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!
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
Page 1
Page 2
Comments Appreciated!
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.
ReplyDeleteGood 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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