Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
11:56:01am
"A classic stamp is a postage stamp of a type considered distinctive by philatelists, typically applied to stamps printed in the early period of stamp production, e.g., before about 1870. However, as L. N. Williams puts it, "the term has never been satisfactorily defined". Definitions have included stamps issued before 1900, although not all stamps issued before 1900 are considered "classic", while some stamps issued in the first few years after 1900 are considered "classic." Williams suggests that the classic period extends from 1840 to 1875, and James A. Mackay, in his World of Classic Stamps, New York (1972) applied the term to stamps produced from 1840 to 1870. Other collectors consider the classics cover regular issues to 1869, but include the re-issues of 1875.[1] The U.S. Philatelic Classics Society (USPCS) is a society dedicated to the study of United States postal issues and postal history from the Stampless era up to 1893."
I have always considered a classic to be within the first 100 years of stamp collecting. This is only my definition because this corresponds to the first volume of the Scott's International Album, or as some people call it "big Blue". I know this is taking it into a much newer period but I'm curious what others feel the definition should be.
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I've come up with the following from the internet, for what its worth:
Classic Era (1840-1899)
Golden Era (1900-1940)
Silver Era (1941-1959)
Modern Era (1970-1999)
Ultramodern Area (2000-)
Where the 1960s belong I don't know. I consider 1840-1870 the 'Ultra-classic' era. A number of countries (such as Paraguay) didn't issue stamps before 1870--I think the definition of "classic stamps" varies by country. For instance, for Uruguay, classic stamps (in the most restrictive sense) are considered all those issued through 1877.
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Scott's Classic Specialized Catalogue covers 1840-1940, which makes a lot of sense to me, just in terms of the 'cleanness' of enveloping a century.
Here's a link to their description of the catalogue. (I try to update mine every 3-4 years, because they continue to expand specialized listings.)
https://www.amosadvantage.com/PRODUCT/20 ...
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And I'll just mention that Japan first issued postage stamps in 1871, so that tight definition of 1840-1870 would seem to close out a lot of interesting countries.
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For me, the classic era is 1840-1925 or so. The golden era would be 1925-1999. This was the time when the world ran through the mail services. Issues from the major countries in the world would see billions printed. The modern era from 2000 on has seen a totally different type of stamp produced in fewer numbers than before.
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A very simple definition which I use personally is: Engraved stamps.
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A classic stamp is any stamp that is older than me. 
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02:05:54pm
I also collect Marvel Silver Age comics and the names of the ages quoted above by "srolfsmeier" reminds me of the comic "ages". I grabbed this off the internet so I'll set it up as a quote.
"Golden Age: 1938 (first appearance of Superman) to 1954 (introduction of the Comics Code)
Silver Age: 1956 to early 1970s.
Bronze Age: 1970s to 1986.
Modern Age:1986 until today."
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04:56:05pm
Stamporama Exhibit
A Taste of the Classics 1840-1870
This exhibit was created a number of years ago for my local stamp club. Purpose was to show other themes of collecting besides filling all the spaces in a Canada album (not that there is anything wrong with that, but many members were hitting their price limits and looking for new ideas).
Roy
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Harvey - you forgot the copper age of comics - late 1980s to mid 1990s.
For stamps - I personally would keep it simple and go with what is in the Scott Classic catalog 1840-1940 (to 1952 for British Commonwealth)
Josh
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I'm not a fan of the seemingly arbitrary 1940 cutoff. Stamps of 1940 aren't much different from 1941 issues by and large. Historically, it makes more sense to me to have a cutoff at the end of WW2, or sometime in the mid to late 50s when most stamps issued went from mostly single-colored and (often) engraved to mostly "modern-looking" multicolor photogravure printings. Kind of hard to pin down a cutoff year for that second transition.
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
16 Dec 2023
11:56:01am
I stole this from Wikipedia.
"A classic stamp is a postage stamp of a type considered distinctive by philatelists, typically applied to stamps printed in the early period of stamp production, e.g., before about 1870. However, as L. N. Williams puts it, "the term has never been satisfactorily defined". Definitions have included stamps issued before 1900, although not all stamps issued before 1900 are considered "classic", while some stamps issued in the first few years after 1900 are considered "classic." Williams suggests that the classic period extends from 1840 to 1875, and James A. Mackay, in his World of Classic Stamps, New York (1972) applied the term to stamps produced from 1840 to 1870. Other collectors consider the classics cover regular issues to 1869, but include the re-issues of 1875.[1] The U.S. Philatelic Classics Society (USPCS) is a society dedicated to the study of United States postal issues and postal history from the Stampless era up to 1893."
I have always considered a classic to be within the first 100 years of stamp collecting. This is only my definition because this corresponds to the first volume of the Scott's International Album, or as some people call it "big Blue". I know this is taking it into a much newer period but I'm curious what others feel the definition should be.
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re: What is a "classic stamp"?
I've come up with the following from the internet, for what its worth:
Classic Era (1840-1899)
Golden Era (1900-1940)
Silver Era (1941-1959)
Modern Era (1970-1999)
Ultramodern Area (2000-)
Where the 1960s belong I don't know. I consider 1840-1870 the 'Ultra-classic' era. A number of countries (such as Paraguay) didn't issue stamps before 1870--I think the definition of "classic stamps" varies by country. For instance, for Uruguay, classic stamps (in the most restrictive sense) are considered all those issued through 1877.
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re: What is a "classic stamp"?
Scott's Classic Specialized Catalogue covers 1840-1940, which makes a lot of sense to me, just in terms of the 'cleanness' of enveloping a century.
Here's a link to their description of the catalogue. (I try to update mine every 3-4 years, because they continue to expand specialized listings.)
https://www.amosadvantage.com/PRODUCT/20 ...
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this post
re: What is a "classic stamp"?
And I'll just mention that Japan first issued postage stamps in 1871, so that tight definition of 1840-1870 would seem to close out a lot of interesting countries.
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01:15:59pm
re: What is a "classic stamp"?
For me, the classic era is 1840-1925 or so. The golden era would be 1925-1999. This was the time when the world ran through the mail services. Issues from the major countries in the world would see billions printed. The modern era from 2000 on has seen a totally different type of stamp produced in fewer numbers than before.
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01:30:22pm
re: What is a "classic stamp"?
A very simple definition which I use personally is: Engraved stamps.
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re: What is a "classic stamp"?
A classic stamp is any stamp that is older than me.
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
16 Dec 2023
02:05:54pm
re: What is a "classic stamp"?
I also collect Marvel Silver Age comics and the names of the ages quoted above by "srolfsmeier" reminds me of the comic "ages". I grabbed this off the internet so I'll set it up as a quote.
"Golden Age: 1938 (first appearance of Superman) to 1954 (introduction of the Comics Code)
Silver Age: 1956 to early 1970s.
Bronze Age: 1970s to 1986.
Modern Age:1986 until today."
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
16 Dec 2023
04:56:05pm
re: What is a "classic stamp"?
Stamporama Exhibit
A Taste of the Classics 1840-1870
This exhibit was created a number of years ago for my local stamp club. Purpose was to show other themes of collecting besides filling all the spaces in a Canada album (not that there is anything wrong with that, but many members were hitting their price limits and looking for new ideas).
Roy
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re: What is a "classic stamp"?
Harvey - you forgot the copper age of comics - late 1980s to mid 1990s.
For stamps - I personally would keep it simple and go with what is in the Scott Classic catalog 1840-1940 (to 1952 for British Commonwealth)
Josh
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re: What is a "classic stamp"?
I'm not a fan of the seemingly arbitrary 1940 cutoff. Stamps of 1940 aren't much different from 1941 issues by and large. Historically, it makes more sense to me to have a cutoff at the end of WW2, or sometime in the mid to late 50s when most stamps issued went from mostly single-colored and (often) engraved to mostly "modern-looking" multicolor photogravure printings. Kind of hard to pin down a cutoff year for that second transition.
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