World Stamp Catalogue
General information
- Stamp Identifier
- Descriptions
- Stamp Inclusion Policy
- Numbering System
- Common themes
- Stamp Valuation
- Philatelic Topics
Alphabetical Country Index
Geographical Indexes
- Africa
- Antarctica
- Asia
- Caribbean
- Central America
- Europe
- Middle East
- North America
- Oceania
- South America
- International Organizations
Topical (or thematic) indexes
- Cars
- Europe CEPT (European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations)
- Fantasy and Mythical Countries
- Fauna (Animals)
- Flora (Plants including Flowers, etc.)
- Gandhi stamps
- Ships
- Space Exploration
- Sports
- Stamps on stamps
References
There are four comprehensive world-wide stamp catalogues currently published on an annual or less frequent regular basis. They are all multi-volume publications. Nothing suggests that any of them makes any attempt whatsoever to provide information consistent with any of the others. The information on any one can completely contradict the information on the others, and often does. All of these catalogues have been produced in many editions, and some degree of consistency is maintained between successive editions. Users should be aware, however, that correction and updating of information is common. References to these and frequently re-edited national and regional catalogues will not normally show the edition unless some point needs to be brought to the attention of the reader. Anyone working with the material should still prefer the most recent editions available.
The four world-wide catalogues are
- Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue produced in English by the Stanley Gibbons Company of London, England. It tends to be the standard reference in most Commonwealth countries except Canada. A Gibbons catalogue number is referenced with "SG".
- Michel Katalog produced in German by the Michel Company of Munich. A Michel catalog number is referenced with "Mi".
- Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalog produced in English by the Scott Publishing Co. of Sidney, Ohio, USA. It tends to be the standard reference in North America. A Scott catalog number is referenced with "Sc".
- Yvert et Tellier catalogue de timbres-poste produced in French by Éditions Yvert & Tellier of Amiens, France. An Yvert catalogue number is referenced with "YT".
Other world-wide catalogues which are no longer in production, such as those by Minkus and Senf, will be described as needed. Catalogues and other reference works relevant to only a small number of countries will be described where needed.