The Michel Deutchland Junior catalogs are the most simplest of all. The listings are in simplified format (similar to Stanley Gibbons Stamps of the World or Scott).

The most commonly used catalog is Michel Deutchland Katalog. This is for semi-serious collector, and it contains all subtypes etc. as well as most common varieties. Personally I use this most of the time.

For the specialist there is Michel Deutchland Spezial Katalog. This comes in two gigantic volumes, and it is pretty much the best money can buy. Personally I have late 1990s single volume edition, and I’m a happy camper with it (though I would love having a more recent version, but this is bloody expensive catalog).

And finally… Michel has made an international (English) version of Deutchland Spezial Katalog. For what I’ve heard, this omits quite a lot of details compared to German language version. So it sits somewhere between the regular catalog and original special catalog.

Re, what to use for European stamps… It depends on level you’d like to collect.

For simplified collections either Scott or Stanley Gibbons Stamps of the World are likely the best options.

For semi-serious collector I’d put Michel as primary option, and SG country/area specific catalogs as next. And Yvert would be my third choice. These all go beyond the simplified listings, but not too deep.

And for serious collector… A combination of specialized catalogs: Michel Specialized for German speaking area, Yvert / Maury for French areas, SG Commonwealth / dedicated catalogs for UK and commonwealth, Pofis for Czechoslovakia, Facit for Scandinavia, Afinsa for Portugal, Edifil for Spain, Hellas for Greece etc.

Personally I’m bouncing somewhere between the semi-serious and serious collector routes, meaning I mix information from dedicated catalogs into what I learn from Michel.

Hope this was helpful

-keijo-

I have found this level of deatil very good on the ddr definitives.
I have to say that I am still a little confused as I already had these definitives in their own bag for sorting when I have the petience.
On an aside note, I have purchased a 2007 copy of the Michel German catalogue. Is this about the best for German stamps. I would also like to know what catalogues in general should I use for European stamps as this is my main area of interest.

JohnC Ireland

On the simplified level these stamps usually have very little value. But dig in a bit further, and you may find lots of stuff worth nice $$$. For example watermark varieties range from roughly few euros up to few thousands of euros. And then there are plate flaws etc. smaller varieties that can attract more specialized collectors. So yes, there could be some value in your box.

Would I go through it… Only if I had personal interest. Otherwise I would simply place it for sale as box lot, and let the markets decide for the real price.

I have the overwhelming task of going through a massive stamp collection I have inherited. One of the many uncatalogued boxes was filled with nothing but these DDR stamps: http://goo.gl/k6TL

Do these stamps have any value and is it worth the effort separating them out and trying to organize them?