Product Review

he biggest editorial advance in the 2016 catalog is the addition of minor-number listings for imperforate stamps from uncut press sheets without die cuts. In the special feature on page 319, Scott managing editor Charles Snee explains how the popularity of imperforate stamps among collectors and the frustration voiced by stamp dealers who found it difficult to inventory these stamps without a Scott number, caused the Scott editors to rethink its listing policy. Beginning with this 2016 Scott U.S. Specialized catalog, imperf stamps from uncut press sheets without die cuts are listed as minor numbers, which means a lowercase letter is added to the number. The explanatory notes following Scott 2868 and 4693 have been revised to reflect the additions and changes made to the press sheet listings. Catalog users should familiarize themselves with these notes. Values continue to increase for high-grade, scarce covers and rare stamps The trend evident in recent years continues. The market is strong in very high grade stamps, rarities and interesting covers. This trend is not easily seen in the main body of the catalog, where stamps in the grade of very fine are valued. It is more easily seen in the Scott Stamp Values section of the catalog, where the highest grades tend to maintain or even increase their values, even though stamps in lower grades often see dips in value. As always, we encourage you to pay special attention to the Number Additions, Deletions & Changes found on page TK in this volume.