Kinds of Blue: review of the "B" countries

Significantly more classical coverage for Bavaria in the '69 and '97 Big Blue

Interesting - and surprising- findings from reviewing the differences in "B" country coverage for the '41,'47','69' and '97 Big Blues. I'll summarize and comment before getting into specifics. I should say that the opinions I present here may change as I get further along into the country blogs. :-)

1) Overall of course the '41 edition through the '97 edition have far more in common than differences. Same Genus Same Species. Of the 26 countries in Big Blue between Bahamas and Burma, fully 12 of them have had NO change from 1941 through the 1997 editions. Four countries were dropped however (The German States: Baden, Brunswick, Bergedorf, and Bremen), leaving 22 countries.

2) The surprising realization is how much internal editing occurred with the '69 edition (obviously the results are represented in the '97 edition too). Some 'bad" - wholesale lopping off of sections ( Austria Military stamps, and the aforementioned German states), but some very "good" indeed. The classic era representation was strengthened in Bavaria, British Guiana and British Honduras. The 1930's era regular issues were strengthened in Bahrain and Burma. The Postage Dues coverage was improved in Belgium and Brazil, while Belgium had additional improvements in the Officials and Parcel Post issues. Recall though that Antigua had a 8 stamp drop in the classic issues in the '69, so not all peaches and cream. There was also the picking off (removal) of a few Postage Dues and Tax stamp (Basutoland, Bechuanaland Protectorate, Bermuda) issues in the '69. But the '69 wholesale and internal editing has not happened either before or since. Sure the '47 added a few late 30's issues, and the '97 gives more possible space for optional stamp additions, but no critical INTERNAL editing. So Hurray for the 1969 Big Blue!

3) There is actually not much difference between the '41 and '47 editions. This is because of two factors. The '41 is surprisingly up to date in  many countries, even including 1940 issues. Then the 1947 edition did NOT do a  thorough job of adding the remaining 1930's stamps. Sure the '47 edition beats the '41 edition in any category. But not by much. It would take the '69 issue to strengthen further the 1930's era.

4) The 1997 Big Blue currently is the "best" edition in my view. It reflects the improvements made internally by the '69 editors. And the stamps are presented on expanded pages (almost wasteful!), that does provide more spaces to put extra stamps. But any pretense that the '97 can be housed in one binder- as its predecessors were however bulging they looked-is laughable. Two large binders at minimum; and with any interleaving or adding quadrilled pages- a 3-5 binder monster. At least if Scott/Amos ever add the 10,000 stamp spaces that "should" be in Big Blue, they won't have have the "constraint" to keep the size to one binder. ;-)

5) The 1947 still has its advantages- mainly the most countries, and generally more BOB. But the '69, with the improved coverage of the countries remaining, has the edge in my view. Obviously, the '97 even more so.

So on with the detailed analysis....

Countries that have NO change between the '41, '47', '69, and '97 editions.
Bahamas
Barbados
Barbuda
Batum
Benin
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
British Central Africa
British East Africa
British Solomon Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria

The "dropped" German States

Countries (German States) that were dropped in the '69 and '97 editions ( all on one page)
Baden
Brunswick
Bergedorf
Bremen
Note: Each Country will have a separate blog with the details there.

British Bechuanaland should be in Big Blue

A Country that has never been in Big Blue, but should be.
Bechuanaland (or British Bechuanaland, not to be confused with  Bechuanaland Protectorate)
See "Bremen..and the rest" blog for details.

 1891 British Guiana Scott 136 5c ultramarine: Only found in the 1969 & 1997 Big Blue

"B" Countries with changes between the '41,'47',69', and '97 editions.
Note: These changes are also listed in the "Kinds of Blue" section for each Country blog.

Bahrain

The 1997 edition and the 1969 edition are identical.

The 1969 (and 1997) editions  has better coverage of the 1933-34 issue compared to the 1947 (and 1941) editions.
1947 (Total 8 spaces): 1,2,3,4,5,6, and 2 small spaces.
1969 (Total 11 spaces):1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, and 1 small space(10 or 11?); and large stamp 12 and 1 large space (13 or 14?)

Basutoland

The 1997 edition and the 1969 edition are identical.

The 1947 (and 1941) editions have Postage Due 1933 J1($2) and J2(<$1) included that are NOT in the 1969 (and 1997) editions.

Bavaria

The 1997 and 1969 editions are identical (except the 1997 edition uses more pages).
The 1997 and 1969 editions include four more stamps in the classic era: specifically 1870-73 Scott 25 6k bistre and Scott 30 18k red; 1876-1900 Scott 56 3m olive gray and Scott 57 5m yellow green. These are NOT in the 1947 and 1941 editions.

Bechuanaland Protectorate

The 1969 and 1997 editions are identical.
The 1947 (and 1941) editions include Postage Due 1932  J4($5+) and J5($5+) that are NOT in the 1969 (and 1997) editions.
( I did check all the editions('97,'69,'47,'41); and indeed there is no coverage of Bechuanaland)

Belgium

The 1969 and 1997 editions are identica in content. The other editions vary enough that I will break them down by category.

Regular issues (Advantage '47, '69, '97 editions)
The 1941 edition lacks the 1936-38 spaces for 265,274, and 284. Also, the 1941 lacks the 1936-40 spaces for 298,299,301,302,303,and 307. Of interest is the 1941 has TWO spaces for the 1.50 (294): a space for the "rose lilac"('41), and a space for the "rose"('39), that subsequently Scott demoted to a minor number (294b).

Semi-Postals
Actually the '97, '69, '47, and '41 edition do NOT have all the same semi-postals.

'97 and '69 edition
Lacks B249,B252,B253,B250,B251,($2+) compared to the '47 and '41 editions.

'41 edition
Lacks B27,B39,B40,B62,B63,B74 compared to the '47, '69 and '97 editions.

Total semi-postals
1947: 184
1997& 1969: 179
1941: 178 ( But different mixture of missing semi-postals than '97)

Postage Dues ( Advantage '69 and '97 editions)
1895-1915
The '69 and '97 have two more spaces for suggested J7 or (J8 or J9) compared to the '47 and '41 editions.

1922-32
The '69 and '97 have 8 more stamp spaces for suggested J25-J32 compared to the '47 and '41 editions.

Official Stamps ( Advantage '69 and '97 editions)
1921-22
The '69 and '97 have 8 more spaces for suggested Q11-Q21 choices.

Parcel Post ( Advantage '69 and '97 editions)
1923-31
The '69 and '97 editions have 19 more spaces to cover completely Q139-Q172 compared to the '47 and '41 editions.

1935
The '69 and '97 has space for Q195 and Q196 compared to the '47 and '41 editions.

1938
The '69 and '97 has space for Q209 and Q210 compared to the '47 and '41 editions.

Bottom Line for Big Blue editions.
1) 1997 and 1969 has all the stamps, only lacking 5 specific semi-postals from the '47 and '41 editions.
2) 1997 & 1969 has the 41 additional stamps in postage dues, officials, and parcel post outlined above compared to the '47 and '41 editions.
3) The 1947 has all the semi-postals, but lacks the 41 stamp space improvement that the '69 and '97 editions have.
4) The 1941 edition also lacks the 41 stamp spaces added by the '69 and '97, lacks 6 specific semi-postals compared to the '47 and '97 editions, AND lacks 9 regular stamp spaces found in the '47,'69, and '97 editions.

Bermuda

The 1969 and 1997 editions are identical.
The 1947 (and 1941) editions have a 1918 War Tax stamp Scott MR1(<$1) that is NOT in the 1969 (and1997) editions.

Brazil

The 1969 and 1997 editions are identical in content.  The '69 and '97 have significantly more coverage in the postal dues compared to the '47 and '41 editions.

1889-90 postage dues
The '69 and '97 have eleven more spaces (designated: J4,J10,J11,J12,J13,J14,J15, and blank: suggested J6,J7,J9,J17) than the '47 and '41 editions.

1906-10 postage dues
The '69 and '97 have eight more spaces ( designated: J32,J33,J34,J36,J38, and blank: suggested J37,J39,J40) than the '47 and '41 editions,

1919-36 postage dues
The '69 and '97 have six more spaces (designated: J47, J60 or J71, J64 or J72, J73, and blank: suggested J66,J67, ) than the '47 and '41 editions.

In addition, the 1941 edition lacks the 1940 issued Scott 498 compared to the '47, '69, and '97 editions.

British Guiana

The 1969 and 1997 editions are identical.
The "97 and "69 editions have more coverage of the classical era: specifically 1860-75 Scott 46 or 51 or 59 2c orange and Scott 52 4c blue; 1889-1903 Scott 136 5c ultramarine and Scott 139 8c lilac & rose. These stamps are NOT in the '47 and '41 editions.

British Honduras

The 1969 and 1997 editions are identical. The '69 ( and '97) editions has a significant 12 stamp upgrade in the classical era compared to the '47 and '41 editions. Specifically the upgrade includes:
1891-98 Queen Victoria
Scott 42 6c ultramarine
Space: suggest Scott 44 12c violet & green
Space: suggest Scott 45 24c yellow & blue


1899 overprinted "Revenue"
Scott 49 10c lilac&green
Scott 50 25c red brown & green
Space: suggest Scott 52 5c gray black7 ultra or Scott 53 10c violet&green


1902-10 King Edward Vll
Space; suggest Scott 58 1c gray green& green
Space: suggest Scott 65 10c violet&green
Space: suggest Scott 67 25c violet&orange


1913-17 King George V
Space: suggest Scott 79 10c dull violet& olive green
Space: suggest Scott 80 25c black& gray green
Space: suggest Scott 86 2c carmine

Burma

The '69 and '97 editions are identical.
1937 issue
The "47 and "41 editions have 8 stamp spaces, while the "69 and "97 have 13 stamp spaces. The '69/'97 editions then have room for Scott 9,10or11 choice,13,14,and 15 choice.
1938 issue
The '69/'97 editions have room for two more stamps-Scott 30 and 31 choice.
In total, the 69'/97' editions provide seven more stamp spaces then the '47/'41 editions.