Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
09:25:41am
Kelly
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Kelly,
I just looked through my Scotts Specialized Catalog. If found no direct reference to "What is a U.S. classic". In my opinion its any stamp issued prior to 1900. Hope this helps.
Ross
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Hey Kelly,
The designation "Classic" is more or less defined by the collector. For me, I consider the U.S.Classic to be between Scott Cat.#1-600.
Best,
Dan C.
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10:49:08am
Thanks guys - I appreciate it 
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12:16:34pm
Personally, I go with Dan's definition. However, most specialists in "US Classics" I have encountered (personally, online, or by reputation through research) cut off the "Classics" era with the Trans-Mississippi issue of 1898, so Ross is probably more accurate.
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I kind of disagree with Dan, albeit he is a US collector perfectionist, I vote for any stamps prior to the 1902 definitives. The Washington/Franklin series of stamps were so numerous and varied I find it hard to classify them as classics. Trans-Mississippi's yes would be classics but even the 1890-94 definitives although very old are still just definititives used for everyday mail between the average folks of the day. Since I enjoy collecting all US stamps I do not really care if it's a modern stamp or one of those oldies. My first stamps of old were MNH copies of the Norse Americans. These are not unusually rare or valuable but I always just thought they were beautiful. Happy Stamp Collectng Everyone! Perry
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I agree with you, Perry.
The Washington-Franklins could even classify as "transition era" as the Post Office Department did plenty of experimenting with that issue to try to find the best combinations of paper, perfs and colors to use on stamps, not to mention the watermarks.
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So Kelly, trouble maker that you are,do you see what I mean?
To all you other folk-my work is done
Best,
Dan C.
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04:15:58pm
Lol Dan - I was just thinking the same thing! Here we have a great debate based on my ignorance I love it!
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I do not know when the classics end, but I've seen several references to the "modern" era starting with the Prexies (~1938).
Josh
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I believe some collectors consider the Classic Era beginning with 1847 and ending at 1869. I am hard pressed to counter that but I would go with anything upto 1898.
Bruce
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Personally, I consider US Classics to end with 330 (1907).
I consider the 3rd Bureau (and interlaced Commemoratives) to be a transition period: 331-550 (1908-1921).
551+ (1922 to present) would be Moderns.
Obviously, opinions vary. Some may consider Classics to end with the 1st Bureau (1894).
eBay arbitrarily splits US up as 19th Century, 1901-1940, and 1941 to present. BidStart uses the same breakdown.
Pick your poison, I suppose!
Lars
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10:31:35pm
Here is what James Mackay, one of the most prolific of philatelic authors has to say in his book "The World of Classic Stamps 1840-1870"
(I actually won my local stamp club's award (by popular vote) at our Christmas meeting for my 10 page exhibit "A Taste of the Classics", and I defined it as he does -- the first 30 years.)
Roy
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Roy,
Since the original question was about US Classics, that would end US Classics just before the Banknotes. That's certainly as reasonable a cutoff as any, but how would you break down periods in the US: Classics, Banknotes, Early Bureaus, Moderns?
Not a bad plan, really.
Lars
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11:14:28pm
"Classics, Banknotes, Early Bureaus, Moderns? "
Of course it depends on the context, but I'd personally add:
Classics, Banknotes, Early Bureaus, Washington-Franklins, 4th Bureaus (1922-32), Prexies, Moderns. Although I don't believe I have ever seen the use of "Moderns" in any context as a category. Other than commemoratives, the issues then follow as the Liberty series, Prominent American, Americana etc., but it is a reasonable designation for anything after the Prexies.
Roy
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By "Early Bureaus" in that context I meant through the 3rd or 4th Bureau. Not just the first two.
Obviously you can define "Classics" as synonymous with pre-Banknotes and then break it down as banknotes, 1st B, 2nd B, 3rd B (Wash/Frank), 4th B, 5th B (Prexies) and go as far as you want before you call the stamps "moderns". I was considering a higher level definition with only 3 or 4 categories. That seemed to be in the spirit of the OP.
Lars
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The only problem with the James Mackay definition is that it completely bypasses Japan, whose first stamp wasn't issued until 1871. (That's one way to avoid the early forgeries )
-- Dave
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Pre-1894 according to the tastes of the US Philatelic Classics Society:
http://www.uspcs.org/
But that doesn't mean you can't define "classics" anyway you want.
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17 Jan 2014
09:25:41am
I recently found a number of older US stamps in the world lot I sorted. I know nothing about US stamps so can anyone tell me what is considered "classic" era? It varies with countries so I'm at a loss here - what is generally used as the cut off year?
Kelly
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To error is human -to really fowl things up takes a computer
17 Jan 2014
10:28:05am
re: Time frame of US classics
Kelly,
I just looked through my Scotts Specialized Catalog. If found no direct reference to "What is a U.S. classic". In my opinion its any stamp issued prior to 1900. Hope this helps.
Ross
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re: Time frame of US classics
Hey Kelly,
The designation "Classic" is more or less defined by the collector. For me, I consider the U.S.Classic to be between Scott Cat.#1-600.
Best,
Dan C.
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
17 Jan 2014
10:49:08am
re: Time frame of US classics
Thanks guys - I appreciate it
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17 Jan 2014
12:16:34pm
re: Time frame of US classics
Personally, I go with Dan's definition. However, most specialists in "US Classics" I have encountered (personally, online, or by reputation through research) cut off the "Classics" era with the Trans-Mississippi issue of 1898, so Ross is probably more accurate.
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this post
re: Time frame of US classics
I kind of disagree with Dan, albeit he is a US collector perfectionist, I vote for any stamps prior to the 1902 definitives. The Washington/Franklin series of stamps were so numerous and varied I find it hard to classify them as classics. Trans-Mississippi's yes would be classics but even the 1890-94 definitives although very old are still just definititives used for everyday mail between the average folks of the day. Since I enjoy collecting all US stamps I do not really care if it's a modern stamp or one of those oldies. My first stamps of old were MNH copies of the Norse Americans. These are not unusually rare or valuable but I always just thought they were beautiful. Happy Stamp Collectng Everyone! Perry
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03:38:14pm
re: Time frame of US classics
I agree with you, Perry.
The Washington-Franklins could even classify as "transition era" as the Post Office Department did plenty of experimenting with that issue to try to find the best combinations of paper, perfs and colors to use on stamps, not to mention the watermarks.
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re: Time frame of US classics
So Kelly, trouble maker that you are,do you see what I mean?
To all you other folk-my work is done
Best,
Dan C.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
17 Jan 2014
04:15:58pm
re: Time frame of US classics
Lol Dan - I was just thinking the same thing! Here we have a great debate based on my ignorance I love it!
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this post
re: Time frame of US classics
I do not know when the classics end, but I've seen several references to the "modern" era starting with the Prexies (~1938).
Josh
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09:48:43pm
re: Time frame of US classics
I believe some collectors consider the Classic Era beginning with 1847 and ending at 1869. I am hard pressed to counter that but I would go with anything upto 1898.
Bruce
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re: Time frame of US classics
Personally, I consider US Classics to end with 330 (1907).
I consider the 3rd Bureau (and interlaced Commemoratives) to be a transition period: 331-550 (1908-1921).
551+ (1922 to present) would be Moderns.
Obviously, opinions vary. Some may consider Classics to end with the 1st Bureau (1894).
eBay arbitrarily splits US up as 19th Century, 1901-1940, and 1941 to present. BidStart uses the same breakdown.
Pick your poison, I suppose!
Lars
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this post
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17 Jan 2014
10:31:35pm
re: Time frame of US classics
Here is what James Mackay, one of the most prolific of philatelic authors has to say in his book "The World of Classic Stamps 1840-1870"
(I actually won my local stamp club's award (by popular vote) at our Christmas meeting for my 10 page exhibit "A Taste of the Classics", and I defined it as he does -- the first 30 years.)
Roy
1 Member
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re: Time frame of US classics
Roy,
Since the original question was about US Classics, that would end US Classics just before the Banknotes. That's certainly as reasonable a cutoff as any, but how would you break down periods in the US: Classics, Banknotes, Early Bureaus, Moderns?
Not a bad plan, really.
Lars
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this post
BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
17 Jan 2014
11:14:28pm
re: Time frame of US classics
"Classics, Banknotes, Early Bureaus, Moderns? "
Of course it depends on the context, but I'd personally add:
Classics, Banknotes, Early Bureaus, Washington-Franklins, 4th Bureaus (1922-32), Prexies, Moderns. Although I don't believe I have ever seen the use of "Moderns" in any context as a category. Other than commemoratives, the issues then follow as the Liberty series, Prominent American, Americana etc., but it is a reasonable designation for anything after the Prexies.
Roy
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this post
re: Time frame of US classics
By "Early Bureaus" in that context I meant through the 3rd or 4th Bureau. Not just the first two.
Obviously you can define "Classics" as synonymous with pre-Banknotes and then break it down as banknotes, 1st B, 2nd B, 3rd B (Wash/Frank), 4th B, 5th B (Prexies) and go as far as you want before you call the stamps "moderns". I was considering a higher level definition with only 3 or 4 categories. That seemed to be in the spirit of the OP.
Lars
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this post
re: Time frame of US classics
The only problem with the James Mackay definition is that it completely bypasses Japan, whose first stamp wasn't issued until 1871. (That's one way to avoid the early forgeries )
-- Dave
Login to Like
this post
re: Time frame of US classics
Pre-1894 according to the tastes of the US Philatelic Classics Society:
http://www.uspcs.org/
But that doesn't mean you can't define "classics" anyway you want.
Login to Like
this post