13,200 VALUE CHANGES RECORDED IN VOLUME 2 OF THE 2008 SCOTT POSTAGE STAMP CATALOGUE

Stamps from earlier periods for a number of countries including Canada, Ecuador, China, Cuba and France continue to push values higher. All totaled, more than 13,000 value changes have been recorded in the 2008 edition of Volume 2, which includes countries of the world C-F.

The market has been quite active for early Canada stamps in very fine or better grades over the past year. There have been startling auction realizations for extremely fine and rare stamps, but prices for stamps in the grade of very fine (as valued in the Scott catalogues) have also been impressive.

The Canada 1851 3p red Beaver and 6p slate violet Prince Albert, Scott 1 and 2, each jump to $20,000 unused from $15,000 each unused in the 2007 volume 2 catalogue. In the 1858-59 perf. 12 issues, collectors are becoming increasingly aware of how difficult it is to find very fine examples. The 3p red, Scott 12, leaps to $6,000 unused and $900 used, from $3,500 unused and $650 used last year. The 6p brown violet, Scott 13, moves to $11,000 unused and $6,000 used, from $8,250 unused and $4,500 used a year ago.

There are some notable increases among modern issues. The 2003 self-adhesive pane of six for National Hockey League Stars, Scott 1972, which jumps to $45 mint never hinged from $30 last year, while the 2004 self-adhesive booklet stamps that came with a phone card in a greeting card, Scott 2045-2048, almost doubles in value to $26 for the complete mint booklet from $14 in 2007.

In Peoples Republic of China, value changes tend to be most concentrated in the early issues and the "Liberation Area" posts. The 1952 Physical Exercises set of ten blocks of four, Scott 141-150, rises to $360 either mint never hinged or used for the set of blocks, from $275 in 2007. There are many changes in the "Liberation Areas" stamps of Northwest China, East China, Central China and South China. There are numerous value increases as well as decreases here, and collectors will want to review these listings and values carefully.

In Ecuador, more than 2,700 value changes were recorded, with many of the increases for early 20th century material in the 10% to 20% range. Typical is the Presidents set of 1911-28, Scott 198-215, which rises from $17.60 unused in 2007 to $20.55 in the 2008 edition. Increases for later 20th century material tend to be even greater.

The 1998 World Cup Soccer Championship set of three, Scott 1454-1456, rises by about 80% to $13.50 mint never hinged and $8.25 used, from just $7.50 mint never hinged and $4.75 used in 2007. Many back-of-the-book Ecuador issues also rise in value.

Value changes are scattered throughout the listings for France. Scott 1, the 10c bister on yellowish paper of 1850, moves to $1,500 unused and $300 used, from $1,250 unused and $275 used in 2007. The value changes in Reunion reflect increases of 10%-15% in a large number of issues from the classics through the 1950s.

There are several important additions to this year's edition. In Cilicia, Scott 76A has been added to the 1919 overprints on Turkish stamps of 1913-19. It is the 5pa green Turkish commemorative (Scott 345) overprinted, valued at $150 unused and $75 used. In the Czechoslovakia Legion Post listings, Scott A1 has been added. It is Russia Scott 75 overprinted "CZESZKJA," withdrawn shortly after issue due to the fact that the overprint should have been spelled "CZESZKAJA."

In Dominican Republic, two stamps that have been absent from the catalogue for more than 100 years have been reinstalled due to their appearance in a very important auction sale of classic Dominican Republic stamps held in 2006. Both stamps are from the 1867-71 set of definitives on pelure paper. Scott 17 is the 1/2r black on yellow paper, and Scott 22 is the 1r black on blue paper.

The cover price for the printed version of Volume 2 and each subsequent 2008 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Volume is $65.99. The CD-ROM price for Volume 2 is $59.99. A package that includes print and CD-ROM versions of Volume 2 is also available for $99.99. 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 2008 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