2008 Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers

Seasoned collectors will find the 2008 Scott Specialized Catalogue to be a fully comprehensive guide for their collection. With full-color illustrations and use of Scott's numbering system, one can identify nearly every issue in their collection. Beginning collector's might wish to stray from the catalog, however, due to the illustration numbering system which can be confusing at times.

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First published in 1868 by stamp dealer J.W. Scott, the Scott Catalogue was a retail catalog meant to list every stamp issued worldwide. As the hobby boomed, the catalog evolved into a comprehensive guide that not only lists detailed information on each stamp issue, but price information based on current market analysis.

Today, the Scott catalog is the go-to guide for stamp identification, and Scott numbers have become the standard numbering system for postage stamp issues. The 2008 Scott Specialized Catalogue boasts an impressive 988 pages with full color illustrations covering U.S., United Nations, U.S. Possessions, essays and proofs, vending postage, locals, revenues, and more. In addition, the catalog contains multiple stamp identifiers that allow one to find their stamp variety with ease.

While the 2008 Scott Specialized Catalogue contains a plethora of information on individual stamps, it may become a bit overwhelming if you are just starting out in the hobby. New collectors may also find the illustrations are hard to follow, since Scott identifies each image type with a separate identification number. This tends to become bothersome when the stamp issue is a later Scott number based off of an earlier illustration.

Should you buy the 2008 Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers? If you are looking for a comprehensive price guide with detailed information on each issue, then this is your catalog. However, beginning collectors may wish to save some money and buy a less daunting easier-to-follow catalog.