Gibbons numbering

Can anyone explain the phenomenon where Stanley Gibbons (in their "Simplified
Stamps of the World" {5 Volume edition}) list definitives with the numbers
jumping about all over the place.

To take an arbitrary example: Iran starting SG1255 lists the series from from 5d
to 50r as:

1255
1256
1257
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1365a
1366a
1345
1346

This is not the most extreme example I can find.

I can see why there may be gaps in the series, presumably for some numbered
variation not listed in the "simplified" catalogue, but why do they intersperse
much higher numbers into the sequence?

It really is rather poor that they do not include a page or two of explanations
for the numbering scheme used.

Does anyone know a book or web site that discusses such issues?

You too.

I asked this question a while back, it's because some values are issued
after the others and some are varieties and not "simple"

would help if, as you say, they put something in their catalogue.....

tt

Peter wrote:
Can anyone explain the phenomenon where Stanley Gibbons (in their "Simplified
Stamps of the World" {5 Volume edition}) list definitives with the numbers
jumping about all over the place.

To take an arbitrary example: Iran starting SG1255 lists the series from from 5d
to 50r as:

1255
1256
1257
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1365a
1366a
1345
1346

This is not the most extreme example I can find.

I can see why there may be gaps in the series, presumably for some numbered
variation not listed in the "simplified" catalogue, but why do they intersperse
much higher numbers into the sequence?

It is because Simplified frequently combines several sets with the same
design into one. Looking at the more detailed Part 16 for your example,
there are actually 3 sets:

1255-1268, consecutive with some -as and -bs for different perfs, 1962
1333-1346, consecutive, with a few -as, 1964-5, and
1413 of 1965

The three sets have different watermarks.

It really is rather poor that they do not include a page or two of explanations
for the numbering scheme used.

IIRC, somewhere at the beginning of Simplified, they explain that in
such cases they show the cheapest stamps.

As our noble friend says, long-running definitive sets are a
catalogue-maker's headache. Sometimes you will see SG explain that a
break in the numbering has been inserted in the expectation of more
values in the set. But sometimes they get Murphied and have to insert
as and bs.

Not to put too fine a point on it, "you gets what you pay for".
Simplified is well, simplified, and for serious collecting you really
need the more specialised cats which used to come in 22 Parts covering
different regions. Now they're doing cats for individual countries, and
it's a lot more expensive. The good news is that you can get the old
Parts on eBay reasonably cheaply (though I notice they don't come for
auction so often as they used to). Even an old Part n will give you
most of the varieties as they occur in early issues. Simplified will
still be reasonably good for newer issues with fewer varieties.

Chris

Sir F. A. Rien wrote:

You'll find this in Scutt, Sg, Michel and most others - just a fact of lack
of cooperation from the PO officials.


Scutt???

Bill

Put it on eBay and seel it for 5x its original value!



Peter wrote:

Can anyone explain the phenomenon where Stanley Gibbons (in their "Simplified
Stamps of the World" {5 Volume edition}) list definitives with the numbers
jumping about all over the place.

To take an arbitrary example: Iran starting SG1255 lists the series from from 5d
to 50r as:

1255
1256
1257
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1365a
1366a
1345
1346

This is not the most extreme example I can find.

I can see why there may be gaps in the series, presumably for some numbered
variation not listed in the "simplified" catalogue, but why do they intersperse
much higher numbers into the sequence?

It really is rather poor that they do not include a page or two of explanations
for the numbering scheme used.

Does anyone know a book or web site that discusses such issues?

In a recent message wrote:


Peter wrote:
Can anyone explain the phenomenon where Stanley Gibbons (in their "Simplified
Stamps of the World" {5 Volume edition}) list definitives with the numbers
jumping about all over the place.

To take an arbitrary example: Iran starting SG1255 lists the series from from 5d
to 50r as:

1255
1256
1257
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1365a
1366a
1345
1346

This is not the most extreme example I can find.

I can see why there may be gaps in the series, presumably for some numbered
variation not listed in the "simplified" catalogue, but why do they intersperse
much higher numbers into the sequence?

It is because Simplified frequently combines several sets with the same
design into one. Looking at the more detailed Part 16 for your example,
there are actually 3 sets:

1255-1268, consecutive with some -as and -bs for different perfs, 1962
1333-1346, consecutive, with a few -as, 1964-5, and
1413 of 1965

The three sets have different watermarks.

It really is rather poor that they do not include a page or two of explanations
for the numbering scheme used.

IIRC, somewhere at the beginning of Simplified, they explain that in
such cases they show the cheapest stamps.

As our noble friend says, long-running definitive sets are a
catalogue-maker's headache. Sometimes you will see SG explain that a
break in the numbering has been inserted in the expectation of more
values in the set. But sometimes they get Murphied and have to insert
as and bs.

Not to put too fine a point on it, "you gets what you pay for".
Simplified is well, simplified, and for serious collecting you really
need the more specialised cats which used to come in 22 Parts covering
different regions. Now they're doing cats for individual countries, and
it's a lot more expensive. The good news is that you can get the old
Parts on eBay reasonably cheaply (though I notice they don't come for
auction so often as they used to). Even an old Part n will give you
most of the varieties as they occur in early issues. Simplified will
still be reasonably good for newer issues with fewer varieties.

The problem is that some countries have had a major renumbering, certainly
since my old European catalogue dated 1970, which remains useful for
sorting those countries where I do not have a more recent version.

Austria and France have both 'suffered' in this way.

--
Tony Clayton
Coins of the UK : http://www.coinsoftheuk.info
Sent using RISCOS on an Acorn Strong Arm RiscPC
.... Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

I am quite worried by the new one country Gibbons phenomenon.

My local city public library has a set of the 22 part catalogue.
However I fear that the increased cost which will inevitably follow the
further parts necessary for future editions will prohibit the stocking
of the full set. I currently set aside one Saturday morning per month
for an expedition to the library with a stock book full of stamps not
listed in my ancient catalogues and a voluminous notebook! Keeps me out
of the wife's hair.

Malcolm


Tony Clayton wrote:
In a recent message wrote:


Peter wrote:
Can anyone explain the phenomenon where Stanley Gibbons (in their "Simplified
Stamps of the World" {5 Volume edition}) list definitives with the numbers
jumping about all over the place.

To take an arbitrary example: Iran starting SG1255 lists the series from from 5d
to 50r as:

1255
1256
1257
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1365a
1366a
1345
1346

This is not the most extreme example I can find.

I can see why there may be gaps in the series, presumably for some numbered
variation not listed in the "simplified" catalogue, but why do they intersperse
much higher numbers into the sequence?

It is because Simplified frequently combines several sets with the same
design into one. Looking at the more detailed Part 16 for your example,
there are actually 3 sets:

1255-1268, consecutive with some -as and -bs for different perfs, 1962
1333-1346, consecutive, with a few -as, 1964-5, and
1413 of 1965

The three sets have different watermarks.

It really is rather poor that they do not include a page or two of explanations
for the numbering scheme used.

IIRC, somewhere at the beginning of Simplified, they explain that in
such cases they show the cheapest stamps.

As our noble friend says, long-running definitive sets are a
catalogue-maker's headache. Sometimes you will see SG explain that a
break in the numbering has been inserted in the expectation of more
values in the set. But sometimes they get Murphied and have to insert
as and bs.

Not to put too fine a point on it, "you gets what you pay for".
Simplified is well, simplified, and for serious collecting you really
need the more specialised cats which used to come in 22 Parts covering
different regions. Now they're doing cats for individual countries, and
it's a lot more expensive. The good news is that you can get the old
Parts on eBay reasonably cheaply (though I notice they don't come for
auction so often as they used to). Even an old Part n will give you
most of the varieties as they occur in early issues. Simplified will
still be reasonably good for newer issues with fewer varieties.

The problem is that some countries have had a major renumbering, certainly
since my old European catalogue dated 1970, which remains useful for
sorting those countries where I do not have a more recent version.

Austria and France have both 'suffered' in this way.

--
Tony Clayton
Coins of the UK : http://www.coinsoftheuk.info
Sent using RISCOS on an Acorn Strong Arm RiscPC
... Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

On 17 Oct 2006 05:49:26 -0700, "malcolm"
wrote:

I am quite worried by the new one country Gibbons phenomenon.

My local city public library has a set of the 22 part catalogue.
However I fear that the increased cost which will inevitably follow the
further parts necessary for future editions will prohibit the stocking
of the full set. I currently set aside one Saturday morning per month
for an expedition to the library with a stock book full of stamps not
listed in my ancient catalogues and a voluminous notebook! Keeps me out
of the wife's hair.

Now that's RESEARCH!

Tony Clayton wrote:
In a recent message wrote:


Peter wrote:
Can anyone explain the phenomenon where Stanley Gibbons (in their "Simplified
Stamps of the World" {5 Volume edition}) list definitives with the numbers
jumping about all over the place.

To take an arbitrary example: Iran starting SG1255 lists the series from from 5d
to 50r as:

1255
1256
1257
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1365a
1366a
1345
1346

This is not the most extreme example I can find.

I can see why there may be gaps in the series, presumably for some numbered
variation not listed in the "simplified" catalogue, but why do they intersperse
much higher numbers into the sequence?

It is because Simplified frequently combines several sets with the same
design into one. Looking at the more detailed Part 16 for your example,
there are actually 3 sets:

1255-1268, consecutive with some -as and -bs for different perfs, 1962
1333-1346, consecutive, with a few -as, 1964-5, and
1413 of 1965

The three sets have different watermarks.

It really is rather poor that they do not include a page or two of explanations
for the numbering scheme used.

IIRC, somewhere at the beginning of Simplified, they explain that in
such cases they show the cheapest stamps.

As our noble friend says, long-running definitive sets are a
catalogue-maker's headache. Sometimes you will see SG explain that a
break in the numbering has been inserted in the expectation of more
values in the set. But sometimes they get Murphied and have to insert
as and bs.

Not to put too fine a point on it, "you gets what you pay for".
Simplified is well, simplified, and for serious collecting you really
need the more specialised cats which used to come in 22 Parts covering
different regions. Now they're doing cats for individual countries, and
it's a lot more expensive. The good news is that you can get the old
Parts on eBay reasonably cheaply (though I notice they don't come for
auction so often as they used to). Even an old Part n will give you
most of the varieties as they occur in early issues. Simplified will
still be reasonably good for newer issues with fewer varieties.

The problem is that some countries have had a major renumbering, certainly
since my old European catalogue dated 1970, which remains useful for
sorting those countries where I do not have a more recent version.

Austria and France have both 'suffered' in this way.

--
Tony Clayton
Coins of the UK : http://www.coinsoftheuk.info
Sent using RISCOS on an Acorn Strong Arm RiscPC
... Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?