Long definitive stamp series – how to keep track of what You have / need?
In my opinion one of the hardest (but also the most interesting) challenges of stamp collecting are long definitive sets that span into all possible directions. The most notorious ones, like UK Machin stamps and Norwegian posthorns feature hundreds of major types scattered all across the stamp catalog timeline, and the varieties easily double or triple the number of items to collect. These are a huge challenge to keep track for anyone.
My personal approach to this problem is to build and print out an Excel worksheet that lists all the known stamps in series – including all major varieties. Yes, my method requires a lot of manual typing. And yes, it duplicates data found on the catalogs. But the advantage is that instead of browsing back and forth catalog (or in worst cases, several catalogs) pages, I can simply look up details from single place.
Below is a small example about Hungarian Castle (Kastélyok) definitive series issued between 1986-1992. The first series (Castles I) contains 15 different stamps issued in several stages, the second series (Castles II) contains only 2 different designs…Sounds easy, but don’t be mistaken. With all perforation varieties listed the number of stamps grows up to nearly 60 items, and with all paper types included it’s around 100 items.
Example: Hungarian Castles (Kastélyok) definitive series issued between 1986-1992
Castles I series contains 15 different stamps designs:
Hungarian Castle definitive stamp series issued in 1986-1991 contains 15 different designs.
According to Michel, four different perforations have been used in making of the series. The original print is either 12¼:11½ or imperf, later prints add two more perforation varieties (11½:12¼ and 12¾:12½) for many values. These variations included the entire series grows to contain 54 stamps.
Update: I’ve received scans from specialized Hungarian catalog (”Magyar Posta- és Illetékbélyeg Katalógus”, 2009 and 2010 editions), and they add plenty of details not listed in Michel (at least yet). Michel omits D perf for 7,8,12 and 70ft stamps for now (but I’m sure they will be included in future editions). These are included to my summary table below… So to make it simple: Any stamp in the series can be found in A,B,C or D perf, with the exception of values of 3 and 12ft that exist only in A,B or D. So the series has 58 items to collect on this level.
So far my Excel sheet for this series looks like this:
A summary of major designs and varieties of Hungarian Castles I definitive stamp series. Items with green background or X-mark I have, the ones with red background I still need.
Besides different perforations, the prints seem to differ otherwise as well (though not mentioned on Michel):
Original prints appear to have clear, apart lines with vivid colors. Later prints seem to carry more blurred print output (with some areas filled with solid color instead of lines) and duller colors.
Update: Once again relying the special catalog scan I received… There exists 3 paper types (glossy, semi-glossy, mat) for most stamps having either A and C perf . In addition there are stamps with fluorescent fibres – these are mentioned in Michel too.
The second series of Castle definitive stamps is very easy to handle, as it contains only two different values featuring only perf (12:12) and imperf versions. These are not listed in the above Excel table.
Hungarian Castle II definitive stamp series issued in 1989-1992 contains only 2 designs.
In addition the 12ft stamp from the 1st series has been overprinted as commemorative stamp in 1991.
Closing words
I’d definitely wish I had a specialized catalog of Hungarian stamps to see what it tells about this series. As I’m about to sort trough nearly 500 grams of Hungarian definitive stamps kiloware this weekend, I’d hope to fill up many of the holes on my list. And who knows… Maybe I’ll find out some new minor variations, LOL.
Anyway… I’d be interested to know if / how other worldwide collectors keep track of long definitive stamp series like this.
Status update 6th August 2010
Well, it’s a funny world as 24 hours later I’m writing an update to this entry…
My original article stated that D perf for these stamps was 12:12½. Well, it seems my edition of Michel catalog had an errata / false information in form of omitted “¾”. This explained all the unlisted 12¾:12½ copies I was wondering first place. My thanks to Adrian for Your assistance.
Anyway, now I’ve got a new mystery… I have a 12ft stamp in D perforation, and my edition of Michel says no such thing does not exist… I’m pretty confident this is an errata on my edition too, and will update as soon as I get some kind of further information on subject.
Status update 7th August 2010
And another day later I’ve got two scans from specialized Hungarian catalogs. My thanks to Jay and Tamás for helping out…
I’ve updated the above entry to include essential information from specialized catalog (such as the fact that all the stamps exist in D perforation).
Want more?
Sign-up to weekly newsletter and get notified when new articles like the above are published at Stamp Collecting Blog. The email-newsletter is sent to You once a week (during the weekend) and it contains a summary of latest new entries and discussions.
Show that you liked this article - and support Stamp Collecting Blog!
Clicking the Like-button below promotes this article on FaceBook:
Clicking the +1 button below promotes this entry on Google and GooglePlus.
Thanks for your support!
Dear friend
wow, nice way of managing your definitives. What about watermarks varieties, block/plate no and gum? do you take that into account also. I definitely understand how hard is it to keep up with definitive. the worst part would be finding the missing one to complete your collection. I dont have to go far with the machin. Local definitives are more than enough. Though im a thematic collector, definitive stamps will always be one of my favorites. the area to study is just mind blowing.
Btw, nice collection you have there.
regards,
ronny, http://ronlovestamps.blogspot.com/
oops.. before i forget… rather than following all definitive in my country, i stick to birds only. one may argue that this is not right but what can i say. I love definitive and bird stamps; hence decided to focus on definitives with birds. at least it saves my pocket b4 I go broke. LOL
regards,
ronny
Hi Ronny,
I do collect perforation, watermark and paper types, so tracking them is on my interests. But everything else (like gum or plate numbers) I usually leave outside of my collection scope.
Just to give heads up that the original entry has been updated.
For those who have read the original entry, please read new and important updates on the final paragraphs of the entry. After that You may want to re-read/browse the original entry alltogether… It definitely feels awkward when all of a sudden You find so many errors in your otherwise trusted stamp catalog.
…And another update for the article. I got my hands on a scan from specialized Hungarian catalog, and it definitely adds up plenty of new information.
Hi Keijo,
Be thankful you knew (at least for now, lol) when to “draw a line” when it came to the depth of how far you will go into collecting a long-lived definitive series. I collect Canada specifically and there are large books written about many of our earlier series. Paper, dies, perforations, plate numbers, varieties, efo’s,printing type, plate errors, press types, plate faults,…and on and on. I have friends who are consumed by not being able to limit themselves,…lol! And its not just with old material! Another dear friend is nearly clinically insane trying to complete a Canadian definitive series from 1967 – 1973,…because he also has to deal with tagging and counterfeiting!
Marvin
@Marvin… I think that in stamp collecting reaching completion is more “a state of mind” than an absolute fact. And by not taking it too seriously in the first place, it can be a whole lot more fun.
Not too much unlike collecting sea shells, snowflakes, etc…
Hi Keijo,
I just love your blog and I`m learning so much from it! I may try and collect at least some of those Hungarian castles — their colours are so-o-o pretty! I`m not very fond of counting perforations though, even though I DO have a gauge.
By the way, I note that your English is extremely good, but I thought that you might not mind one minor correction, especially as you seem to use this word often. I believe “errata” was once a Latin word, since you are using its plural form and the plural looks Latin to me! (I never really thought of it before!) So I believe it should be “1 error” and “2 or more errata”.
Keep up the good work and I am going to read some of your earlier articles.
@Rosemary… Thanks for the grammar tip. I shall try to put into good use.
Hi Marvin
I have a friend who has completed the series of Canadian stamps of landscapes and the series with portraits along with the series of 1967-73 and he has all the varieties as listed by Unitrade. it took him alot of time , money, and some trading but he has all 3 series complete. Believe me one series he mad into into about six albums. At least that was all he had with him that night. Happy Stamp Collecting