A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzabar


A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzibar... Now what is between? For the world wide classical era philatelist and stamp collector, a country specific philatelic survey is offered by the blog author, Jim Jackson, with two albums: Big Blue, aka Scott International Part 1 (checklists available), and Deep Blue, aka William Steiner's Stamp Album Web PDF pages. In addition, "Bud" offers commentary and a look at his completely filled Big Blue. Interested? So into the Blues...

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Albania - Bud's Big Blue

Albania in Big Blue
Bud's Big Blue
Bud's Observations
BB’s Albania spaces are confusing at two points.

First, the four 1921 stamps on page 1, top row, should have post horn overprints, but BB’s cut is so faint that collectors are likely miss the post horn and use stamps without the overprint. These apparently were never used without overprints of some sort, and BB wants only the post horn. Examples sans overprints and with “Besa” overprints are dispatched to the supplement pages.

Second, no 1928 stamp fits the last space of the fifth row, page one. Similar problems arise several times in BB. A space is provided, but no stamp within the album’s strictures (date, size, etc.) can be found in Scott’s Catalog. Jim, in his blog, sometimes suggests “close cousins” that can be pressed into service. I often follow his recommendations. Other times, as with Albania, I put in a note explaining why there is no stamp possible there. In this case the remaining stamps in series are all much larger than the space provided, so they’re in the supplement pages.

Some Albania stamps are difficult to find, especially those on pages 2 thru 4. The 1969 edition grants more spaces to Albania than its predecessors do, so picking from old albums is unlikely to fill all 1969 requirements.

Notes on supplement pages are sometimes solely meant to jog my own memory, such as cross-references to the location of additional stamps not bound in BB.

Census: 112 in BB spaces, 14 tip-ins, 58 on supplement pages.

Jim's Observations
Generally inexpensive stamps in long runs-often mint- that are attractive. Probably need supplementary pages for  the relatively inexpensive stamps that did not make it into Big Blue. There are some expensive outliers in the higher denomination stamps and the Air posts. Especially expensive are the 1940 Italian occupation postage dues - total Scott value $185-Ouch!

I have along way to go with Albania- 53 spaces filled!

Albania Blog Post and Checklist

Page 1 (Note: Click on page to enlarge for close examination.)

1a - See Post Header Scan

1b

1c

1d

Page 2

2a

2b

2c

Page 3

3a

3b

3c

Page 4

4a

4b

4c

Supplements
Page 1

Page 2

Page 3
Supplements -Airmail
Page 1

Page 2


Comments Appreciated!


2 comments:

  1. Very helpful blog and pictures on a country that even Scott seems confused.I took time out to go from blue binders to scott green three ring binders. Now suplemittorys are so easy.

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    Replies
    1. Good idea David! The Scott three ring binders would make adding supplement pages easy indeed. You must three hole punch the Big Blue pages?

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