1908 Austria Offices in Turkey 1 Piaster
Deep Blue on Blue
Into the Deep BlueDeep Blue on Blue
There might be some curiosity among readers about the status of my collections. And so here is the country numbers for both Deep Blue (Steiner), and my virtual Big Blue (which is also housed in the Steiner).
Recall that Deep Blue (Steiner) covers the 1840-1940+ era, with additional coverage of British Commonwealth countries to 1952 (George VI); Big Blue covers 1840-1940.
For each country, the total number of (major number) stamps in the Scott
catalogue (Cat. Ct.), the filled spaces in Deep Blue (DB) (Steiner), the total spaces in Big Blue (BB),
and the filled spaces in Big Blue are presented.
For general, and specific comments (indicated
with an *), see the explanations below the statistical table.
Updated as of March 1, 2024 (This table will be updated from time to time)
Country……………/Cat. Ct./DB/Filled//Spaces/BB/Filled
Grand total…………./83,458/ 51,199 // 34,903/ 30,932
(61% filled Deep Blue/ 89% filled Big Blue)
(61% filled Deep Blue/ 89% filled Big Blue)
United States………/0950*/DB/827//0627*/BB/0619
Total…………………../82,518/50,406//34,276/30,338
Aden…………………./100/DB/070/////019/BB/019
Afghanistan………../389/DB/058/////036/BB/020
Aguera…………….…/026/DB/011/////007/BB/004
Aitutaki..………...../031/DB/017/////022/BB/016
Alaouites…….……./073/DB/035/////030/BB/027
Albania………….…./403/DB/219/////113/BB/091
Alexandretta……./031/DB/009/////008/BB/008
Algeria……….……./191/DB/169/////115/BB/114
Allenstein….……./028/DB/028/////028/BB/028
Andorra…….……./149/DB/056/////038/BB/022
Angola…..….……./307/DB/286/////113/BB/112
Angra…….….……./035/DB/030/////007/BB/007
(Anjouan)….……./030/DB/004/////007/BB/004
(Annam & Tonkin)/006/DB/003/////000/BB/000
Antigua….….……./106/DB/059/////039/BB/036
Argentina….……./951/DB/585/////226/BB/226
Armenia….…..…./318/DB/105/////027/BB/027
Ascension….……./063/DB/032/////031/BB/022
Australia…………./335/DB/218/////090/BB/086
Austria*….….……./1226/DB/1012/////755/BB/749
Azerbaijan.….…./098/DB/049/////010/BB/010
Azores….….….…./0340/DB/0303/////176/BB/167
(Baden)….………./025/DB/021/////007/BB/005
Bahamas….……./132/DB/096/////052/BB/047
Bahrain….…..…./091/DB/053/////017/BB/014
Barbados………./245/DB/117/////057/BB/055
Barbuda……….../011/DB/002/////005/BB/002
Basutoland……./050/DB/035/////021/BB/019
Batum………..…./065/DB/022/////012/BB/012
Bavaria…………./361/DB/306/////289/BB/283
Bechuanaland./153/DB/065/////036/BB/035
Belgium………../971/DB/869////549/BB/534
Benin……………./049/DB/002/////007/BB/002
(Bergedorf)…../005/DB/005/////003/BB/003
Bermuda..……./147/DB/088/////060/BB/053
Bolivia……….…./361/DB/299/////164/BB/164
Bosnia & Herzegovina/193/DB/173//152/BB/152
Brazil……………./669/DB/576/////274/BB/273
British Central Africa/073/DB/016///007/BB/007
British East Africa/096/DB/015///008/BB/008
British Guiana./276/DB/159/////048/BB/048
British Honduras/155/DB/108////063/BB/058
British Solomon Islands/092/DB/038//034/BB/028
Brunei…………../057/DB/024/////024/BB/013
Bulgaria………../490/DB/404/////315/BB/301
(Bremen)………/016/DB/003/////003/BB/002
(Brunswick).…./025/DB/008/////006/BB/005
Burma……..…./140/DB/124/////026/BB/022
Cameroun……./355/DB/153/////117/BB/106
Canada…….../417/DB/342/////211/BB/211
Canal Zone..…./183/DB/122/////104/BB/086
Cape Juby….…./140/DB/048/////068/BB/037
Cape of Good Hope/068/DB/053///030/BB/027
Cape Verde…../287/DB/226/////121/BB/110
(Carinthia)*…../-----/DB/-----/////-----/BB/-----
Caroline Islands/023/DB/012/////007/BB/007
Castellorizo.…./085/DB/023/////020/BB/017
Cayman Islands/139/DB/073/////051/BB/040
Central Lithuania/053/DB/060/////043/BB/033
Ceylon……………/310/DB/146/////078/BB/075
Chad………………/085/DB/038/////059/BB/028
Chile………………/366/DB/292/////166/BB/166
China*……….…/909/DB/265/////214/BB/158
(China-Offices Abroad*)/?00/DB/?00//031/BB/000
(Cilicia)……….…/145/DB/084/////0016/BB/016
Cochin China…/005/DB/001/////004/BB/001
Colombia………/450/DB/400/////206/BB/197
(Colombia States)/414/DB/180///203*/BB/184
(Confederate States)/014/DB/006//006/BB/005
Congo, Belgian./266/DB/187/////138/BB/134
Cook Islands…./115/DB/032/////037/BB/015
Corfu………….…/014/DB/007/////006/BB/005
Costa Rica…..…/384/DB/201/////154/BB/153
Crete………….…/144/DB/060/////065/BB/048
Cuba………….…/462/DB/357/////234/BB/234
Cyprus…………/150/DB/089/////065/BB/063
Cyrenaica……/137/DB/050/////093/BB/036
Czechoslovakia*/620/DB/575///336/BB/331
Dahomey……/143/DB/105/////084/BB/083
(Dalmatia).…/014/DB/003/////005/BB/002
Danish West Indies/066/DB/041///037/BB/037
Danzig……..…/431/DB/334/////260/BB/258
Denmark……/399/DB/346/////206/BB/206
Diego Suarez/063/DB/003/////008/BB/003
Dominica……/112/DB/068/////048/BB/041
Dominican Republic/474/DB/322///222/BB/210
Dutch Indies./361/DB/262/////174/BB/163
East Africa & Uganda/071/DB/012///019/BB/012
(Eastern Rumelia)/040/DB/006////007/BB/005
(Eastern Silesia)/061/DB/056/////028/BB/028
Ecuador……/773/DB/405/////279/BB/277
Egypt………./390/DB/369/////198/BB/198
Elobey, Ann. & Cors./060/DB/014///007/BB/004
Epirus……../068/DB/025/////020/BB/018
Eritrea……./313/DB/196/////181/BB/148
Estonia……./197/DB/162/////114/BB/111
Ethiopia.…./323/DB/124/////078/BB/062
Falkland Islands/142/DB/074////037/BB/025
Far Eastern Republic/065/DB/014///008/BB/001
Fernando Po./176/DB/036/////023/BB/012
Fiji.…………../164/DB/061/////058/BB/036
Finland.…../281/DB/238/////160/BB/160
Fiume.……./262/DB/169/////070/BB/068
France*.…./1932/DB/1040/////752/BB/625
French Colonies/080/DB/038///020/BB/019
French Congo/052/DB/017////018/BB/011
French Equatorial Africa/167/DB/090///063/BB/055
French Guiana/208/DB/135/////125/BB/110
French Guinea/212/DB/133/////139/BB/120
French India/141/DB/064/////084/BB/062
French Morocco*/300/DB/186///196- Listed in France/BB/147
French Polynesia/154/DB/100///104/BB/086
French Sudan/147/DB/074/////107/BB/065
Funchal.../034/DB/028/////014/BB/013
Gabon.…./183/DB/124/////111/BB/100
Gambia.../146/DB/077/////041/BB/036
Georgia.../036/DB/029/////028/BB/023
German East Africa/100/DB/067///033/BB/033
German New Guinea/023/DB/005///014/BB/004
German SW Africa/034/DB/033/////013/BB/013
Germany: North German Conf./035/DB/025//014/BB/014
Germany*../1101/DB/917/////765/BB/739
Gibraltar../135/DB/060/////040/BB/034
Gilbert & Ellice Is./065/DB/035////028/BB/022
Gold Coast../154/DB/080/////061/BB/054
Grand Comoro/029/DB/013/////017/BB/013
Great Britain/911/DB/424/////276/BB/206
Greece…..../812/DB/490/////281/BB/251
Greenland./020/DB/008/////007/BB/007
Grenada…./189/DB/070/////057/BB/044
(Griqualand West)/102/DB/003//000/BB/000
Guadeloupe/201/DB/124/////124/BB/110
Guam…..../014/DB/005/////005/BB/005
Guatemala/454/DB/366/////291/BB/285
Haiti…….../339/DB/214/////188/BB/180
(Hamburg)./022/DB/006/////007/BB/006
(Hanover)../025/DB/010/////007/BB/007
Hatay…...../050/DB/031/////013/BB/013
Hawaii….../091/DB/046/////033/BB/031
Hejaz (Saudi Arabia)*/453/DB/060//026/BB/018
(Heligoland)/026/DB/007/////007/BB/004
Honduras../579/DB/286/////211/BB/191
Hong Kong./214/DB/132/////075/BB/068
Horta…...../034/DB/021/////007/BB/007
Hungary*../1427/DB/1208////622/BB/622
Iceland….../327/DB/260/////161/BB/161
India*……./2958/DB/859/////244/BB/204
Indo-China/365/DB/227/////198/BB/167
Inhambane/101/DB/062/////037/BB/036
Inini……….../058/DB/047/////048/BB/039
(Ionian Islands)/003/DB/001////001/BB/001
Iraq……….../167/DB/061/////054/BB/036
Ireland…..../133/DB/105/////034/BB/034
Italian Colonies/087/DB/024////054/BB/021
Italian East Africa/054/DB/044///039/BB/033
Italy………../1554/DB/847/////617/BB/513
Ivory Coast/194/DB/104////128/BB/096
Jamaica….../170/DB/160/////078/BB/078
Japan………./388/DB/270/////230/BB/208
Jordan……../271/DB/051/////038/BB/013
Jugoslavia../583/DB/459/////340/BB/319
Karelia……../015/DB/015/////006/BB/006
Kenya Uganda/108/DB/056////050/BB/034
Kiauchau…./042/DB/008/////008/BB/007
Kionga……../004/DB/003/////004/BB/003
Korea…….../055/DB/015/////026/BB/014
Kuwait……../199/DB/009/////024/BB/004
Labuan……./135/DB/064/////059/BB/044
Lagos…….../059/DB/014/////014/BB/010
Latakia……./035/DB/014/////025/BB/013
Latvia…….../400/DB/259/////150/BB/136
Lebanon…./294/DB/088/////083/BB/055
Leeward islands/116/DB/053///044/BB/036
Liberia……../521/DB/446/////144/BB/140
Libya………../266/DB/139/////195/BB/109
Liechtenstein/249/DB/138////127/BB/102
Lithuania…/495/DB/283/////163/BB/128
Lourenco Marques/176/DB/125///046/BB/045
(Lubeck)…./014/DB/011/////005/BB/005
Luxembourg/582/DB/352////268/BB/239
Macao….…/372/DB/215/////148/BB/116
Madagascar/265/DB/150////144/BB/140
Madeira…./068/DB/037/////025/BB/020
Malaya*…/1314/DB/329/////257/BB/127
Maldives Is/030/DB/007/////013/BB/005
Malta……../263/DB/163/////069/BB/064
Manchukuo*/167/DB/100////079/BB/043
Mariana Is/027/DB/007/////013/BB/007
Marienwerder/042/DB/014////012/BB/006
Marshall Is/027/DB/013/////013/BB/011
Martinique./217/DB/166/////098/BB/088
Mauritania./145/DB/081/////081/BB/058
Mauritius…./261/DB/122/////081/BB/069
Mayotte…../031/DB/010/////016/BB/010
(Meckln. Schwerin)/008/DB/001///002/BB/001
(Meckln. Strelitz)/006/DB/002////003/BB/000
Memel……../237/DB/171/////051/BB/044
Mesopotamia/075/DB/014////009/BB/007
Mexico……../1299/DB/859/////369/BB/363
Middle Congo/123/DB/050/////097/BB/044
(Modena)…./019/DB/002/////005/BB/001
Moheli……../021/DB/007/////008/BB/006
Monaco….../272/DB/161/////143/BB/118
Mongolia…./057/DB/015/////021/BB/011
Montenegro/145/DB/121/////115/BB/111
Montserrat./130/DB/045/////043/BB/024
Mozambique/430/DB/328////137/BB/132
Mozambique Co./275/DB/216///122/BB/116
Natal………./132/DB/033/////025/BB/022
Nauru……./038/DB/030/////022/BB/022
Nepal……../043/DB/025/////014/BB/014
Netherlands/506/DB/443/////307/BB/302
Neth. Antilles/187/DB/094////073/BB/068
Nevis……../033/DB/004/////004/BB/002
New Brunswick/011/DB/007////006/BB/006
New Caledonia/266/DB/108////125/BB/081
Newfoundland/285/DB/256/////153/BB/151
New Guinea/140/DB/029/////068/BB/026
New Hebrides/164/DB/057/////047/BB/025
New South Wales/198/DB/113///052/BB/039
New Zealand*/505/DB/351/////147/BB/137
Nicaragua/1715/DB/1075////569/BB/516
Niger……../120/DB/077/////102/BB/076
Niger Coast Prot/064/DB/012////006/BB/005
Nigeria…../075/DB/058/////038/BB/035
Niue…….../103/DB/074/////030/BB/030
North Borneo/409/DB/137////127/BB/089
North Ingermanland/014/DB/011///009/BB/008
North West Pacific Is/149/DB/013///007/BB/005
Northern Nigeria/051/DB/027////019/BB/019
Northern Rhodesia/057/DB/043////033/BB/028
Norway..../290/DB/273/////183/BB/180
Nossi Be…/057/DB/007/////007/BB/003
Nova Scotia/013/DB/007/////005/BB/005
Nyasaland Prot./103/DB/054///036/BB/026
Nyassa……/141/DB/092/////085/BB/071
Obock……./083/DB/010/////012/BB/003
(Oldenburg)/024/DB/005/////003/BB/003
Oltre Giuba/066/DB/046/////035/BB/035
Orange R. Colony/077/DB/053////031/BB/026
Pakistan*…/032/DB/023//////000/BB/000
Palestine.../093/DB/049/////061/BB/038
Panama..../383/DB/213/////152/BB/146
Papua......./126/DB/060/////065/BB/046
Paraguay../584/DB/508/////357/BB/357
(Parma)..../015/DB/002/////002/BB/000
Penrhyn Island/030/DB/013///019/BB/010
Persia......./784/DB/476/////412/BB/387
Peru………./629/DB/400////314/BB/312
Philippine Is/564/DB/496////217/BB/217
Poland....../683/DB/530/////355/BB/344
Ponta Delgada/034/DB/030///016/BB/016
Portugal..../1031/DB/556////465/BB/411
Port. Africa/011/DB/011/////005/BB/005
Port. Congo/137/DB/123/////035/BB/034
Port. Guinea/309/DB/237////146/BB/129
Port. India../501/DB/210/////155/BB/133
Prince Edward Is/016/DB/013///009/BB/009
Prussia*...../026/DB/018/////006/BB/005
Puerto Rico/195/DB/132////121/BB/107
Queensland/164/DB/053////034/BB/023
Quelimane./040/DB/039/////020/BB/020
Reunion..../217/DB/137/////135/BB/121
Rhodesia../143/DB/053/////053/BB/039
Rio de Oro/149/DB/043/////024/BB/013
(Romagna)/009/DB/003/////003/BB/002
Romania.../931/DB/770/////530/BB/513
Roman States/025/DB/018////006/BB/006
Rouad....../016/DB/006/////008/BB/006
Ruanda-Urundi/071/DB/048////031/BB/026
Russia….../1415/DB/827////617/BB/564
Saar…….../237/DB/224/////133/BB/132
St. Christopher/029/DB/007////005/BB/004
St. Helena./143/DB/078/////045/BB/045
St. Kitts-Nevis/111/DB/062////043/BB/038
St. Lucia..../167/DB/078/////056/BB/049
St. Pierre & Miquelon/260/DB/149//162/BB/129
St. Thomas & Prince Is/423/DB/263///140/BB/132
St. Vincent../191/DB/154/////044/BB/044
Ste. Marie de Madag./013/DB/003///006/BB/003
Salvador..../1166/DB/809////582/BB/560
Samoa…..../173/DB/103/////070/BB/063
San Marino/345/DB/146/////146/BB/113
Sarawak…../215/DB/091/////050/BB/032
Sardinia….../017/DB/006/////007/BB/006
(Saseno)…../008/DB/004/////006/BB/003
Saudi Arabia*/----/DB/-----////-----/BB/00*
Saxony…..../020/DB/012/////008/BB/007
Schleswig../042/DB/024/////021/BB/021
(Schleswig-Holstein*)/025/DB/014///000/BB/00
Senegal…../250/DB/140/////165/BB/129
Senegambia & Niger/013/DB/004///008/BB/004
Serbia…..../224/DB/128/////104/BB/099
Seychelles/175/DB/065/////066/BB/036
Shanghai../183/DB/017/////031/BB/016
(Siberia)…../070/DB/007/////006*/BB/003
Sierra Leone/194/DB/063////059/BB/047
Somalia…../355/DB/118/////156/BB/086
Somali Coast/210/DB/130/////130/BB/104
Somaliland Prot./142/DB/052///030/BB/024
South Africa /237/DB/195////084/BB/048
South Australia/243/DB/105////032/BB/019
Southern Nigeria/056/DB/027///014/BB/014
Southern Rhodesia/078/DB/074///051/BB/044
South Russia/055/DB/020////010/BB/009
South West Africa/217/DB/092////103/BB/048
Spain…….../1171/DB/703////567/BB/499
Spanish Guinea/319/DB/113////104/BB/067
Spanish Morocco/251/DB/109////134/BB/095
Spanish Sahara/047/DB/047/////043/BB/043
Straits Settlements /310/DB/133////092/BB/086
Sudan…..../180/DB/141/////061/BB/061
Surinam…./243/DB/152/////155/BB/134
Swaziland./055/DB/034/////024/BB/019
Sweden…../426/DB/366/////211/BB/211
Switzerland/637/DB/430/////321/BB/314
Syria……..../524/DB/230/////141/BB/117
Tahiti……../065/DB/007/////003/BB/003
Tanganyika/044/DB/018/////020/BB/016
Tannu Tuva/141/DB/093/////020/BB/019
Tasmania…/123*/DB/044////027/BB/ 024
Tete……….../040/DB/036/////021/BB/ 020
Thailand (Siam)/286/DB/108////118/BB/ 085
Thrace……../135/DB/054/////022/BB/ 022
Thurn and Taxis/054/DB/037///015/BB/015
Tibet……..../018/DB/008/////010/BB/ 008
Timor…….../296/DB/127/////143/BB/ 088
Tobago….../031/DB/011/////005/BB/ 004
Togo……..../226/DB/080/////109/BB/ 067
Tonga……../109/DB/034/////027/BB/ 012
Transcaucasian F.R./031/DB/017///004/BB/ 004
Transvaal../293/DB/070/////052/BB/ 044
Trinidad…./134/DB/029/////026/BB/ 020
Trinidad & Tobago/108/DB/080///038/BB/ 038
Tripolitania/154/DB/074/////119/BB/ 062
Tunisia……./336/DB/231/////151/BB/ 133
Turkey….../1303/DB/819////394/BB/ 375
Turkey in Asia/108/DB/027////012/BB/ 012
Turks Islands/058/DB/005/////007/BB/ 004
Turks & Caico Is./130/DB/129////051/BB/ 051
(Tuscany)../024/DB/004/////002/BB/ 000
(Two Sicilies)/027/DB/003/////006/BB/ 002
Ubangi….../109/DB/031/////079/BB/ 029
Uganda…../076/DB/005/////010/BB/ 004
Ukrainia…./111/DB/047/////030/BB/ 030
Upper Senegal & Niger/050/DB/020//040/BB/ 020
Upper Silesia/090/DB/054/////036/BB/ 032
Upper Volta/089/DB/028/////075/BB/ 028
Uruguay…../843/DB/582/////298/BB/ 267
Vatican City/109/DB/099/////091/BB/ 089
Venezuela../511/DB/415/////251/BB/ 251
Victoria……./260/DB/107/////060/BB/ 053
Virgin Islands/113/DB/056////046/BB/ 032
Wallis & Futuna Is./119/DB/053///104/BB/ 052
Western Australia/104/DB/053/////027/BB/ 023
Western Ukrainia./119/DB/012/////019/BB/ 009
(White Russia)*/000/DB/010/////010/BB/ 010
Wurttemberg../251/DB/195/////180/BB/168
Yemen…….../040/DB/026/////009/BB/ 004
Zambezia…./105/DB/048/////037/BB/ 029
Zanzibar…../238/DB/069/////066/BB/ 044
Zululand…../024/DB/005/////014/BB/ 005
Comments and Explanations……
Total catalogue count
All major number stamps in the Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue are counted, (with some exceptions - see below), and covers World Wide 1840-1940+, and British Commonwealth countries 1840-1952. (“Cat. Ct.”)
(“Cat. Ct.”) will be somewhat less than
actual Scott Classic Specialized catalogue major number count. I excluded
specific categories (U.S. cut squares, Canada Air Post Semi-Official stamps, French Parcel Post, Australian
States Postal-Fiscal, Russia Postal-Fiscal etc) in which I had no interest.
I did not count any of
the Great Britain stamps identified with an obliterator (Scott “A” prefix) that
can be found for the British colonies prior to that colony’s first stamp issue.
Some smaller “entire” countries are missing (British Columbia, New Britain, Oman, Stellaland etc ) that are expensive, or have never been included in the Big
Blue album countries.
I did count spaces in Steiner rather than major numbers for
Austria for total Austria count (update- Sept, 2015)
OTOH, the count is inflated if one is comparing strictly
1840-1940 issues. The British Commonwealth countries are covered to the end of the
George VI era (1952), and some country’s definitive issues continue into the
1940s. Basically, if the stamp is in the Scott Classic Specialized catalogue-
even if issued after 1940- I included it.
A word about the numbers.. ..I combed through each page of
the 2011 Scott Classic Specialized, noting catalogue numbers missing
(decreasing the count), and noting suffix major numbers (i.e. “35A”- increasing
the count). No minor numbers (whether bolded or not) were counted. Of course, a
one time count of a country will have errors around the edges.
I think comparing between catalogues and their “numbers” is
useless (except in a most general way)- as there are too many variables between
catalogues.
A comment: For the WW classical era collector, one needs to
take the total number of stamps “available” very lightly indeed. I include the
total number of stamps for a country, so one has a general idea. I do not focus
on that number as a “goal”.
Deep Blue (Steiner) spaces filled
I enjoy having a
designated space for every Scott major number stamp I have. My collection- some
39,000+ classical era stamps at the time of the blog post (January, 2015)- is housed in 44 binders (1 ½”),
and some 6,500 70 lb acid free pages.
Thank you Bill Steiner!
Steiner usually follows the current Scott catalogue
with layout and presentation. But with
certain countries, he might offer spaces, (no doubt influenced by that
country’s collectors, and perhaps, a “rival” catalogue), that, in Scott, are
minor numbers. If Steiner offers a space, I count it.
Total Big Blue (BB) spaces
First, I need to
acknowledge Joe Lill, who independently counted all the spaces in his ‘97
edition BB, and sent the results to me. Although I also count the spaces, he
has been more accurate. Thanks Joe!
If you would like an Excel file of Joe’s list, he has
graciously placed it here…..
And that brings me to a specific goal- how complete can I get a
virtual Big Blue?.... Yes, difficult, and most challenging, but possible. As many are aware, I have been compiling a “checklist” of stamps that can be put into a BB space. With that, I can compare the checklist to my current collection- which yields a “want list” for the missing stamps that could fill a BB country. The
advantage is the stamps tend to be modest in cost, and I will eventually have a
“representative” collection for that country.
This is a “virtual” BB, so, besides the stamp spaces found
in the ‘69/’97 editions (identical in content- almost), I've added back a
number of smaller country stamp spaces – designated with a ( ) around the country- from the earlier
1940s BB editions that was removed by the ’69 editors.
Filled spaces in Big Blue (BB)
If I was putting
my stamps directly into BB, a simple glance would let me know my status for a
country or page. So keeping track of filled spaces- and a want list- is,
admittedly, more difficult with a virtual BB. But the advantages are I can have my cake, and eat it too. ;-) I have a "virtual" Big Blue housed within Steiner pages that includes all the additional stamps not found in BB.
Note: When all the spaces in BB for a country are filled, I note that by underlining the number count.
* Carinthia- 15 Austria stamps- found in the 40s editions under "Carinthia"- were transferred to Austria in the '69 edition.
* China- total count includes the Provinces (Offices abroad) category. Of interest, the "classic" Steiner files do not include the Provinces pages- these need to be taken out of the World Wide Steiner files.
* China-Offices Abroad- the total count is included under China.
Note: When all the spaces in BB for a country are filled, I note that by underlining the number count.
*Austria (Sept 2015 update)- count includes
Lombardy-Venetia. Total count is based on number of spaces in Steiner (some
minor numbers)- while “old” number (917) was based on major numbers. There are
still minor numbers, though, that do not
have a space in Steiner.
* Carinthia- 15 Austria stamps- found in the 40s editions under "Carinthia"- were transferred to Austria in the '69 edition.
* China- total count includes the Provinces (Offices abroad) category. Of interest, the "classic" Steiner files do not include the Provinces pages- these need to be taken out of the World Wide Steiner files.
* China-Offices Abroad- the total count is included under China.
* Columbia States-203 spaces in “47BB- includes 38 now
de-listed stamps (165 + 38).
* France- 752 + (Morocco- 196- broken out separately)= 948
* Germany- Does not include North German Confederation, or
Turn and Taxis
* India- BB has 244 spaces, but also a “Convention State”
blank page, where an additional ~42
Convention States stamps could be put in (mix and match). The page for
Convention States was not added to the cited 244 space total.
* Malaya- was listed under Straits Settlements in the 1940s editions.
* Manchukuo- Steiner includes all the 1940s era issues.
* Malaya- was listed under Straits Settlements in the 1940s editions.
* Manchukuo- Steiner includes all the 1940s era issues.
* Pakistan- the 1947-49 regular/official “Pakistan” OP on
British India (George VI issues) are included in the Scott Classic 1840-1940
catalogue. There are spaces in Deep Blue (Steiner) for them also. Pakistan,
including the 1947-49 OP British India issues, is found in Part II (1840-49+)
of the Scott Internationals.
* Prussia- Besides the 6 Prussian spaces, there are 7 spaces
for local (Prussia) Official stamps of 1903. These Official stamps are located
under the German section.
* Saudi Arabia stamps (Nejd) are listed under Hejaz.
* Schleswig-Holstein- Has never appeared in any BB editions.
* Saudi Arabia stamps (Nejd) are listed under Hejaz.
* Schleswig-Holstein- Has never appeared in any BB editions.
* Siberia 6 spaces in 40s BB- actually Czechoslovak legion
Post stamps
*Trinidad & Tobago- added 21 stamp spaces from 1940s
editions
* United States 723 ( with cut squares) total in BB rather than 729- the 6 stamps
for the Confederate States is listed separately.
* White Russia- no longer in the catalogue,
* White Russia- no longer in the catalogue,
Comments appreciated!
Yes, I was wondering exactly that. From time to time I'd take a look at the number and quality/relative rarity of the stamps you used to illustrate each country and drew some ballpark conclusions about the extent of your collection. But this lays it all out, straight up and clearly.
ReplyDeleteWe are all in your debt and wish you well.
Oh, by the way, where do you go from here? Yes, we eagerly await the remaining country summaries, but where do you, as a collector, go from here? More of the same? Or some new twist? Or rest on your laurels? Enquiring minds wish to know.
Dennis
Thanks Dennis - very much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteFor the coming year I will continue to collect the classic world, with emphasis on the stamps in BB. At some point, I might favor some particular countries or areas, but frankly it is too hard to choose at the moment. ;-)
39.6K out of 83.3K is really impressive. Just curious when you started back up collecting did you have to start from scratch or did you have a base from your earlier collecting phase that you could build upon? DJCMHOH.
ReplyDeleteHi DJCMHOH, and Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGood questions. ;-)
I started out in 2011 with a couple of BB albums bought from ebay to jump-start the WW collection. As I recall, there were ~8,000 and ~4,000 stamps in the albums.
Later, there were two more BB albums I bought locally that had around 12,000 and 15,000 stamps respectively in them.
I have had good luck in also acquiring country collections- mostly locally.
At this point, I have a better outcome with wantlists using local and an occasional national dealer. Also APS stampstore is a source.
Holy cow :) You've definitely build up something magnificent (in relatively short time span).
ReplyDeleteThanks Keijo. :-)
DeleteAnd thanks for the great blog on general WW collecting - and your own count - which is truly inspirational.
Just returned to the hobby. Thankful to find this site and thankful to find Deep blue.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoy the posts Joseph, and nice to find someone from the Pacific Northwest.
DeleteWhat part of Oregon are you from? I went to school in Salem.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAn impressive and informative post and blog. It doesn't' get much better than that! Can't wait to see what you have in store for us in 2015.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bob. :-)
ReplyDeleteAs I'm sure you can appreciate, getting all the data together took about a year of effort. Now that it is in place, should be fairly easy to update.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteVery impressive! Given the large number of binders required for such a large collection in Steiner pages, I'm curious as to how you label your binders so you can keep track of and/or find what you are looking for? If you are someone who prints out the pages as needed, then the specific countries in any particular binder is a moving target, right?
Hi Chris
ReplyDeleteThe counties in a particular binder is not a moving target because I essentially printed out all the pages in Steiner's Classic set- all some 6,500 of them. ;-)
Started printing Aden, and, as it took about two years, finished with Zululand.
So the binders naturally filled up, although some have more pages than others.
As far as labeling the spine, I have tried putting two (not needed) stamps there- the first country and the last country in the binder. A glance tells me then which countries are in a binder, as all countries are in order by alphabet.
Thanks Jim, that's an interesting idea about using the stamps to label the spine. There was a post on one of the discussion groups from someone who did a similar thing by printing out a stamp image and sliding it into the holder in the binder's spine to identify what's in the binder.
DeleteI might think about doing this too, but I'm not inclined to print out all the Steiner pages at once, rather going the route of only printing out what I need at the time.
Given the fact that going this route, the countries in each binder will be a moving target for me, I had once thought I’d just number each binder sequentially. Interestingly, I saw somewhere online that the “Red Albums” of George V were housed in 328 volumes, which were just labeled with “Stamps” and numbered 1-328.
Chris- printing out as you go should work. True, you may have to shift pages to new or different binders as you continue to print out, but that is a trivial issue. You may have to temporarily label the spine with the countries you have in the binder at the moment.
ReplyDeleteJim- I took another tip from you and before I got too 'deep' into the Deep Blues, switched my paper from the Staples 67lb cover stock to 60lb paper. Wow, what a difference! I just started printing out a couple of countries now using "Cougar SMOOTH Text - NATURAL - 8.5 x 11 Paper - 24/60lb Text"
ReplyDeleteA stack of 500 sheets of this stuff was about the same height as a stack of 250 sheets of the cover stock I was using previously, thus it should require half the number of binders and the price was more than 3x cheaper!
Thanks for giving me the idea, the cover stock never felt right to me, was just to stiff, but now this paper feels more like the newer Scott International pages or because the pages are smooth, they kind of have a feel similar to the Palo album pages.
Chris - That is the reason I switched from cover to paper because I wanted the same characteristics as the Scott International Album paper.
ReplyDeleteI've been happy with the results even with all the mounts on the page.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteQuick question. I assume you are using an inkjet printer to print your Steiner pages? Can you give us an estimate of the cost you spent on ink to print all the Steiner pages?
I'm using an Epson WF-3540 and it seems to be sucking up the ink after only printing out a few countries.
Thanks!
Hi Chris
ReplyDeleteI have a HP Officejet 4500 3 in 1 printer that is a bit long in tooth. I actually don't know how often I replaced the ink cartridges- I probably should have kept track. But not often enough so it raised alarm bells. Sorry I can't be more specific.
Ok, thanks Jim.
ReplyDeleteI think one of my issues may be that I modified my pages by adding a "fancy" boarder and increasing the font size and bolding the country name on each page. Maybe I will unbold the country names, which may help a bit.
@Chris... Actually this is pretty easy to check and calculate. Just about all printer makers specify the average ink consumption for their models. For example Epson website tells that for WF-3450 the averages are:
ReplyDeleteHigh-capacity Black (T126120): About 385 pages
High-capacity Cyan, Magenta and Yellow (T126220, T126320, T126420): About 470 pages per color
Extra High-capacity Black (T127120): About 945 pages
Extra High-capacity Cyan, Magenta and Yellow (T127220, T127320, T127420): About 755 pages
Your actual mileage may vary if you modify the printers default settings on ink consumption, or use different ink. But they give a pretty solid guideline on what you can expect.
Hope this helps!
-k-
Thanks Keijo, that gives me a nice ballpark figure to think about.
ReplyDeleteJim: I have another off the wall question for you. Have you done the analysis (or have a sense of) to see how or if the BigBlue coverage varies over the years (1840-1940)? In other words, is the coverage worst for the 19th Century stamps as compared to the later years (1930s)? Or perhaps the other way round?
My thinking is that if this is the case, one could (initially anyway) supplement their BB with one volume of the Brown’s and have a nice WW classic album with “moderate” coverage, but still be in the 5-6 binder range.
Chris-
ReplyDeleteNo doubt BB's coverage gets generally better through the years. The worst would indeed be prior to 1900. So your idea has merit.
Hi Jim,
ReplyDeleteFirst, thanks very much for all your work. Very interesting and educational.
I don't understand what you mean by a "virtual" BB collection housed in/with Steiner pages. Do you mean you supplement Big Blue with Steiner pages? If so, is that your actual, physical storage of stamps? Thanks.
Corbin
Hello Corbin
ReplyDeleteIt is a little confusing. ;-)
My entire collection is housed in Steiner pages, which I call "Deep Blue"
But I collect, for the most part, by using the checklist for Big Blue - that is my "virtual" BB- makes sense?
Jim
Got it! Thanks. Been reading different parts of the blog and can't seem to tear myself away. Great stuff! I really value your insight on the Scott and Steiner comparisons. As with every hobby, one must choose his/her own path. I think "collecting to the album" is where I'm heading.
ReplyDeleteAt present, I'm definitely "collecting to the album", that is the checklist. Collecting the world- even if it is just the classical time slice- is like swallowing all the water in the ocean. By "collecting to the album", one only has to swallow a lake. ;-)
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteI hit the 10,000 mark today! 30% complete, too. I started by collating my original Junior into the 1997 version, as you know, and finished that move in May 2012 with 6841 spaces filled. Collated in two more Junior albums (affectionately known as Juniors 1 & 2), finishing that in July 2015 with a total of 9584. Halfway through Junior 3 I've hit the 10,000 mark, and Juniors 4 & 5 are sitting on deck upstairs. Thanks again for all your help!
Joe
Joe- Great! 10,000 is a healthy number.
DeleteThanks again for the use of your spreadsheet for spaces. It has been most valuable.
Jim, another great read!
DeleteI've browsed many of your past postings, searched the countries of my interest, and notice you do not have the small Suez Canal Company issues listed.
Could be due to the fact that they too were a highly forged group. I acquired one in an old time collection at auction some years ago. References are non-existent from what I've found, only private studies. From those I found my lucky find was a forgery.
The only printed reference to the issues I found was in a 1938 Stanley Gibbons Stamps of the Word catalogue. The section was deleted from Gibbons catalogues a year or so later as the section is not in my 1946 catalogue.
Just a thought for a future entry and perhaps a challenge for you too.
Appreciate the kind words about the blog jdp!
DeleteActually, you will find the Suez Canal Company issue of 1868 under the Local Stamps section in Egypt with Scott numbers L1-L4 in my Scott 1840-1940 catalogue. The catalogue value for genuine is $35-$275. As you said, though, there are plenty of forgeries. Perhaps for a future post?
Jim,
ReplyDeleteNo need to post this. I went through all the totals from this list to cross-check mine. Most of the difference between your total and mine is that you include the totals from the '69 that aren't in the '97.
There are some errors, though, all of which you corrected on the country pages. All these comments pertain to this Status List.
Bremen is listed twice.
French Polynesia should be 104 per your page (PYP).
Germany should be 765 PYP.
Hungary should be 622 PYP.
Yugoslavia should be 340 PYP.
Libya should be 195 PYP.
Manchukuo should be 79 PYP.
Rio de Oro: check your spelling.
Trinidad & Tobago should be 38 PYP.
All your other numbers match what I have. I can't speak to your total number for your '69 Big Blue, as the '97 is definitely different for certain countries. The 17 stamps on my Saudi Arabia page, for example.
I did cannibalize the Colombian States pages from an older Big Blue, but I don't count them in my total. Glad to have the pages, though!
Joe
Joe - I did post this, as I need to document the changes. If I find other changes you don't mention, I will document below.
DeleteThanks so much for this corrected list!
Say Joe, is there an email address I could reach you at? Mine is
Deletejkjoregon
..and now some words so an email bot doesn't pick this up...
@comcast.net
Just saw your updated totals for your Deep Blue and Big Blue collections as of 10/1/2017, WOW! You've made tremendous progress since the last update I saw.
ReplyDeleteThanks albumfilling
DeleteIt is all a bit relative though, as objectively I've slowed down. In years past, I might increase the total by 500 stamps or more in a single month. Now I struggle to find 100 new stamps for a month. All the low hanging, and even the middle hanging fruit has already been found. ;-)
Jim
I hit 40% on November 14, 2017! Every time I go through and collate another album into mine I find a place where I cut a corner in the past (almost always watermark-related) and need to check every stamp in that area. Getting cleaner all the time, though!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the number! I too find when I go back with a fresh supply of stamps, a country's issue that I put in is not as clean as I like.
DeleteGreat work Jim, you're way ahead of me ;-) I'm now into arranging my post 1940 ww collection which is a mess so BB additions are almost on hold for the moment...keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from you, Lexman. I envy you a bit because I offloaded my post 1940 collection as no time... but I still miss it.
DeleteI hit 18,001 today (including US). Little by little!
ReplyDeleteJoe
Congrats Joe! 18,000+ is nothing to sneeze at. ;-)
DeleteJim
Just broke 16,000 in the International 1A1-1B2 pages and now have 16,161 different stamps in the Part I binders. In addition I have another 762 add-ins for the album of stamps that are related to a set or a year of issue where space is present on the album page. My total for 1840-1963, International pages corresponding to Parts I through V (but not part Va section), is currently 39,637 different plus another 1,018 add-ins for the overall range. I am continuing with only adding mint stamps, or really uncancelled as there are a few no gum issues that have been added for 19th century issues.
ReplyDeleteCongrats albumfilling on 16,000- and unused!
DeleteRecently reached the half way point in filling my International 1A1-1B2 pages and now have 17,370 different stamps in the Part I binders for just over 50% of all spaces in the pages filled. In addition I have another 812 add-ins for the album of stamps that are related to a set or a year of issue where space is present on the album page. My total for 1840-1963, International pages corresponding to Parts 1 through V (but not part Va section), is currently 42,677 different plus another 1,122 add-ins for the overal range so still just below the 50% completion level. All stamp additions have continued as only mint stamps.
ReplyDeletealbumfilling- amazing that your collection is only mint. Congratulations!
Delete