Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I would be interested in hearing how other collectors are creating albums to assemble their collections. What computer software is used, and why? What are some hints and tips that can be offered for the process involved? Let's see some sample pages that have been created.
I find that I am spending about 12 hours per week creating/editing the pages for my collections (one of the perks of retirement). My world airpost collection is currently housed in twelve 2" 3-ring binders, and comprises approximately 1,500 pages. I use Adobe Pagemaker to design pages and Adobe Photoshop to create pictures/overprints/watermarks for inclusion. Historical, topical, geographic and technical information about the stamps is gleaned from many stamp catalogs and philatelic publications, as well as the internet. I am currently working on the airpost stamps of San Marino, and here is the first page:
This is the Title Page for the binder:
Let's see what the rest of you have been up to in your endeavors...
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Very nice work Terry! 
But way beyond my goals. I use AlbumEasy -- much easier for me. I have created three custom albums -- one for 19th Century US leaving out silly stuff like 5-9 which should be one Scott number, et al. High denomination US (greater than 90cents) which is the only modern stamps I collect. And for a challenge Indian Feudatory States -- aka the uglies! 
And my most recent challenge is all the world 1840-1940 or a Big Blue volume one -- this is the only album I am not doing custom (well I have to admit I have added a couple custom pages but don't intend to make it a habit).
Title page image below from my 19th Century US:
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Thanks for sharing, Jack. I've heard that AlbumEasy is quite popular. I got started designing pages way back when the Steiner pages web site began. No AlbumEasy back then, so I adopted the Adobe Pagemaker process that Bill Steiner was using. You know, he originally provided the Stamp Album Pages in Adobe Pagemaker format, as well as PDF. That's how I got started. I like that way Pagemaker can quickly incorporate lots of different graphics objects. And, of course Pagemaker easily prints out to PDF.
Yes, I have also created topical albums for 75th UPU, 100th ITU, Malaria, World Refugee, and Freedom from Hunger. Those were really enjoyable. I have all the files saved on a 5TB portable hard drive, ready to add and edit as new discoveries pop up.
If you have added pages to the 'Big Blue', does that mean you have a large format printer? I currently use an HP Officejet Pro 9730e which does scan & print the large format for Scott and Minkus, etc. But, most of my work is with the 8½ x 11 3-ring punch. The paper I use is Exact Vellum Bristol 67 lb. in ivory. It's not a heavy card stock, just a little thinner that the White Ace pages. It supports the mounting of booklets & covers without any problem, and I like the off-white, antique look.
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I do have an 11x17 printer (Brother MFC-J5855DW) that I got for not much money. Its kind of a pain to use though. So I have only made a couple pages for the BB so far. I put a border around the very edge and print in the middle of 11x17 paper and then use a paper cutter to trim to size. I also put hole outlines but have not found a punch that will punch out BB size holes.
For my custom albums, I tend to use 24 or 32 lb paper and use a backing board (heavy card stock) and put both into archival sheet protectors and then into three ring binders. All of my custom albums are on 8.5x11 so I can use standard papers and sheet protectors. And I always use top loading mounts. Mostly clear but I mix in some black mounts occasionally.
Example page from my IFS albums (3):
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Nice layout, Jack...
Like your page shows, I also appreciate being able to add graphics to clarify stamp feature that may not be immediately noticeable. Here is a page from Brazil where I insert graphics to draw attention to the different watermarks that are used. Brazil has many stamps that are in every way identical except for different watermarks... same with Argentina.
I also use top loading sheet protectors when mounting my album pages. I can insert my pages front to back (two pages per sheet protector) which gives the illusion of double sided pages. I get my sheet protectors from Staples. I tried several other brands, but found that the Staples brand have just a couple millimeters of extra space which allow the pages to side in and out much more smoothly.
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@Jack
" have not found a punch that will punch out BB size holes."
If you have an adjustable 3 hole punch, you can punch holes for Scott International 2 post binder using a 2 pass process. Place one punch die in the right 7 inch centers position and the other dies in the neutral positions. Adjust the paper guide so that the center of the punch is 2 inches from the right paper guide. Punch and flip the sheet over so the left side of the sheet aligns with the right paper guide, then punch again. Each of the two holes will be 2 inches from the edge of the sheet which will align with the BB posts.
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Made one for Columbian US issue 1892 stamps, message me for pdf.
It is nice, i did it on album easy, and learned how to use it therof!
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My primary collecting interest is worldwide airmail stamps and I know of only one truly specialized stamp album that was created for a collector of my interest. That was The International Air Post Album published by Scott publications. I think the last edition was back in 1963 and comprised about 6 or 7 Scott 2-post binders. Of course, collecting to an album confines one to what the album publisher decides the applicable items are.... yes, one can always add blank pages. I know that many specialized, topical and even general collectors are creating their own album pages for their collections, which allows them the freedom to decide what belongs in their own collections. There is a Yahoo group 'Stamp Album Pages' which has about 4,000 members. Not a lot of recent activity, but they do have a sizable PDF file area which has many collections of pages that members have created. If you are interested to join, the link is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/81725738 ...
I would be interested in hearing how other collectors are creating albums to assemble their collections. What computer software is used, and why? What are some hints and tips that can be offered for the process involved? Let's see some sample pages that have been created.
I find that I am spending about 12 hours per week creating/editing the pages for my collections (one of the perks of retirement). My world airpost collection is currently housed in twelve 2" 3-ring binders, and comprises approximately 1,500 pages. I use Adobe Pagemaker to design pages and Adobe Photoshop to create pictures/overprints/watermarks for inclusion. Historical, topical, geographic and technical information about the stamps is gleaned from many stamp catalogs and philatelic publications, as well as the internet. I am currently working on the airpost stamps of San Marino, and here is the first page:
This is the Title Page for the binder:
Let's see what the rest of you have been up to in your endeavors...
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re: Stamp Album Page Design
Very nice work Terry!
But way beyond my goals. I use AlbumEasy -- much easier for me. I have created three custom albums -- one for 19th Century US leaving out silly stuff like 5-9 which should be one Scott number, et al. High denomination US (greater than 90cents) which is the only modern stamps I collect. And for a challenge Indian Feudatory States -- aka the uglies! And my most recent challenge is all the world 1840-1940 or a Big Blue volume one -- this is the only album I am not doing custom (well I have to admit I have added a couple custom pages but don't intend to make it a habit).
Title page image below from my 19th Century US:
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re: Stamp Album Page Design
Thanks for sharing, Jack. I've heard that AlbumEasy is quite popular. I got started designing pages way back when the Steiner pages web site began. No AlbumEasy back then, so I adopted the Adobe Pagemaker process that Bill Steiner was using. You know, he originally provided the Stamp Album Pages in Adobe Pagemaker format, as well as PDF. That's how I got started. I like that way Pagemaker can quickly incorporate lots of different graphics objects. And, of course Pagemaker easily prints out to PDF.
Yes, I have also created topical albums for 75th UPU, 100th ITU, Malaria, World Refugee, and Freedom from Hunger. Those were really enjoyable. I have all the files saved on a 5TB portable hard drive, ready to add and edit as new discoveries pop up.
If you have added pages to the 'Big Blue', does that mean you have a large format printer? I currently use an HP Officejet Pro 9730e which does scan & print the large format for Scott and Minkus, etc. But, most of my work is with the 8½ x 11 3-ring punch. The paper I use is Exact Vellum Bristol 67 lb. in ivory. It's not a heavy card stock, just a little thinner that the White Ace pages. It supports the mounting of booklets & covers without any problem, and I like the off-white, antique look.
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re: Stamp Album Page Design
I do have an 11x17 printer (Brother MFC-J5855DW) that I got for not much money. Its kind of a pain to use though. So I have only made a couple pages for the BB so far. I put a border around the very edge and print in the middle of 11x17 paper and then use a paper cutter to trim to size. I also put hole outlines but have not found a punch that will punch out BB size holes.
For my custom albums, I tend to use 24 or 32 lb paper and use a backing board (heavy card stock) and put both into archival sheet protectors and then into three ring binders. All of my custom albums are on 8.5x11 so I can use standard papers and sheet protectors. And I always use top loading mounts. Mostly clear but I mix in some black mounts occasionally.
Example page from my IFS albums (3):
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re: Stamp Album Page Design
Nice layout, Jack...
Like your page shows, I also appreciate being able to add graphics to clarify stamp feature that may not be immediately noticeable. Here is a page from Brazil where I insert graphics to draw attention to the different watermarks that are used. Brazil has many stamps that are in every way identical except for different watermarks... same with Argentina.
I also use top loading sheet protectors when mounting my album pages. I can insert my pages front to back (two pages per sheet protector) which gives the illusion of double sided pages. I get my sheet protectors from Staples. I tried several other brands, but found that the Staples brand have just a couple millimeters of extra space which allow the pages to side in and out much more smoothly.
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re: Stamp Album Page Design
@Jack
" have not found a punch that will punch out BB size holes."
If you have an adjustable 3 hole punch, you can punch holes for Scott International 2 post binder using a 2 pass process. Place one punch die in the right 7 inch centers position and the other dies in the neutral positions. Adjust the paper guide so that the center of the punch is 2 inches from the right paper guide. Punch and flip the sheet over so the left side of the sheet aligns with the right paper guide, then punch again. Each of the two holes will be 2 inches from the edge of the sheet which will align with the BB posts.
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re: Stamp Album Page Design
Made one for Columbian US issue 1892 stamps, message me for pdf.
It is nice, i did it on album easy, and learned how to use it therof!
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