Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I am just starting a project involving specific stamps from all over the world. As I started work on an album I've realized I have no clue how much space to leave for each stamp.
Now I can measure each stamp as I acquire it, I can measure it and create the album one stamp per page and one page at a time as it gets populated, but this seems like such a tedious job.
I started looking for any resource showing dimensions of individual stamps and so far have found that colnect.com does list some dimensions but not for every stamp.
Now that my longwinded speech is over I can ask my question.
Does anyone know a resource that I can Buy, Rent, Borrow or Steal that shows the dimensions?
Thanks in advance.
Mikey
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Stamp world.com also has the dimensions for many stamps, especially the newer and less exotic ones. For instance early Guatemala could be a problem, but for 1950s and later Canada the height and width are available for most stamps.
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Michel Catalogs (in the German-Language) state the size of each stamp, in millimetres.
David
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Do they? That must be something of the last years, because in the volumes I have (from 2010 to 2014) I cannot find that information...
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For stamps issued post-2002, the Universal Postal Union WNS Database includes the dimensions https://www.wnsstamps.post/en/Stamps-Search
Another alternative would be to install the World Collector Software http://stampcollector.epizy.com, last I heard he had over 600,000 stamps in the database including dimension, and if you are using AlbumEasy to create your album, World Collector can export an AlbumEasy file directly.
Lastly, if you are creating a "Stamp For Every Country" album, you will find a modifiable album here https://www.thestampweb.com/albums/free-downloads scroll down to the Topical and Thematics section near the bottom of the page.
Clive
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Colnect also gives stamp dimensions, check out this example.
Issued on:
2014-10-01
Size:
26 x 37 mm
Colors:
Multicolor
Format:
Stamp
Emission:
Definitive
Perforation:
Die Cut11¾ x 11¼
Printing:
Offset lithography
Gum:
Self-Adhesive
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Wow -- that World Collector Software is a very ambitious project! I was not aware of it, so thank you for posting about it, Clive!
Back to MikeyToo's original post:
"Does anyone know a resource that I can Buy, Rent, Borrow or Steal that shows the dimensions?"
Before Clive mentioned the World Collector Software (and I'm not sure if it would meet your needs or not), I was thinking maybe spend the $50 for a 1-year subscription to Bill Steiner's stamp album pages. It is very comprehensive. Pay once and download all the files (he encourages this), and you're done except for any new issues.
http://www.stampalbums.com/default.asp
You could get all the stamp dimensions you need from that. Then it occurred to me, maybe you wouldn't need to create your own pages at all. Just print out the pages you need as you need them from the files you've downloaded.
I know that if I were starting a worldwide collection (and I still think about it from time to time), I would use the Steiner pages.
If I were building a specialized or topical collection, then I would use Clive's excellent AlbumEasy.
I know there are some people who do a hybrid of both systems (Steiner & AlbumEasy), which allows them to go deeper in certain areas, but to still have a feasible way of creating a worldwide collection.
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Jansimon:
I stand corrected. Michel does not list the size of the stamp. They list the layout of the sheet.
David
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A long-time question I've had -- do the listed dimensions of a stamp refer to the size of the image, or the size from perforation to perforation?
Ron
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"A long-time question I've had -- do the listed dimensions of a stamp refer to the size of the image, or the size from perforation to perforation?"
Colnect and World Collector list the perf to perf dimensions as the sizes are included for making albums.
Whereas, as far as I know, Postal Authorities when they list the dimensions of issued stamps, and also the UPU WNS Database, give the size of the image. However, I am not 100% sure of this.
Clive
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I just checked Colnect and saw no dimensions on the stamps I selected. So I assumed that was in their paid tier, so that was too bad.
Then I checked another country, more recent year & there it is. So some stamps have the dimensions, others not. Still need Steiner.
The trouble with Steiner, at least for me, is that a number of stamps aren't properly size. Some are too small, some are too large. And as far as I am concerned, I do use Steiner, but I heavily edit the pages to suit me. The older pages are easier to edit, newer editions of the pages mean I have to make the frames off what he has and use that instead.
I just tried to download World Stamp Collector for Apple, but the file isn't available. It looked like it wanted me to download something else, but I passed.
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First, you folks have given me a wealth of resources to work with, thanks.
I had the same problem with colnect some had dimensions and some did not.
I have some Steiner pages I got years ago but might have to rejoin to get more. I don't, however, remember being able to get dimensions on his pages unless you printed it and placed your ruler next to the box.
I also tried World Stamp Collector (For Windows). It appeared to load and the app runs but can't do anything with it, not even open the help files. This is probably just me. I don't get along with computers that well.
Mikey
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"I just tried to download World Stamp Collector for Apple, but the file isn't available. It looked like it wanted me to download something else, but I passed."
"I also tried World Stamp Collector (For Windows). It appeared to load and the app runs but can't do anything with it, not even open the help files. This is probably just me. I don't get along with computers that well."
Collector Dave, the creator of World Collector is very helpful, he used to occasionally post on this forum prior to the subscription model but now only seems to post on "the board that shall not be named", which most right-thinking persons, including myself, will have nothing to do with.
I emailed him to suggest that he could perhaps broaden his forum activity to more friendly climes - hopefully, he does.
Clive
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"do the listed dimensions of a stamp refer to the size of the image, or the size from perforation to perforation?"
For Scott, and probably the rest, dimensions almost always refer to the size of the design. There are a few instances in Scott, Argentina for example, where Scott gives the dimensions of a stamp and states that it relates to the paper size.
Dimensions of souvenir sheets, however, usually relate to the entire size of the sheet.
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If you are having difficulty running the World Stamp Collector on you computer, you can also just use the database ("Postage Stamps.db") that accompanies the program with a database management program. ( I use SQLLite DB Browser.) Be aware that most of the listings do not yet have size data.
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"I don't, however, remember being able to get dimensions on his pages unless you printed it and placed your ruler next to the box."
Several years ago I built a script which extracted the frame dimensions from the pdf files of the Steiner pages. I can send files to whoever might be interested. You would need a copy of Steiner's PDF's to correlate to the dimensions. The dimensions in my files are listed row by row, left to right as the stamps appear on the album page. Generally the frame dimensions equal the stamp dimensions plus 4mm, but this is not 100% consistent. Many of the pages are based on measurements taken from commercial stamp albums. An error by the publisher would be propagated. There may also be measurement errors on the part of the person designing the Steiner pages.
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I have been reporting errors on stamp box sizes to Bill Steiner when I run across them. He has published corrections for them usually within several months. What I do not know is how often he integrates the corrections in the main deck.
Of course, if one downloaded them or printed them say 5 years ago, then one would not have any of the corrections since then.
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Steiner's old pages were easy to dissect into their constituent parts. When he updates, he changes the frames to one singular file that I can't taken apart. The text also is a series of separate letters and numbers for everything. I use my own info anyway, adding more to the page.
With the newer pages, it takes a little more work, but I get the sizes. That's why I don't bother with frame size corrections!
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If you subscribed to Steiner's pages, you can download the corrections, even if you do not have an active account.
The corrections are incorporated into the main files at the end of each month.
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Kind of an odd one here.
I am just starting a project involving specific stamps from all over the world. As I started work on an album I've realized I have no clue how much space to leave for each stamp.
Now I can measure each stamp as I acquire it, I can measure it and create the album one stamp per page and one page at a time as it gets populated, but this seems like such a tedious job.
I started looking for any resource showing dimensions of individual stamps and so far have found that colnect.com does list some dimensions but not for every stamp.
Now that my longwinded speech is over I can ask my question.
Does anyone know a resource that I can Buy, Rent, Borrow or Steal that shows the dimensions?
Thanks in advance.
Mikey
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this post
Approvals
re: Stamp Dimensions
Stamp world.com also has the dimensions for many stamps, especially the newer and less exotic ones. For instance early Guatemala could be a problem, but for 1950s and later Canada the height and width are available for most stamps.
Login to Like
this post
re: Stamp Dimensions
Michel Catalogs (in the German-Language) state the size of each stamp, in millimetres.
David
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this post
Approvals
re: Stamp Dimensions
Do they? That must be something of the last years, because in the volumes I have (from 2010 to 2014) I cannot find that information...
Login to Like
this post
re: Stamp Dimensions
For stamps issued post-2002, the Universal Postal Union WNS Database includes the dimensions https://www.wnsstamps.post/en/Stamps-Search
Another alternative would be to install the World Collector Software http://stampcollector.epizy.com, last I heard he had over 600,000 stamps in the database including dimension, and if you are using AlbumEasy to create your album, World Collector can export an AlbumEasy file directly.
Lastly, if you are creating a "Stamp For Every Country" album, you will find a modifiable album here https://www.thestampweb.com/albums/free-downloads scroll down to the Topical and Thematics section near the bottom of the page.
Clive
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re: Stamp Dimensions
Colnect also gives stamp dimensions, check out this example.
Issued on:
2014-10-01
Size:
26 x 37 mm
Colors:
Multicolor
Format:
Stamp
Emission:
Definitive
Perforation:
Die Cut11¾ x 11¼
Printing:
Offset lithography
Gum:
Self-Adhesive
Login to Like
this post
re: Stamp Dimensions
Wow -- that World Collector Software is a very ambitious project! I was not aware of it, so thank you for posting about it, Clive!
Back to MikeyToo's original post:
"Does anyone know a resource that I can Buy, Rent, Borrow or Steal that shows the dimensions?"
Before Clive mentioned the World Collector Software (and I'm not sure if it would meet your needs or not), I was thinking maybe spend the $50 for a 1-year subscription to Bill Steiner's stamp album pages. It is very comprehensive. Pay once and download all the files (he encourages this), and you're done except for any new issues.
http://www.stampalbums.com/default.asp
You could get all the stamp dimensions you need from that. Then it occurred to me, maybe you wouldn't need to create your own pages at all. Just print out the pages you need as you need them from the files you've downloaded.
I know that if I were starting a worldwide collection (and I still think about it from time to time), I would use the Steiner pages.
If I were building a specialized or topical collection, then I would use Clive's excellent AlbumEasy.
I know there are some people who do a hybrid of both systems (Steiner & AlbumEasy), which allows them to go deeper in certain areas, but to still have a feasible way of creating a worldwide collection.
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re: Stamp Dimensions
Jansimon:
I stand corrected. Michel does not list the size of the stamp. They list the layout of the sheet.
David
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this post
re: Stamp Dimensions
A long-time question I've had -- do the listed dimensions of a stamp refer to the size of the image, or the size from perforation to perforation?
Ron
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this post
re: Stamp Dimensions
"A long-time question I've had -- do the listed dimensions of a stamp refer to the size of the image, or the size from perforation to perforation?"
Colnect and World Collector list the perf to perf dimensions as the sizes are included for making albums.
Whereas, as far as I know, Postal Authorities when they list the dimensions of issued stamps, and also the UPU WNS Database, give the size of the image. However, I am not 100% sure of this.
Clive
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re: Stamp Dimensions
I just checked Colnect and saw no dimensions on the stamps I selected. So I assumed that was in their paid tier, so that was too bad.
Then I checked another country, more recent year & there it is. So some stamps have the dimensions, others not. Still need Steiner.
The trouble with Steiner, at least for me, is that a number of stamps aren't properly size. Some are too small, some are too large. And as far as I am concerned, I do use Steiner, but I heavily edit the pages to suit me. The older pages are easier to edit, newer editions of the pages mean I have to make the frames off what he has and use that instead.
I just tried to download World Stamp Collector for Apple, but the file isn't available. It looked like it wanted me to download something else, but I passed.
Login to Like
this post
re: Stamp Dimensions
First, you folks have given me a wealth of resources to work with, thanks.
I had the same problem with colnect some had dimensions and some did not.
I have some Steiner pages I got years ago but might have to rejoin to get more. I don't, however, remember being able to get dimensions on his pages unless you printed it and placed your ruler next to the box.
I also tried World Stamp Collector (For Windows). It appeared to load and the app runs but can't do anything with it, not even open the help files. This is probably just me. I don't get along with computers that well.
Mikey
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re: Stamp Dimensions
"I just tried to download World Stamp Collector for Apple, but the file isn't available. It looked like it wanted me to download something else, but I passed."
"I also tried World Stamp Collector (For Windows). It appeared to load and the app runs but can't do anything with it, not even open the help files. This is probably just me. I don't get along with computers that well."
Collector Dave, the creator of World Collector is very helpful, he used to occasionally post on this forum prior to the subscription model but now only seems to post on "the board that shall not be named", which most right-thinking persons, including myself, will have nothing to do with.
I emailed him to suggest that he could perhaps broaden his forum activity to more friendly climes - hopefully, he does.
Clive
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10:53:59pm
re: Stamp Dimensions
"do the listed dimensions of a stamp refer to the size of the image, or the size from perforation to perforation?"
For Scott, and probably the rest, dimensions almost always refer to the size of the design. There are a few instances in Scott, Argentina for example, where Scott gives the dimensions of a stamp and states that it relates to the paper size.
Dimensions of souvenir sheets, however, usually relate to the entire size of the sheet.
Login to Like
this post
re: Stamp Dimensions
If you are having difficulty running the World Stamp Collector on you computer, you can also just use the database ("Postage Stamps.db") that accompanies the program with a database management program. ( I use SQLLite DB Browser.) Be aware that most of the listings do not yet have size data.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: Stamp Dimensions
"I don't, however, remember being able to get dimensions on his pages unless you printed it and placed your ruler next to the box."
Several years ago I built a script which extracted the frame dimensions from the pdf files of the Steiner pages. I can send files to whoever might be interested. You would need a copy of Steiner's PDF's to correlate to the dimensions. The dimensions in my files are listed row by row, left to right as the stamps appear on the album page. Generally the frame dimensions equal the stamp dimensions plus 4mm, but this is not 100% consistent. Many of the pages are based on measurements taken from commercial stamp albums. An error by the publisher would be propagated. There may also be measurement errors on the part of the person designing the Steiner pages.
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re: Stamp Dimensions
I have been reporting errors on stamp box sizes to Bill Steiner when I run across them. He has published corrections for them usually within several months. What I do not know is how often he integrates the corrections in the main deck.
Of course, if one downloaded them or printed them say 5 years ago, then one would not have any of the corrections since then.
Login to Like
this post
re: Stamp Dimensions
Steiner's old pages were easy to dissect into their constituent parts. When he updates, he changes the frames to one singular file that I can't taken apart. The text also is a series of separate letters and numbers for everything. I use my own info anyway, adding more to the page.
With the newer pages, it takes a little more work, but I get the sizes. That's why I don't bother with frame size corrections!
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this post
03:12:30pm
re: Stamp Dimensions
If you subscribed to Steiner's pages, you can download the corrections, even if you do not have an active account.
The corrections are incorporated into the main files at the end of each month.
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