More than 10,000 value changes recorded in Vol. 6 of the 2015 Scott standard catalog

The more than 10,000 value changes in Vol. 6 of the 2015 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue reflect a fairly stable market. The countries listed in Vol. 6 include San Marino through Zululand.

“For the most part, stamps from the classic period continue to rise in value, as do the stamps issued during the past decade,” said catalog editor Charles Snee.

There were a large number of changes for several African nations.

In Somalia, almost 800 value changes were made. Gains are seen among stamps issued through the 1930s, as well as among a fair number of semipostal and airmail issues.

The constitutional monarchy of Swaziland came under close editorial scrutiny this year, which resulted in approximately 800 value changes.

For the most part, values for stamps beginning with the classic period and continuing into the early 1960s are up. In never-hinged condition, the 1938 King George VI set (Scott 27-37) moves from $70 in the 2014 catalog to $85 this year.

Values for stamps issued in the late 1960s through the 1990s are down, and the declines tend to be more substantial for the high denomination from a given set.

A mix of increases and decreases are seen for late 1990s issues, while increases predominate for stamps issued from 2000 to the present.

Topical collectors of butterflies will be pleased to see that values have been assigned to the 5-lilangeni and 10li stamps (Scott 612-613) from Swaziland’s 1992-2000 Butterflies set. Both stamps previously showed dashes in the unused and used columns.

Values are up for unused stamps from Tunisia, where more than 874 changes were recorded. One of the more notable increases is the imperforate 1,500-millime souvenir sheet issued for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia (Scott 1221), which rises from $3.75 mint and used in 2014 to $6 both ways in the 2015 catalog.

There were several other countries with a large number of value changes. For example, Vanuatu had almost 1,300. One of the scattered increases was for the 1995 World War II set (Scott 664-667), which moves up by a single dollar: from $11.25 mint and used in 2014 to $12.25 both ways this year.

Close scrutiny of Venezuela yielded more than 1,550 value changes, widely spread across all sections. There are scattered increases among classic issues. The overprinted Bolivar stamps of 1900 (Scott 156-160) rise in value dramatically. The 25-centavo blue, for example, rockets from $350 unused and $175 used in 2014 to $600 both ways this year.

Robust increases are seen for stamps from the 1990s and 2000s. Topicals, in particular, fared well. The 2001 Orchids sheet of 10 (Scott 1621) moves up to $30 mint and used, from $24 both ways in the 2014 catalog.

Editorial enhancements made in the Venezuelan listings include the addition of values for numerous never-hinged sets in the air post section. Values for a handful of footnoted items also have been updated.

Vatican City comes in with more than 1,270 value changes. In the classic period, there are mixed increases and decreases. Varieties, however, often show substantial increases.

Noticeable gains also are seen for stamps issued during the 1940s and 1950s. The imperforate pair of the 1.25-lira Pope Pius XII stamp of 1940 (Scott 74a) soars from $450 unused and $500 used last year to $1,100 and $1,200, respectively, in the 2015 catalog.

Other improvements in the Vatican City listings include the addition of a handful of new errors to several definitive sets issued in 1945-46. Be sure to read the footnotes accompanying these sets. Values for items described therein have been updated, and some items are no longer mentioned because they are now formally listed.

The cover price for the printed version of Vol. 6 and each 2015 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue is $119.99. Linn’s Stamp News subscribers are eligible for a discount when purchasing online direct from the publisher through the Amos Advantage program.

The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers will be released in October, and the Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue of Stamps and Covers 1840-1940 will be available in November.

For more information about the 2015 Scott catalogs, contact your favorite stamp dealer or write to Scott Publishing Co., Box 828, Sidney, OH 45365; or call 800-572-6885.

Information also can be found online at www.amosadvantage.com.