Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
-- Although I understand what a definitive stamp is, being a "little" over-whelmed with these stamps, How do I determine which stamp is actually definitive.. as apposed to commemorative? (When it is NOT OBVIOUS to me) 
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Some do have some cross-over potential.
Generally, definitives are the usual stamps used to pay various postage rates. They are available for long periods of time. Commemoratives are single stamps or short sets that are issued to honor a specific event or person, valued at the current first class rate and are available for a short period of time.
From that description, I'm sure you could think of many cross-over issues.
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05:45:37am
And definitives are often reprinted over time as more are needed leading to the use of several plates for the process and thus frequently plate varieties and shade differences especially when they are used over many tears.
The basic "Posthorn" design of Norway was first issued in 1871, (Yes 1871, that is not a misprint) and while there have been some changes is still being used for mail in Norway. A comprehensive collection of all the different printings can fill several pages of an album.
Machin stamps (The simple side profile of Queen Elizabeth II) were first issued in 1967 and are not only being used will continue to be used as long as the queen remains on the throne of the United Kingdom.
With a little searching a collector can easily find well over six hundred color/value varieties, more counting minor shades. Specialists in this issue, obsessing over very small differences can gather some two thousand varieties or more. A large display of them is a festival of colors.
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Please ask if there are any specific stamps you have doubts with, it´s not easy 
The top stamps are definitives, the bottom stamps are commemoratives 
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DEFINITIVE?
COMMEMM?
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Clayton- You are correct. The top stamp was part of the Liberty Series. The bottom stamp is part of the Famous Americans series.
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12:20:21pm
And judging from the neat quarter circle cancellations on most of the of the Falkland Islands "definitives" I'd think that if not CTOs they are Favor Cancels.
While certainly attractive and interesting, they do seem like excessive for the 3,400 or so people that live on these islands.
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So at this point.. can I assume that the one on left is a definitive and the one on the right is a commemm??
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Hi,
Both are definitives. The 1/2 cent is from the 1938 Presidential(Prexies) issue. The 7 cent is from the 1965 - 1981 Prominent Americans issue.
If you are concentrating on the United States, the Scott U S Specialized Catalogue has an identifier of definitives in the introduction.
Jacques.
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Thank you. But I am too poor to own a Scotts' Anything. I couldn't afford the Cover of a Scott's. LOL
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Hi again,
From another forum. Beginning with the 2013 Scott Specialized, 1042A (8 cent General John J Pershing) from the Liberty Issue will be renumbered to 1214.
Jacques.
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I too think the Falklandese stamps are cto. They look a little bit too much the same. Or maybe they´ve been on the same huge cover as they have no gum on the backside.
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Clayton,
keep an eye out on these auctions and on others, inc. eBay's, for older Scott's. If you are a US specialist, their US specialized is essential, and an older copy is fine if you don't mind missing recent stamps. They can often be had for a couple of bucks, plus shipping media mail, so you might be out 5 to 7 bucks.
I do think that reference material is an essential part of our hobby, and, for a beginner, the catalogues give you a way to talk the same language as others.
David
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Almost every local public library has copies of Scott Catalogs for loan.
Roger
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Would that that were true
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I don't know where you live, but see if you have a local stamp dealer. They often get old catalogs from collections that they buy. Depending on the catalog, they will probably sell it to you very cheap, or maybe even give it to you.
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Correct me if I am wrong, but I think it is the Norway 'post horn' definitives that have the longest running design for the whole world (?)
Chimo
Bujutsu
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You are correct.
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Last week I got my hands on a 16 page booklet dedicated to how to recognise all the different Posthorn stamps, starting with skilling / ore, going to sans-serif / serif and then all the way to the multicoloured offset stamps that are in use now. Very useful and suppose one could get all these stamps, it would fill a small album.
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Kudos to "amsd" for using the subjunctive, a dying verb tense, and some would say deservingly so.
John Derry
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Maybe I will "try" to sneak a Scotts Catalog into the house, when my wife isn't looking
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12:25:07am
" .... I certainly wish that more Libraries would have had the foresight to purchase a current set. ...."
How's that one, John ?
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I used to donate a complete set to the local library each year when I bought the new set. However, the catalogs have gotten so high priced that I need to sell the previous set in order to help offset the costs of the new one. I also no longer buy a new set every year.
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Clayton,
I think you have a Philatelic Library over your way, I think it is called the WesternPhilatelic Library. They will have many copies of almost any catalog you want to look at and will probably let you borrow them.
Regards. Tim
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For US collectors, one inexpensive alternative to purchasing a catalogue is the free online catalogue at Mystic's website (www.mysticstamp.com). The catalogue is fully illustrated in color, uses the Scott numbering system, and categorizes stamps into "regular issues" (for definitives) and commemorative sets. I use it to supplement my normal Scott catalogues that I last updated in 2008.
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10:38:48am
And if someone actually buys something from Mystic and gets on the mailing list a nice glossy full color catalog issue will arrive by mail several times a year.
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In the October 1, 2012 Linns, it is reported the General John Pershing stamp Scott#1042A is being assigned a new catalog number#1214 taking it out of the Liberty Series.
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Thanks for the headsup John.
Regards ... Tim
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Any views on the Definitives of Asia.Willing to hear.
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Not all of these are definitives. R1 #1 and R2 last stamp and all the butterflies are definitives, the rest are commemoratives.
I love the butterflies series, I lack some of the lowest denomination stamps from the various states, I have all the butterflies from the federation.
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Ok. Please remember I'm new to this -- Although I understand what a definitive stamp is, being a "little" over-whelmed with these stamps, How do I determine which stamp is actually definitive.. as apposed to commemorative? (When it is NOT OBVIOUS to me)
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06:07:52pm
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Some do have some cross-over potential.
Generally, definitives are the usual stamps used to pay various postage rates. They are available for long periods of time. Commemoratives are single stamps or short sets that are issued to honor a specific event or person, valued at the current first class rate and are available for a short period of time.
From that description, I'm sure you could think of many cross-over issues.
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this post
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
19 Sep 2012
05:45:37am
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
And definitives are often reprinted over time as more are needed leading to the use of several plates for the process and thus frequently plate varieties and shade differences especially when they are used over many tears.
The basic "Posthorn" design of Norway was first issued in 1871, (Yes 1871, that is not a misprint) and while there have been some changes is still being used for mail in Norway. A comprehensive collection of all the different printings can fill several pages of an album.
Machin stamps (The simple side profile of Queen Elizabeth II) were first issued in 1967 and are not only being used will continue to be used as long as the queen remains on the throne of the United Kingdom.
With a little searching a collector can easily find well over six hundred color/value varieties, more counting minor shades. Specialists in this issue, obsessing over very small differences can gather some two thousand varieties or more. A large display of them is a festival of colors.
Login to Like
this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Please ask if there are any specific stamps you have doubts with, it´s not easy
The top stamps are definitives, the bottom stamps are commemoratives
Login to Like
this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
DEFINITIVE?
COMMEMM?
Login to Like
this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Clayton- You are correct. The top stamp was part of the Liberty Series. The bottom stamp is part of the Famous Americans series.
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this post
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
20 Sep 2012
12:20:21pm
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
And judging from the neat quarter circle cancellations on most of the of the Falkland Islands "definitives" I'd think that if not CTOs they are Favor Cancels.
While certainly attractive and interesting, they do seem like excessive for the 3,400 or so people that live on these islands.
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this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
So at this point.. can I assume that the one on left is a definitive and the one on the right is a commemm??
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this post
02:07:50pm
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Hi,
Both are definitives. The 1/2 cent is from the 1938 Presidential(Prexies) issue. The 7 cent is from the 1965 - 1981 Prominent Americans issue.
If you are concentrating on the United States, the Scott U S Specialized Catalogue has an identifier of definitives in the introduction.
Jacques.
Login to Like
this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Thank you. But I am too poor to own a Scotts' Anything. I couldn't afford the Cover of a Scott's. LOL
Login to Like
this post
02:15:24pm
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Hi again,
From another forum. Beginning with the 2013 Scott Specialized, 1042A (8 cent General John J Pershing) from the Liberty Issue will be renumbered to 1214.
Jacques.
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this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
I too think the Falklandese stamps are cto. They look a little bit too much the same. Or maybe they´ve been on the same huge cover as they have no gum on the backside.
Login to Like
this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Clayton,
keep an eye out on these auctions and on others, inc. eBay's, for older Scott's. If you are a US specialist, their US specialized is essential, and an older copy is fine if you don't mind missing recent stamps. They can often be had for a couple of bucks, plus shipping media mail, so you might be out 5 to 7 bucks.
I do think that reference material is an essential part of our hobby, and, for a beginner, the catalogues give you a way to talk the same language as others.
David
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this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Almost every local public library has copies of Scott Catalogs for loan.
Roger
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re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Would that that were true
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05:43:51pm
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
I don't know where you live, but see if you have a local stamp dealer. They often get old catalogs from collections that they buy. Depending on the catalog, they will probably sell it to you very cheap, or maybe even give it to you.
Login to Like
this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think it is the Norway 'post horn' definitives that have the longest running design for the whole world (?)
Chimo
Bujutsu
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01:09:45am
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
You are correct.
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Approvals
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Last week I got my hands on a 16 page booklet dedicated to how to recognise all the different Posthorn stamps, starting with skilling / ore, going to sans-serif / serif and then all the way to the multicoloured offset stamps that are in use now. Very useful and suppose one could get all these stamps, it would fill a small album.
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The past is a foreign country, they do things different there.
21 Sep 2012
02:01:55pm
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Kudos to "amsd" for using the subjunctive, a dying verb tense, and some would say deservingly so.
John Derry
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re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Maybe I will "try" to sneak a Scotts Catalog into the house, when my wife isn't looking
Login to Like
this post
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
23 Sep 2012
12:25:07am
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
" .... I certainly wish that more Libraries would have had the foresight to purchase a current set. ...."
How's that one, John ?
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01:50:38am
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
I used to donate a complete set to the local library each year when I bought the new set. However, the catalogs have gotten so high priced that I need to sell the previous set in order to help offset the costs of the new one. I also no longer buy a new set every year.
Login to Like
this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Clayton,
I think you have a Philatelic Library over your way, I think it is called the WesternPhilatelic Library. They will have many copies of almost any catalog you want to look at and will probably let you borrow them.
Regards. Tim
Login to Like
this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
For US collectors, one inexpensive alternative to purchasing a catalogue is the free online catalogue at Mystic's website (www.mysticstamp.com). The catalogue is fully illustrated in color, uses the Scott numbering system, and categorizes stamps into "regular issues" (for definitives) and commemorative sets. I use it to supplement my normal Scott catalogues that I last updated in 2008.
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like this post.
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
24 Sep 2012
10:38:48am
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
And if someone actually buys something from Mystic and gets on the mailing list a nice glossy full color catalog issue will arrive by mail several times a year.
Login to Like
this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
In the October 1, 2012 Linns, it is reported the General John Pershing stamp Scott#1042A is being assigned a new catalog number#1214 taking it out of the Liberty Series.
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like this post.
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re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Thanks for the headsup John.
Regards ... Tim
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this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Any views on the Definitives of Asia.Willing to hear.
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this post
re: How to determine if a stamp is a definitive
Not all of these are definitives. R1 #1 and R2 last stamp and all the butterflies are definitives, the rest are commemoratives.
I love the butterflies series, I lack some of the lowest denomination stamps from the various states, I have all the butterflies from the federation.
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