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Like all hobbies, stamp collecting serves as a diversion and provides relaxation. Therefore, a tendency towards too much specialization makes it into a tedious task. Stamps mainly convey printed information and sometimes microscopic and perhaps unnecessary details as well. As if these were not enough, collectors procure chemicals and coloured filters to help decipher almost undecipherable characteristics of paper, measuring instruments to help measure almost invisible differences, powerful magnifying glasses and microscopes. After all these, we still we have cravings for instruments to measure elusive colour shades in varying sequences of light intensity. To help simplify things, the terms "major varieties" and "minor varieties" do not help much. What we need is a further first group to take precedence over others in order to meet the existing conditions, which have existed since Great Britain issued the penny black in 1840. We could term this first group as "basic varieties" and the group could include stamps showing their basic differences in terms of colour, value, and design. Normally, the production of a postage stamp begins with an engraved die. Then millions of stamps are produced with the aid of transfer rolls, multi-subject plates, and high-speed presses. Each stamp would be an exact replica of the engraved die. In the procedure used to complete the production of the stamps, the kind of paper used, the design impressed in the stamps, the type of press used, the method of production, the format of the finished sheet and the manner and measurements of the device used to make the sheet separable into individual stamps are all secondary and not very important, unless the collector, for some inexplicable reason, just happens to be interested in such technical details. To make matters simpler, the catalogues should give a number to each different stamp or rather to each "basic variety." This same number, with an alphabetical suffix, should then be cross-referenced to the various major and minor varieties. These may be extended to as many as desired. It is obviously misleading to have over twenty different numbers for the same stamp (like the lc Washington of 1912) with all varieties probably being produced from one original die. With this new variety, the collecting of stamps along fundamental lines has many advantages. Fewer stamps need be collected, with fewer vacant spaces; and, therefore there will be a higher percentage of completion. There will be considerable savings when albums are procured, and when filled the albums will look more attractive and avoid repetition. Consequently, the collector may present a comprehensive display of his stamps under the fundamental plan. It is practically impossible to have complete collections when he collects "by the catalogue." This proposed method, with the amount of time saved in tedious labour, would help the collector to "write up" his collection in a better form. What is 'basic' may be determined through a close study of the catalogue. Any tendency towards fundamentalism could quickly result in a catalogue appearing to meet the trend. Even printed albums are conceivable, though blank albums arranged by the individual collector, showing his own tastes would be preferable The gradations from one extreme to the other are unlimited and the collector may treat different countries in varying degrees of detail, according to his own interests and opportunities. The collector who has nearly all of the almost 200 varieties of USA listed between 1908 and 1922, and who discards all except the twenty-six basic varieties, would certainly be in error. But, on the other hand, if he holds only a handful of these issues, he will be encouraged when he tries to obtain the complete basic collection. The main collection should be arranged according to basic stamps and the varieties should be mounted in separate albums. When mounting one of several varieties with similar conditions, the most valuable may be placed in the basic album and when buying to fill a blank space, the most common may be procured. This will certainly increase the number hobbyists, since it would make the hobby more interesting to non-collectors and not frighten them away with the problems of specialised collecting, which sometimes happens. The basic collector will need only about 25 per cent of the ordinary US postal issues that are catalogued as major varieties. He may also ignore about 25 per cent of the commemoratives. Without trying to make an accurate survey, probably over 50 per cent of the stamps of the British Empire may be swept aside. Also, with the exception of Canada, nearly all stamps exist in at least two types of watermarks and many run far beyond this number. The French colonies do not allow for such drastic reduction, but some collectors may be satisfied to present the standardised types used during the 19th Century as a consolidated group. The same might be done with the master types of certain British Colonies, and with the numerous colonial over-printings for Portugal or the Aegean Islands. Let us pause for a glance at Ethiopia. The original set of seven stamps is increased to a total of ninety-three varieties by numerous over-prints and surcharges. A collector with only a casual interest in this country would be satisfied with a presentation of the seven original items with a note explaining that the series was variously over-printed (as more completely described in the catalogue) and also that it was surcharged to conform to changes in the monetary units. Since the note would be for his own record it may be as brief or as extensive as he wishes. As a counterbalance to this offhand treatment, the collector may prefer to show all the Greek over-prints of 1923. Moreover, he may again refuse to differentiate between the coarse and fine perforations on Austrian stamps between 1864 and 1883. Many provisional and official issues may be explained with just a footnote to the stamps in which the change of character was made. If the collector feels that the purpose of the catalogue should be to hold the number of stamps to a minimum, instead of raising it to a maximum, he may do something about it himself instead of wasting his energy complaining. (Why single out the Mexican Earhart for dismissal, with the Canathan Port Hood provisionals in the category of classics, and with the Farleys admitted to good standing?) Champions of specialization have stated that collectors may limit their activities as they choose. It is true, however, that the average collector is tied to the catalogue, and would be entirely lost if he tried to collect without reference toit. What is needed is greater flexibility and a second catalogue would be welcome. Of invaluable assistance would be a brief, simplified publication listing only basic stamps, arranged according to sets rather than according to chronology. Whatever else is done, it is important to revise the major and minor varieties together under the listing of the basic item. |
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