Cataloging Hundreds (Thousands?) of Russian Stamps

[daveroo]

I've had a box of Russian stamps sitting around for 10+ years.

Every once in a while I take it out and think, "Let's get it cataloged."

It doesn't take long to decide it may take more time than it's worth.

I don't think there's anything very early but there's bunches of those small early definitives.

And not surprisingly dealing with the Cyrillic alphabet is a problem.

My only cataloging resource is Scott.

Please give me suggestions on how best to go through this stuff.

I think it goes into the 30's or 40's.

[jimbo]

Dave,

I don't know of any easy tricks but you might find this on-line catalog of of help.  There are other groups of Russian items as well.

jimbo

[jimbo]

Dave,

Boy, did I ever screw that one up!

I don't know of any easy tricks but you might find this on-line catalog of help.  There are other groups of Russian items as well.

jimbo

I will check links!

[antonius-ra]

Jimbo,  the Stampworld catalog is pretty worthless for Russia as they skip the best years, in fact all the years between 1930 and 1990.

Daveroo,  Since Russia has issud far more stamps than any other country, the task of sorting and finding worh while stamps is daunting.

Generally speaking the best  years for regular issues are 1857-1884, 1925-1940 and 1948-1953.  For semi postals, up to 1930 and for airs thru 1955.

Also many early SS have very good value.  Most of the years not mentioned have few stamps of any value.  My collection is over 99% complete up to 1992, but I have not yet scanned the later years, yet.  However, all the best years have been scanned.   You might want to take a look at it and look through the years mentioned and famillarize yourself with the stamps.   You then will have a good idea of what to look for when going through your pile.

[daveroo]

Thanks for the responses.

It pretty much boils down to what I suspected -- grunt work.