The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps, 37th ed

After the 37th I Issue of "Guide to U.S. Stamps" had held in my hands, I was impressed by the colorful presentation of the catalog very much. The title page is decorated with the block "Hawaiian Rain Forest" from September 1, 2010. Since January 1978 (37 years) USPS put up this wonderful catalog given out once a year. The current issue has a very readable font and comes in size 20 cm x 27 cm x 1.8 cm (width x length x height) - match the page size letter - plus 2 cm on the left side for the 18 ring plastic binding that looks very stable.The catalog is available directly from the United States Poastal Sevice to belong to the same price as here on Amazon.It starts with the entire editions of 2010, which are explained in great detail with many insightful information distributed through the catalog.From page 12, the price valuation of stamps will be explained. This is followed by a chapter on the "art of stamp collecting" and a declaration on stamp duty Reviews from classification Superb to heavy Cancel. From page 14 the first issues of U.S. stamps since the first edition of 1847 is listed. In addition, there are numerous varieties with price rating. The stamps are somewhat smaller illustrated in color, but they are printed very well because they are presented on a black background. Spread each with 3 columns, you can find a list of the Scott number, the type of paper, perforation, watermark, value impression motif , color, the value of unused and used stamps and countless other details. The exact date of issue of corresponding hardware stamps are also listed, such as detailed information on varieties with pictures of stamps and postal stamp blocks. After a little practice, you find yourself in spite of the many details along very well . The pages are not cluttered and they allow a quick overview.In my opinion, the catalog has been more successful than the original Scott catalog.On some pages discreetly mounted advertising information from USPS and details of the revisions of 2010 do not interfere at all.It prepares a real joy in the 400 catalog pages to scroll.The last entry of the regular postage stamps can be found on page 273 with the Scott number 4434 (44 cent Kwanzaa 9 October 2009.). The 2010 stamps are not yet included in the table, but they are found as described at the beginning of the catalog and said lovingly and knowledgeably scattered on different pages.From page 274 to follow the expenditure Semi-Postal (B-numbers), Confoderate States of America (14 items), Newspaper / Periodical (PR-numbers), Airmail C-section, Special Delivery, Registration, Certifed Mail and Postage Due Stamps, Official Penalty Mail Stamps and (O, Q and J numbers from page 290), Parcel Post Stamps and Special Handling. From page 296 of follow Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps (RW), Embossed and Stamped Envelopes (U1-U673), Official Airmail Envelopes and Aeorogrammes, Postal, Official, Stamped and Paid Reply, cards and Premium Stamped Stationery and Cards. Since 1972, there are American Commemorative Cancelations (aka Souvenir Pages) and panels (special Holiday and Love stamp issues). Rounding out the catalog with details of contact addresses of some important stamp organizations and book proposals to philately. From page 350 or follow the presentation lists with page references to stamp series, a small definition of terms in philately, and a comprehensive index of A as "A Stamp" to Z like ZIP code. Even on a list of the postmaster of the United States since 1775 was expected.The catalog is well worth its $ 19.95 and I think he is clearer than the "normal" Scott Catalog Volume 6 (letters So-Z) with the stamps of the United States of America.I still miss a few details, such as Postage Validation Imprints (PIV) (the tokens with the red to pale pink bars), or captions for individual stamps.It has to show whether detention under intensive use the leaves in the plastic rings.He certainly does not replace the U.S. special catalog. But every serious collector who wants a detailed stamp catalog of the USA, this 37th Issue well equipped.I find it interesting that the U.S. Postal Service is allowed to use in your catalog the numbers in the Scott catalog, especially since so Scott brings out its own catalog.As a German collector I know of course the Michel catalog. It never came out of the Deutsche Post in the sense of a range given to those indicating the Michel numbers. It is not permitted by Michel.Who purchased this 37th U.S. Stamp Catalog, he has many interesting and educational information at hand and I wish so much fun with his hobby.B. Jacobs from GermanyThe following is the German translation of this review.Nachdem ich die 37. Ausgabe des "Guide to U.S. Stamps" in meinen Händen gehalten habe, war ich von der farbenfrohen Aufmachung des Kataloges sehr angetan, . Die Titelseite schmückt der Block "Hawai Rain Forest" vom 1. September 2010. Seit Januar 1978 (37 Jahre) wird dieser wunderschön aufgemachte Katalog einmal jährlich von der USPS (Amerikanischen Post) heraus gegeben. Die aktuelle Ausgabe hat eine gut lesbare Schrift und präsentiert sich in der Größe 20 cm x 27 cm x 1,8 cm (Breite x Länge x Höhe) - entsprechen dem Seitenformat Letter - plus 2 cm auf der linken Seite für die 18 Ring Plastik Bindung, die sehr stabil aussieht.Der Katalog ist direkt bei dem United States Poastal Sevice zum gleichen Preis zu beziehen wie hier bei Amazon.Er beginnt mit den gesamten Neuausgaben des Jahres 2010, die sehr ausführlich mit vielen aufschlussreichen Angaben über den Katalog verteilt erklärt werden.Ab Seite 12 wird die Preisbewertung von Briefmarken erklärt. Es schließt sich ein Kapitel über die "Kunst des Briefmarkensammeln" an, sowie eine Erklärung über Stempelbewertungen von Superb bis Heavy Cancel. Ab Seite 14 werden die ersten Ausgaben der USA-Briefmarken seit der Ausgabe von 1847 aufgeführt. Außerdem findet man zahlreiche Abarten mit Preisbewertung aufgelistet. Die Briefmarken sind etwas verkleinert in Farbe dargestellt, aber sie sind sehr gut abgedruckt, weil sie auf schwarzem Hintergrund dargestellt werden. Verteilt auf jeweils 3 Spalten findet man eine Auflistung der Scott-Nummer, der Papierart, Zähnung, Wasserzeichen, Werteindruck, Motiv, Farbe, den Wert für ungebrauchte und gestempelte Briefmarken und unzählige weitere Details. Das genaue Ausgabdatum der jeweilgen Briefmarken werden ebenso aufgeführt, wie Detailangaben zu Abarten mit Bildern der Briefmarken und ganzer Briefmarkenblöcken. Nach kurzer Übung findet man sich trotz der vielen Angaben sehr gut zurecht. Die Seiten sind nicht überladen und sie lassen einen schnellen Überblick zu.Meiner Meinung nach ist der Katalog besser gelungen als der original Scott-Katalog.Die auf einigen Seiten dezent angebrachten Werbeinformationen der USPS und Details zu den Neuausgaben von 2010 stören überhaupt nicht.Es bereitet richtig Freude in den 400 Katalogseiten zu blättern.Der letzte Eintrag der regulären Briefmarken findet man auf Seite 273 mit der Scott-Nummer 4434 (44 cent Kwanzaa vom 9. Oktober 2009.). Die 2010-Briefmarken sind zwar noch nicht in die Tabelle aufgenommen, aber man findet sie wie beschrieben am Anfang des Kataloges und liebevoll und kenntnisreich erklärt verstreut auf verschiedenen Seiten.Ab Seite 274 folgen die Ausgaben Semi-Postal (B-Nummern), Confoderate States of America (14 Werte), Newspaper/ Periodical (PR- Nummern), Airmail C-Nummern, Special Delivery, Registration, Certifed Mail and Postage Due Stamps, Offical and Penalty Mail Stamps (O, Q- und J-Nummern ab Seite 290), Parcel Post and Special Handling Stamps. Ab Seite 296 folgen Migratory Bird Hunting und Conservation Stamps (RW), Embossed and Stamped Envelopes (U1-U673), Airmail Official Envelopes and Aeorogrammes, Postal, Official, Stamped and Paid Reply, Cards und Premium Stamped Stationery und Cards. Seit 1972 gibt es American Commemorative Cancelations (auch bekannt als Souvenir Pages) und Panels (special Holiday und Love stamp Ausgaben). Abgerundet wird der Katalog durch Angaben von Kontaktadressen einiger wichtigen Briefmarkenorganisationen und Buchvorschlägen zur Philatelie. Ab Seite 350 folgen dann noch Übersichtslisten mit Seitenangaben zu Briefmarke-Serien, einer kleinen Begriffserklärung von Fachausdrücken in der Philatelie, und einem ausführliches Stichwortverzeichnis von A wie "A Stamp" bis Z wie ZIP Code. Sogar an eine Auflistung der "Postmaster" der USA seit 1775 wurde gedacht.Der Katalog ist seine 19,95 $ absolut wert und meines Erachtens ist er übersichtlicher als der "normale" Scott-Katalog Volume 6 (Buchstaben So-Z) mit den Briefmarken der USA aufgebaut.Wenige Angaben fehlen mir noch , so zum Beispiel Postage Validation Imprints (PIV) (die Wertmarken - Schalterlabel- mit den roten bis hellpinken Balken) oder auch Bildbeschreibungen der einzelnen Briefmarken.Es muss sich zeigen, ob nach intensivem Gebrauch die Blätter in den Plastik-Ringen festhalten.Sicherlich ersetzt er nicht den USA Spezial Katalog. Aber jeder ernsthafte Sammler, der einen ausführlichen Briefmarkenkatalog der USA sucht, ist mit dieser 37. Ausgabe bestens ausgestattet, .Interessant finde ich, dass die amerikanische Post in Ihrem Katalog die Nummern des Scott-Kataloges benutzen darf, zumal Scott ja einen eigenen Katalog herausbringt.Als deutscher Sammler kenne ich natürlich den Michel-Katalog. Niemals käme es der Deutschen Post in den Sinn, einen Katalog heraus zu geben, der die Michel-Nummern angibt. Es wird von Michel nicht erlaubt. Vielleicht eine Anregung für eine Kooperation?Wer den US-Stamp-Katalog in der 37. Ausgabe kauft, der hat viele interessante und lehrreiche Informationen zur Hand und ich wünsche jedem viel Spaß an seinem Hobby.B. Jacobs aus Deutschland

What a helpful, insightful, and well-organized catalogue! I am highly impressed with the overall information contained in the book at the value I bought it for, as well as the the large & easy to read print, and lovely full-color pages! The pictures really pop out, which makes identifying stamps a breeze! This book comes spiral-bound, which makes intense stamp research highly accessible!If you're a stamp collector (especially a beginner) looking for current (used and unused) stamp values and other information on US Stamps from 1847-2010, this book is a great first step into the world of United States philately, especially before investing heavily in an expensive Scott stamp catalogue! Even to the advanced collectors out there, I'd recommend this book!

The Index is comprehensive and the stamp images are in color and very good. I found this guide to be user friendly.

Useful information in a format that opens flat. Much better than the previous version that was hard to keep open.

It is what it says it is. It is very complete and very informative about almost all US Postal Stamps. It has pricing in it of various versions and usages of the stamps including First Day covers and various odd issues. It has good photos and good descriptions but it takes a little while to get to understand all of their descriptive aspects. There is very little in terms of a glossary as they probably assume that the reader knows most of this material before hand.The pricing shown runs both too high and too low for the item so while it can be useful to get an idea of prices I would not consider it to be the right way to determine the value of your stamps or collection.The value of individual items is something you should spend time to get to know through various other means.It is a very good reference source and is well formatted for use but should not be the "basket in which you place all your eggs"

My husband inherited a stamp collection from his uncle. He collected stamps, and never done anything with them. (organizing & placing them in a book). I spent close to $100.00 for a super deluxe stamp book, (his first stamp book ever) about 4 inches thick, at a stamp store for his birthday present. I wasted my money.This book, put out by the Postal service, is perfect. Nice photo's of stamps, and the new ones, that come out every year. I was very happy to see, they went to a spiral book. It was getting to thick, and the bind was not durable, for as many pages as it was getting, with frequent useage, they were coming apart from the bind. I can't imagine, the post ofc. doing such a great job, publishing this book, when a package can't find a way to my mailbox. My hats off to them!This book rates a A+

Excellent book, all stamps are pictured and by Scott Number. Gives what the item is worth, for regular stamps FDCs Plate Blocks, Sheets mint or used up to 2010.

The guide is nice because it gives a color picture of every stamp produced, as well as Scott #'s,values, date of issue, etc. The plastic spine allows one to open the book and have it lay flat. It has a good index, is attractive, is full of information. This is a very good resource for US stamp collectors.