2006 Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps & Covers (2005, Paperback)

You will not find a better catalogue for US stamps. The "Scott Specialized" is the single most essential reference for collectors who wish to become/stay knowledgeable about US stamps. The numbering system used by Scott to identify stamps is the standard among stamp collectors in the United States. Most eBay listings for US stamps will refer to their Scott number.
Be sure to purchase the specialized edition if you want comprehensive details on stamp varieties, errors, booklets and panes, postal stationary, postal history, etc. It includes more information than Volume One of the Scott Catalogue which also contains listings for US stamps. The move to color photographs in 2005 greatly enhanced the usability of the specialized catalogue as a stamp identification tool.
Stamp values shown in the catalogue are updated each year to reflect market trends. Nevertheless, these values are only indications of value. Most stamps sell for a percentage of their catalogue value. You will find many damaged, heavily cancelled, or poorly centered stamps selling on eBay for 5% to 20% of their Scott Catalogue value. Desirable stamps in “GEM” condition are generally sold through other venues where they often sell at a premium over catalogue value.
New editions of the Scott Specialized Catalogue are published in the fall of each year, so the current edition will not contain all of the stamps released by the Postal Service during the calendar year. Since I do not focus heavily on current issues, I typically skip a year between my purchases of the catalogue. New collectors should not pass up the chance to acquire a catalogue that is several years old if it is in good condition and can be purchased at a fair price.
Once you acquire one – READ IT – I’m surprised by the number of people who never have a peak at “that stuff in the front” and never bother to look beyond the airmail section. The sections in the front and in the back of the book are essential if you wish to become a knowledgeable US stamp collector.

The 2006 Scott catalog is the "Bible" of US stamp collecting. This version is over 600 pages of nearly every aspect of US collecting.m The slick pages have ever stamp hown in complete color foreasy identification of the more difficult early issues. The Greg Manning firm offers a nice touch as about a quarter of the way through the book their ad is on stiff card stock and has a detachable bookmark that comes in very handy. Thanks, Greg!
n An important part of the catalog are the collecting guides at the front of the book. These guides help to identify the difficult 19th century items as well as the Wasington-Franklin series of the early 29th century. Stamp values are given for mint and used stamps with values for never hinged stamps listed seperately on issues up to the mid-20th century. Generally speaking, values for mint stamps issued after 1950 are for never hinged copies. Especially helpful to the specialist is seperate valuing of usgaes and cancellations. This helps to show how useage of stamp and the canbellation it receives can make a stamp more valuable than it might first of appeared.
The book covers stamps and postal history in a manner that both novice and expert alike can appreciate it. There are somany advantages to having this book as part of your philatelic library, even if you don't collect US stamps that I highly recommend it.

Great Book. Lots of information. This book is one of the better books about info on stamps. I would definetly recommend this specialized catalog for stamp collectors. Thanks.

Delivered in a timely manner, condition good. There was a bit more writing inthe listing than anticipated. A very usefulguide.