps on Sept 2, 2023 10:01:34 GMT
Hi ij63 2 years ago I received a batch of KGV stamps. I tried to identify them with the Scott catalog and then Michel. I think Michel is much easier to identify. Sorting them by color is the first step. For KGV 1p there is a table with colors and a watermark, the Michel number being entered in the table: Identifying the watermark is the second step. What do the watermarks look like and what are they called (Wz.1, 2, etc.):  Now the hard part begins... Having the Michel number from the table, search for example for Mi 70 (green and Wz.6) and you will find the following variants depending on the position of the watermark and perforation:  For each variant, the date of issue is also mentioned - it can be helpful in equating the numbers from other catalogs. Another example for Mi 55 and 56 where different versions appear according to the position of the watermark, color and printer (Cooke or Harisson) And in this example, the issuing dates are entered:  I didn't have the patience to count how many variants there are for the face value of 1p (over 15, I think) and it is the standard Michel that could certainly be surpassed by the specialized catalogs. Table colour-watermarks:  |
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kgvistamps
Member 
Posts: 201
What I collect: British Colonies - King George VI from all countries and King Edward VII & King George V from the West Indies.
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Post by kgvistamps on Sept 2, 2023 14:14:03 GMT
I am going to assume that you have a catalog as your first step. If not - get one and notice the variations in the designs as well as the watermarks used over time.
Since you are comparing Australian stamps, I would suggest, the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue or the Scott Catalog; but there is also a specialized Australian catalog that can be used.
Then compare the designs and sort those first, then compare the watermarks, the Die (if it matters), the perforations and the colors. That will typically give you enough to allocate them by catalog number.
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Post by nick2302 on Sept 17, 2023 16:52:45 GMT
When I run into something like this, I just take the first catalogue number and call it good. Now if you are a flyspeck collector that is a whole other barrel of fish. I have decided there is no country I am going to fret if a curlicue goes the right and touch the frame or not. There are too many areas that I love to collect and I focus on my collection and call what I see good when I find it in the catalog. Just my opinion, hope you enjoy the hobby as much as I am.
Nick
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Catweazle
Member
Posts: 103
What I collect: Chatham Islands (NZ), Molokai (US), Lord Howe Island (AU), Greenland, GB, some Australian Pre-decimals for good measure et hoc genus omne.
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Post by Catweazle on Jan 28, 2024 11:55:51 GMT
If you really want to start getting into the specialised realm of philately, then the type of paper might come into play in your list too, depending on the stamp.
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rod222
Member
Posts: 11,043 
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Jan 28, 2024 21:22:28 GMT
Fellow Aussie
Are you collecting just pre decimals? or Australia to 2024 ?
I have differing suggestions depending.
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Catweazle
Member
Posts: 103
What I collect: Chatham Islands (NZ), Molokai (US), Lord Howe Island (AU), Greenland, GB, some Australian Pre-decimals for good measure et hoc genus omne.
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Post by Catweazle on Jan 29, 2024 12:07:47 GMT
Sounds like the original poster on this thread is collecting pre-decimal?
But yes, up until current issues (and beyond) might mean two different answers to their questions at times!
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