Best software for archiving stamps.
 

Hi all!
After I've asked a few months ago for your opinion on stamps catalogues and
received useful info, now I'd like to ask what software you are using in
order to archive your collection.
I'm using for years Paul Dembowski's (Liberty Street Software) "CoinManage"
program for my coin collection but I'm not entirely happy with it so I'm a
bit reluctant in using their stamps' software (StampManage)...
So what would you think is the best software to keep track of your
collection?...

TIA

Best software for archiving stamps.
 

On Sunday, July 1, 2012 11:51:41 AM UTC-4, gogu wrote:
Hi all!
.. . .
I'm using for years Paul Dembowski's (Liberty Street Software) "CoinManage"
program for my coin collection but I'm not entirely happy with it so I'm a
bit reluctant in using their stamps' software (StampManage)...
So what would you think is the best software to keep track of your
collection?...

If you are just starting to create an electronic inventory of your collection, you might want to use any spreadsheet program and record only the items with a value over some fixed amount. (For most of the collectors I know well, either $5 or $10 would be a good minimum value to justify including an item in the inventory.) If you have a collection with tens of thousands of items, maintaining a inventory of all items would, for me, be time spent "working" rather than "having fun."

"Value": if one aim of the inventory is to be able to make a quick estimate of sale value to a dealer, be sure to discount the value of any damaged items--torn, scuffed, thin, badly off center, heavily canceled, etc. Two dealers who helped me evaluate a friend's collection about three years ago suggested discounting any such damaged material as being, at best, 10% of catalog price.

Stan

Best software for archiving stamps.
 

With today's market you should ignore anything under $25 as it won't
be 'counted' should you sell the collection.

If you're listing for a 'have' vs 'need', then log everything, but
make sure that you can also list the condition for replacement.

As for most damaged, BURN THEM!

It's trash now, will be trash tomorrow!

Best software for archiving stamps.
 

On 7/1/2012 8:51 AM, gogu wrote:
Hi all!
After I've asked a few months ago for your opinion on stamps catalogues
and received useful info, now I'd like to ask what software you are
using in order to archive your collection.
I'm using for years Paul Dembowski's (Liberty Street Software)
"CoinManage" program for my coin collection but I'm not entirely happy
with it so I'm a bit reluctant in using their stamps' software
(StampManage)...
So what would you think is the best software to keep track of your
collection?...

TIA

I like Stan's advice. A spreadsheet covering only valuable stamps is the
way to go. You are the best person to decide where "valuable" starts. My
first inventory list consisted of a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet with three
columns: Scott number and two columns with x's for mint and used stamps
that I owned. I've gone to a bit more detail than that now, but
certainly not by much.

As to burning damaged stamps, I'd suggest tossing them or using them as
fillers until you can get good stamps to replace them.

Bill

Best software for archiving stamps.
 

? ?????? ??? ??????
...
On Sunday, July 1, 2012 11:51:41 AM UTC-4, gogu wrote:
Hi all!
.. . .
I'm using for years Paul Dembowski's (Liberty Street Software)
"CoinManage"
program for my coin collection but I'm not entirely happy with it so I'm a
bit reluctant in using their stamps' software (StampManage)...
So what would you think is the best software to keep track of your
collection?...

If you are just starting to create an electronic inventory of your
collection, you might want to use any spreadsheet program and record only
the items with a value over some fixed amount. (For most of the collectors
I know well, either $5 or $10 would be a good minimum value to justify
including an item in the inventory.) If you have a collection with tens of
thousands of items, maintaining a inventory of all items would, for me, be
time spent "working" rather than "having fun."

"Value": if one aim of the inventory is to be able to make a quick estimate
of sale value to a dealer, be sure to discount the value of any damaged
items--torn, scuffed, thin, badly off center, heavily canceled, etc. Two
dealers who helped me evaluate a friend's collection about three years ago
suggested discounting any such damaged material as being, at best, 10% of
catalog price.

Stan
-------------------------

Hi Stan!
I am using a spread sheet right now but I can't introduce pictures of my
stamps, at least it's not easy the layout...
No, my collection is not a huge one, I'm only collecting MNH stamps from
Greece, Romania, Vatican and San Marino.
But I want to have an easy way to go through my collection and be easy to
find what i want, that's why I'm oriented to a "real" program and don't want
to use Excel anymore...
Now I have checked a few programs and EzStamp looks the best to me but
again...I'd like to have the opinion of people who have used such programs.
Thanks for your answer!

Best software for archiving stamps.
 

? "Sir F.A. Rien" ?????? ??? ??????
...
With today's market you should ignore anything under $25 as it won't
be 'counted' should you sell the collection.

If you're listing for a 'have' vs 'need', then log everything, but
make sure that you can also list the condition for replacement.

That's exactly my case!
I don't want to sell my collection in the future, I just want to know what I
have and what I need to buy.

As for most damaged, BURN THEM!

It's trash now, will be trash tomorrow!

Best software for archiving stamps.
 

Ï "Billns" Ýãñáøå óôï ìÞíõìá
...
On 7/1/2012 8:51 AM, gogu wrote:
Hi all!
After I've asked a few months ago for your opinion on stamps catalogues
and received useful info, now I'd like to ask what software you are
using in order to archive your collection.
I'm using for years Paul Dembowski's (Liberty Street Software)
"CoinManage" program for my coin collection but I'm not entirely happy
with it so I'm a bit reluctant in using their stamps' software
(StampManage)...
So what would you think is the best software to keep track of your
collection?...

TIA


I like Stan's advice. A spreadsheet covering only valuable stamps is the
way to go. You are the best person to decide where "valuable" starts. My
first inventory list consisted of a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet with three
columns: Scott number and two columns with x's for mint and used stamps
that I owned. I've gone to a bit more detail than that now, but certainly
not by much.

I'm using an Excel sheet right now with the info you say and a few more
(seller, e-mail, value, grade, price in $ pounds and euros, Scott and Michel
numbers, S&H paid, etc) but I feel I need a better way to archive my
collection, plus to be able to introduce actual pictures/scannings of my
stamps...

As to burning damaged stamps, I'd suggest tossing them or using them as
fillers until you can get good stamps to replace them.

I buy only MNH stamps si I don't have to pass through this traumatic
experience of "burning" stamps, even if they are damaged;-)

Best software for archiving stamps.
 

On 7/4/2012 2:45 PM, gogu wrote:


I'm using an Excel sheet right now with the info you say and a few more
(seller, e-mail, value, grade, price in $ pounds and euros, Scott and
Michel numbers, S&H paid, etc) but I feel I need a better way to archive
my collection, plus to be able to introduce actual pictures/scannings of
my stamps...

The only reason for scanning stamps that I own would be if I wanted to
sell them. Stamp images in a printed or online catalog, though, are
sometimes very helpful when trying to determine what the catalog number
is for a stamp I own.

Bill

Best software for archiving stamps.
 

-------------------------

Hi Stan!
I am using a spread sheet right now but I can't introduce pictures of my
stamps, at least it's not easy the layout...
No, my collection is not a huge one, I'm only collecting MNH stamps from
Greece, Romania, Vatican and San Marino.
But I want to have an easy way to go through my collection and be easy to
find what i want, that's why I'm oriented to a "real" program and don't want
to use Excel anymore...
Now I have checked a few programs and EzStamp looks the best to me but
again...I'd like to have the opinion of people who have used such programs.
Thanks for your answer!

Given the limited number of countries you collect, I'd suggest my first record-keeping system--circle the catalog number and value in a hard copy of the catalog. I then started keeping hand-records of the more expensive items in the collection, and, in the early 1990s, went to a data base program, then went to a spreadsheet. An added advantage of a spreadsheet program is that it is easy for you or your heirs to get meaningful offers from dealers if all or part of the collection is being sold. (I have told my family that a fair offer would be about 20% of the total value of all good condition stamps that catalog $5 or more.)

I try to keep my record keeping to a minimum so it doesn't take enjoyment away from the stamps themselves. But, like stamp collecting itself, you should do whatever record keeping you think you need.

Best software for archiving stamps.
 

The only reason for scanning stamps that I own would be if I wanted to
sell them. Stamp images in a printed or online catalog, though, are
sometimes very helpful when trying to determine what the catalog number
is for a stamp I own.

If you're a specialst in a stamp or group, then you'd need to scan for
plate ID and/or sheet position. All the early Us can be so identified
and it's a major area in the Line Engraved of GB.

With a scan record you don't have to mark the back of the stamp as
much. With software you can embed the description into the image
encoding [not visible - but as EXIF data]