Scott 2008 Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps & Covers (2007, Paperback)

The “Scott Specialized” is the single most essential reference for collectors who wish to become and stay knowledgeable about US stamps. You will not find a better U.S. stamp catalogue. It has always been a great source of information, and the move to color photographs in 2005 has greatly enhanced its usability as a stamp identification tool. Scott continues to expand the catalogue each year with improvements to the sections on computer vended postage, personal computer vended postage, test stamps, etc. Most importantly, the numbering system used by Scott to identify stamps is the standard among stamp collectors in the United States. Most eBay listings for individual U.S. stamps will refer to the Scott number.

Be sure to purchase the Specialized edition if you need comprehensive details on stamp varieties, errors, booklets and panes, postal stationary, etc. Volume One of the Scott Catalogue also contains listings for US stamps, but the Specialized Catalogue includes much more information. The Specialized Catalogue is the volume you should buy if your collecting interests are focused on U.S. stamps.

Stamp values shown in the Scott Specialized 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 for 5% to 20% of their Scott catalogue value on eBay while desirable stamps in “GEM” condition are often sold at a premium over catalogue value in other venues.

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 previous calendar year. For example, the last stamp issue pictured in my 2008 Scot Specialized is #4153-56, the Pollination issue released on June 29, 2007. Stamp issues planned for the balance of the year are described, but they are not accompanied by a picture or catalogue number. This has never bothered me because I do not focus heavily on current issues and typically skip a year between my purchases of the catalogue anyway. I believe that collectors of U.S. stamps 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. Better yet, your local library will likely have a full set of current Scott Catalogues available in the reference section for you to review. Many libraries also keep an older set of catalogues that circulate so that you can check one out and take it home.

Once you acquire a Scott Specialized Catalogue READ IT. I’m surprised by the number of people who never have a peak at “that stuff in the front” or never bother to look beyond the airmail section. The sections in the front and in the back of the book are required reading if you wish to become a knowledgeable US stamp collector. These are the sections that make the Scott catalogue much more valuable than another catalogue on the market.