MORE THAN 26,000 VALUE CHANGES RECORDED IN VOLUME 1
OF THE 2007 SCOTT POSTAGE STAMP CATALOGUE

The U.S. area produced the greatest number of changes, with 2,558 new values in the U.S. issues and 1,966 in U.S. Possessions and United Nations. More than 21,000 new values appear for foreign stamps, with Australian States leading the way with 3,400 changes, followed by Brazil with 3,267, Albania with 1,724 and Barbuda with 1,524. Volume 1 covers the United States and possessions, United Nations and countries of the world A-B. "This year's changes, mostly increases, were overwhelmingly driven by market prices and only indirectly, if at all, by currency exchange rates," according to Scott Catalogue Editor, James Kloetzel.

Value changes in the United States section are concentrated in the scarcer classic issues. The most startling value change is one that was first made in the 2006 Scott U.S. Specialized catalogue: Scott 28A, the 1858 perforated type I Indian red stamp, skyrockets to $80,000 unused from just $35,000 in last year's Volume 1. It now has been established that only three unused examples are recorded with any amount of original gum. The stamp is valued in the grade of fine, as that is the highest grade recorded.

Values for the 1875, 1880, 1882 and 1883 reissues and special printings continue to move higher. The most dramatic changes are seen in the 1875 2¢ carmine vermilion Jackson, Scott 180, which soars to $60,000 unused from $45,000 in 2006, and the 1882 5¢ gray brown Garfield, Scott 205C, which jumps to $65,000 unused from $50,000.

The premium for never hinged stamps continues to grow in the issues from 1881 through 1898, Scott 206-293. As an example, the unused hinged value of Scott 206, the 1881 1¢ gray blue Franklin, moves to $95 from $85, but the same stamp in mint never hinged condition jumps all the way to $300 from just $200 last year.

Expanded valuing information for U.S. stamps can be found in the Spring U.S. Specialized Valuing Supplement. Due to the increasing values of higher grade of U.S. stamps, a new column of values for Extremely Fine-Superb stamps has been added to this edition. The expanded grades that are valued in the 2007 supplement include the following categories; Superb, Extremely Fine-Superb, Extremely Fine, Very Fine, Fine-Very Fine, Fine and Very Good. Definitions and illustrations are provided for the seven stamp grades. Numbered grading has been added to the verbal descriptions.

Thus, the superb grade in now termed Superb-98; Extremely Fine is Extremely Fine-90, etc. The Valuing Supplement will be updated and issued again in conjunction with the release of the U.S. Specialized in October. The Spring Valuing Supplement can be purchased separately, or together with Volume 1 of the 2007 Catalogue.

Healthy gains and substantial increases, respectively, are the common themes reflected for Australia and Australian States stamps. Most issues of Australia itself are up 10-20% over '06 valuations, while gains of 50-60% are not uncommon for Australian States stamps. The first New South Wales stamp of 1850, Scott 1, increases to $7,500 unused and $575 used, from $5,000 unused and $475 used in the 2006 edition. Gains of similar magnitude continue through the first 20 Scott numbers, including their minor varieties, and lesser, though still robust, increases are seen throughout the later issues.

In Brazil, changes are concentrated in the 20th century, beginning with the 1900 set commemorating the 400th anniversary of the discovery of Brazil, Scott 162-165, which rises to $29 unused and $23 used, from $22 unused and $18 used. Increases of 20-30% are common throughout the period, with some items increasing far more. For example, the 1953 400th anniversary of Sao Paulo set, Scott 734-738, moves to $10.80 unused from $4.15, and the 1972-75 definitive set, Scott 1248-1261, jumps to $31.60 unused from $11.05.

In Albania, value changes are concentrated in the 1913-14 and 1977-88 periods for regular issues. In Barbuda, increases in the 10-15% range are commonplace in the "Barbuda Mail" overprints, which began in 1982.

The color image project is now 99% complete. A significant number of color images have been added in the Confederate Section for U.S. stamps as well as classic Brazil. Other improvements include the addition of a large number of new error listings to the U.S. section. Almost 50 new minor and two new major varieties have been added to Australia and states.

The cover price for the printed version of Volume 1 and each subsequent 2007 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Volume is $57.99. The CD-ROM price for Volume 1 is $54.99. The Spring 2007 U.S. Specialized Valuing Supplement is $16.99. A special package that includes the printed versions of Volume 1 and the Valuing Supplement is $64.99. A package that includes print and CD-ROM versions of Volume 1 is also available for $94.99. Volume 2 will be released in May and will contain Countries of the World C-F. Volume 3 (Countries of the World G-I) will be released in June, Volume 4 (Countries of the World J-O) in July, Volume 5 (Countries of the World P-Slovenia) in August, Volume 6 (Countries of the World Solomon Islands-Z) in September, the U.S. Specialized and the Fall U.S. Specialized Valuing Supplement in October, and the Classic Specialized in November.

For more information about the 2007 Scott Catalogues and CDs contact your favorite stamp dealer or write to Scott Publishing Co., Box 828, Sidney OH 45365, or call 1-800-572-6885. Information can also be found online at www.amosadvantage.com