My opinions/thoughts;
Mystic makes some nice albums - I use the American Heirloom albums (NOT hingeless), of which I have 6 volumes for mint and 6 volumes for used U.S. I personally strongly recommend them.
The Mystic HINGELESS American Heirloom albums are very convenient in regard to not having to buy mounts or hinges. HOWEVER, they do not allow room for variants and if you were to purchase all albums needed from 1847 to currently available, it would cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $1500.00 US dollars, or more if you also want albums for back of the book.
(This price is including the slipcovers - it would be slightly less without them)
On the other hand, I feel that the REGULAR American Heirloom version (i.e. non-hingeless) is quite a good deal; 3 binders, covers 1847 to current. Then you can add B.O.B. as you wish.
$59.95 for the standard 3-Volume set;
$135.95 for the 3-Vol. set with PREMIUM binders & slipcases;
I have the standard set, plus B.O.B.(not including federal revenues). I plan on acquiring the premium (nicer looking) binders in the future.
As far as I know, Mystic does not make WW albums of their own.
For everything else I collect, I make my own binders and use either pre-printed pages or make my own of those as well.
The only exception - I purchased a used Scott National green album with federal revenue pages in the front half and U.N. in the back.
Hi Musicman,
Thank you for the breakdown of the differences between the Mystic products, it is very helpful.
I REALLY like the hingeless options, but they are a bit more $$$. I'd probably dip my toe in with the "Hingeless American Heirloom Album Volume II with Slipcase Complete from 1935 to 1966" if I were going to. Just not ready to shell out the $115 until I'm QUITE sure that is the direction I want to go. But the quality and the slipcase are enticing, I'm not gonna lie!
I'm still a little all over the map right now with my collecting interests, but things are getting clearer, so that's great. I am finding that I do have a bit of a taste for Topical Collecting as well.
I also lean towards making my own non-US albums and Topical albums. I've been playing with AlbumEasy lately and that is working out pretty well!
A question out of curiosity (from a newbie), why one set of albums for mint and one set for non-mint? Why not just the set for the mint stamps?
Thanks a lot for your help!
JR
I have the standard Heirloom and just create custom pages as needed (either redo or add new pages). The paper is on the thin side. I like the descriptions on the left side. In the modern era, you are faced with the usual challenge with self-adhesives of blocks vs singles.
Some have purchased the hingeless without mounts via special order.
JR,
I prefer postally used US stamps - i.e. stamps that have been used for their intended purpose.
I collect mint as well, but not as avidly.
Therefore, I have 2 sets of albums.
Just a personal preference.
Hi Musicman,
Cool!
Thanks for elaborating and for a good idea.
JR
I picked up a Scott National for US that goes until 1959 for less than $100 several years ago. It has served as the base of my collection and I am pleased with it. For my modern stamps, I bought the HE Harris Liberty Album which is very cheap and doesn't have Scott numbers. Since the vast majority of the stamps post 1960 are of minimal value, I didn't feel the need for an expensive album. I took out the pages I didn't want/need (booklet panes, etc) and just use it for singles. I stopped collecting US (and most of the rest of the world) after 2000 since with self adhesives it just got more difficult.
Just another option. Right now on iHobb the 3 part album set is 139.95 which covers until 2018. The first part which is until 1994 is 49.05.
It's a cheap album. It doesn't look as nice as Mystic or Scott, but it does the job.
For me, I choose albums by how serious I am about my collection which dictates how much I will spend. For example, I am using Scott Internationals for my general WW collection. I just have part 1 right now but I hope to get to at least part 6 and further if I find a good deal. I have Scott Specialty Albums for countries I collect seriously--Scandinavia and Liechtenstein. I have Mystic for Mongolia (the only choice). For countries I either haven't decided how comprehensive I want to get or I haven't bought an album yet, I keep in stockbooks. And of course I have way too many stamps in glassine envelopes and boxes.
Lots of options. Good luck!
Jackie
My US collection is housed in White Ace Albums. I use Scott mounts for the stamps. White Ace is a very nice Album but I understand they don't make them anymore, Am I right?
If not it doesn't matter as I only collect US stamps to 1994.
My main collection, Australia, is housed in 5 hingeless Seven Seas Albums, that I personally think is the best. (my opinion only)
I also have collections of, Great Britain, Germany 1868 to Fed.Republic, Papua and a few more that I house in 3 ring binders with slipcase, I buy from Amos for under $20 including slipcase. I use Hagner or Vario sheets for the stamps. I have 10 of these binders and these are the greatest things I have ever used. I don't think I will ever buy another Album, with these binders I can move things around and mount as I like or even print Steiner pages and make my own.
If I were new and starting a collection, I would use binders w/slipcase until I knew for sure what I wanted to collect. Then maybe get an Album. Over the years I have started so many collections I couldn't afford the Albums I would need. One thing is for sure,
It's really, really fun.
"One thing is for sure,
It's really, really fun."
Hi Tooler,
I have not seen any "Seven Seas" pages, but they sound really cool!
I'm right there with you, maybe permanently, with the use of binders/slipcases/White Ace pages. That is actually what I have started to do, kind of without thinking about it. But the "real" or "better" binders w/slipcases, would be really nice! Right now I'm just using regular office binders that are a bit less "cool" in my opinion.
Gotta agree wholeheartedly with your comment...
********************************
"Over the years I have started so many collections I couldn't afford the Albums I would need. One thing is for sure,
It's really, really fun."
********************************
My tastes too are ever changing and $$$ for the "stamp fund" is not endless! So your solution above is attractive to me as well!
Thanks,
JR
I have both the regular Mystic American Heirloom albums and the hingeless versions as well. I started out with the hingeless version to house my mint US collection. For the money, the hingeless Heirloom albums are the best buy on the market in my opinion. I love mine. I got a set of the non-hingeless albums just before Christmas to house the growing number of used US stamps that I’ve been accumulating. Like the hingeless albums, these are also of very good quality at a good price.
Not many people know this but Mystic will sell you on special order their 'hingeless' album pages with NO mounts attached. You need to email their customer service for a quote.
Why would you want to do this? Those pages are on heavy card stock; you can cut your own mounts and attach them as needed. Less upfront cost. I also didn't like the mounts they used; I use Davo 'Easy' mounts.
Hi all,
After reflection and all of your great comments, I think I'm leaning towards just buying one volume of the hingleless and building my collection from there. It would be great to not deal with mounts and I figure at the rate I collect, one album at a time, assuming they do not quit making the albums, should last me a pretty long time.
I'll probably start with the "1935-66 volume of Mystic's Hingeless American Heirloom Album".
Now I just need to let the stamp fund inflate a little more!
Thanks for a great post with good insights.
JR
Hi all,
I'd like to get a decent stamp album (maybe US, maybe other country).
What do people think about the Mystic Hingeless Heirloom Albums for the US?
Thanks,
JR
re: Mystic Hingeless Heirloom Albums?
My opinions/thoughts;
Mystic makes some nice albums - I use the American Heirloom albums (NOT hingeless), of which I have 6 volumes for mint and 6 volumes for used U.S. I personally strongly recommend them.
The Mystic HINGELESS American Heirloom albums are very convenient in regard to not having to buy mounts or hinges. HOWEVER, they do not allow room for variants and if you were to purchase all albums needed from 1847 to currently available, it would cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $1500.00 US dollars, or more if you also want albums for back of the book.
(This price is including the slipcovers - it would be slightly less without them)
On the other hand, I feel that the REGULAR American Heirloom version (i.e. non-hingeless) is quite a good deal; 3 binders, covers 1847 to current. Then you can add B.O.B. as you wish.
$59.95 for the standard 3-Volume set;
$135.95 for the 3-Vol. set with PREMIUM binders & slipcases;
I have the standard set, plus B.O.B.(not including federal revenues). I plan on acquiring the premium (nicer looking) binders in the future.
As far as I know, Mystic does not make WW albums of their own.
For everything else I collect, I make my own binders and use either pre-printed pages or make my own of those as well.
The only exception - I purchased a used Scott National green album with federal revenue pages in the front half and U.N. in the back.
re: Mystic Hingeless Heirloom Albums?
Hi Musicman,
Thank you for the breakdown of the differences between the Mystic products, it is very helpful.
I REALLY like the hingeless options, but they are a bit more $$$. I'd probably dip my toe in with the "Hingeless American Heirloom Album Volume II with Slipcase Complete from 1935 to 1966" if I were going to. Just not ready to shell out the $115 until I'm QUITE sure that is the direction I want to go. But the quality and the slipcase are enticing, I'm not gonna lie!
I'm still a little all over the map right now with my collecting interests, but things are getting clearer, so that's great. I am finding that I do have a bit of a taste for Topical Collecting as well.
I also lean towards making my own non-US albums and Topical albums. I've been playing with AlbumEasy lately and that is working out pretty well!
A question out of curiosity (from a newbie), why one set of albums for mint and one set for non-mint? Why not just the set for the mint stamps?
Thanks a lot for your help!
JR
re: Mystic Hingeless Heirloom Albums?
I have the standard Heirloom and just create custom pages as needed (either redo or add new pages). The paper is on the thin side. I like the descriptions on the left side. In the modern era, you are faced with the usual challenge with self-adhesives of blocks vs singles.
Some have purchased the hingeless without mounts via special order.
re: Mystic Hingeless Heirloom Albums?
JR,
I prefer postally used US stamps - i.e. stamps that have been used for their intended purpose.
I collect mint as well, but not as avidly.
Therefore, I have 2 sets of albums.
Just a personal preference.
re: Mystic Hingeless Heirloom Albums?
Hi Musicman,
Cool!
Thanks for elaborating and for a good idea.
JR
re: Mystic Hingeless Heirloom Albums?
I picked up a Scott National for US that goes until 1959 for less than $100 several years ago. It has served as the base of my collection and I am pleased with it. For my modern stamps, I bought the HE Harris Liberty Album which is very cheap and doesn't have Scott numbers. Since the vast majority of the stamps post 1960 are of minimal value, I didn't feel the need for an expensive album. I took out the pages I didn't want/need (booklet panes, etc) and just use it for singles. I stopped collecting US (and most of the rest of the world) after 2000 since with self adhesives it just got more difficult.
Just another option. Right now on iHobb the 3 part album set is 139.95 which covers until 2018. The first part which is until 1994 is 49.05.
It's a cheap album. It doesn't look as nice as Mystic or Scott, but it does the job.
For me, I choose albums by how serious I am about my collection which dictates how much I will spend. For example, I am using Scott Internationals for my general WW collection. I just have part 1 right now but I hope to get to at least part 6 and further if I find a good deal. I have Scott Specialty Albums for countries I collect seriously--Scandinavia and Liechtenstein. I have Mystic for Mongolia (the only choice). For countries I either haven't decided how comprehensive I want to get or I haven't bought an album yet, I keep in stockbooks. And of course I have way too many stamps in glassine envelopes and boxes.
Lots of options. Good luck!
Jackie
re: Mystic Hingeless Heirloom Albums?
My US collection is housed in White Ace Albums. I use Scott mounts for the stamps. White Ace is a very nice Album but I understand they don't make them anymore, Am I right?
If not it doesn't matter as I only collect US stamps to 1994.
My main collection, Australia, is housed in 5 hingeless Seven Seas Albums, that I personally think is the best. (my opinion only)
I also have collections of, Great Britain, Germany 1868 to Fed.Republic, Papua and a few more that I house in 3 ring binders with slipcase, I buy from Amos for under $20 including slipcase. I use Hagner or Vario sheets for the stamps. I have 10 of these binders and these are the greatest things I have ever used. I don't think I will ever buy another Album, with these binders I can move things around and mount as I like or even print Steiner pages and make my own.
If I were new and starting a collection, I would use binders w/slipcase until I knew for sure what I wanted to collect. Then maybe get an Album. Over the years I have started so many collections I couldn't afford the Albums I would need. One thing is for sure,
It's really, really fun.
re: Mystic Hingeless Heirloom Albums?
"One thing is for sure,
It's really, really fun."
re: Mystic Hingeless Heirloom Albums?
Hi Tooler,
I have not seen any "Seven Seas" pages, but they sound really cool!
I'm right there with you, maybe permanently, with the use of binders/slipcases/White Ace pages. That is actually what I have started to do, kind of without thinking about it. But the "real" or "better" binders w/slipcases, would be really nice! Right now I'm just using regular office binders that are a bit less "cool" in my opinion.
Gotta agree wholeheartedly with your comment...
********************************
"Over the years I have started so many collections I couldn't afford the Albums I would need. One thing is for sure,
It's really, really fun."
********************************
My tastes too are ever changing and $$$ for the "stamp fund" is not endless! So your solution above is attractive to me as well!
Thanks,
JR
re: Mystic Hingeless Heirloom Albums?
I have both the regular Mystic American Heirloom albums and the hingeless versions as well. I started out with the hingeless version to house my mint US collection. For the money, the hingeless Heirloom albums are the best buy on the market in my opinion. I love mine. I got a set of the non-hingeless albums just before Christmas to house the growing number of used US stamps that I’ve been accumulating. Like the hingeless albums, these are also of very good quality at a good price.
re: Mystic Hingeless Heirloom Albums?
Not many people know this but Mystic will sell you on special order their 'hingeless' album pages with NO mounts attached. You need to email their customer service for a quote.
Why would you want to do this? Those pages are on heavy card stock; you can cut your own mounts and attach them as needed. Less upfront cost. I also didn't like the mounts they used; I use Davo 'Easy' mounts.
re: Mystic Hingeless Heirloom Albums?
Hi all,
After reflection and all of your great comments, I think I'm leaning towards just buying one volume of the hingleless and building my collection from there. It would be great to not deal with mounts and I figure at the rate I collect, one album at a time, assuming they do not quit making the albums, should last me a pretty long time.
I'll probably start with the "1935-66 volume of Mystic's Hingeless American Heirloom Album".
Now I just need to let the stamp fund inflate a little more!
Thanks for a great post with good insights.
JR