Andy Pastuszak
Member 
Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
Posts: 1,533 
What I collect: United States, Ukraine, Ireland
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on Nov 26, 2013 23:53:48 GMT
So, I am looking at moving away from Scott Catalogs on the iPad and go back to dead tree editions.
At first, I was thinking of buying the Scott Specialized. But then I got to thinking....
Every stamp dealer within driving distance of my house (by some miracle, I have 3), uses the Brookman Stamp Price Guide, which includes illustrations, Scott numbers and the actual price I would pay if I went to buy the stamp retail.
So, I'm wondering if I wouldn't get more value out of a substantially cheaper Brookman catalog than I would the Scott Specialized.
For people unfamiliar with the Brookman catalog/guide, this is their web page:
www.coverspecialist.com/priceguide.html
And the 2004 edition: www.coverspecialist.com/browse_item.html?category_id=13278&item_id=442068
What would I lose, if I went with this (spiral bound) rather than the Scott Catalog?
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tomiseksj
Moderator 
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,265
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Nov 27, 2013 0:31:07 GMT
What is it that you want out of the catalog? Are you primarily interested in prices, identification information (e.g., images, characteristics, etc.), Scott numbers, etc.? The answers to those questions should drive you to the most cost-efficient solution.
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Post by stampgeezer on Nov 27, 2013 0:49:19 GMT
Andy, I use the Brookman, Scott, Unitrade, and the Walsh and Butt BNA. I like the Brookman because it is easier to ID US stamps that have multiple issues using the same design. I also like the way it breaks down the mint and used in different grades. Of course, it only covers US, UN, and BNA. If you want it, I have a used 2011 I will send you free gratis. Just PM me with your address. Scott is better in some ways, but when I enter my purchases in my spreadsheet, I value them using Brookman. I know that many don't agree with me, but hey, there's room for all kinds of different opinions in our hobby.
regards, Theron.
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Andy Pastuszak
Member
Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
Posts: 1,533
What I collect: United States, Ukraine, Ireland
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on Nov 27, 2013 2:18:43 GMT
What is it that you want out of the catalog? Are you primarily interested in prices, identification information (e.g., images, characteristics, etc.), Scott numbers, etc.? The answers to those questions should drive you to the most cost-efficient solution. I guess my primary Scott numbers, followed by identification and then price. I find Scott Catalog prices meaningless, since no one I know uses them. |
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Andy Pastuszak
Member
Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
Posts: 1,533
What I collect: United States, Ukraine, Ireland
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on Nov 27, 2013 2:42:12 GMT
Andy, I use the Brookman, Scott, Unitrade, and the Walsh and Butt BNA. I like the Brookman because it is easier to ID US stamps that have multiple issues using the same design. I also like the way it breaks down the mint and used in different grades. Of course, it only covers US, UN, and BNA. If you want it, I have a used 2011 I will send you free gratis. Just PM me with your address. Scott is better in some ways, but when I enter my purchases in my spreadsheet, I value them using Brookman. I know that many don't agree with me, but hey, there's room for all kinds of different opinions in our hobby. regards, Theron. Thank you so much for your generous offer! PM has been sent. |
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,265
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Nov 27, 2013 3:02:47 GMT
I find Scott Catalog prices meaningless, since no one I know uses them. An interesting perspective. Is it your experience that the Scott prices are too high or too low? I just compared some of the Brookman prices from the link you provided with my 2011 Scott Specialized and find the Brookman prices are quite a bit higher (which explains why the brick and mortar dealers would use it as their reference). |
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Post by jkjblue on Nov 27, 2013 3:55:05 GMT
Let's see, yesterday I sent a want list for Salvador to a fellow collector who will use a % of Scott for the price. Last week I had an email exchange with another collector about Romania, and any stamps sent will be a % of Scott. I just bought some Ecuador from another collector at a % of Scott. The 20-35% CV territory seems to be where terms tend to be. I could go on, but the point has been made.   |
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Andy Pastuszak
Member
Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
Posts: 1,533
What I collect: United States, Ukraine, Ireland
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on Nov 27, 2013 4:03:49 GMT
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Andy Pastuszak
Member
Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
Posts: 1,533
What I collect: United States, Ukraine, Ireland
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on Nov 27, 2013 4:20:42 GMT
An interesting perspective. Is it your experience that the Scott prices are too high or too low? I just compared some of the Brookman prices from the link you provided with my 2011 Scott Specialized and find the Brookman prices are quite a bit higher (which explains why the brick and mortar dealers would use it as their reference). Well, Scott prices are higher than eBay or bidStart. But the retailers I deal with use Brookman. So if I can get things for less than Brookman on eBay or bidStart, I'm doing OK. Brookman prices are my gauge at this point, since that's the price down the street from me. |
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