What’s new for 2024 Scott Standard Volume 5?

From the Scott Editors by Jay Bigalke

Another catalog season is upon us as we continue the journey of the 155-year history of the Scott catalogs. The 2024 volumes are the 180th edition of the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue.

Volume 5A includes listings for the countries of the world Namibia through Philippines.

Listings for Pitcairn Islands through Samoa can be found in Vol. 5B.

Because Vol. 5B is a continuation of the first part of the Vol. 5 catalog, the introduction pages are not repeated in each volume.

This year’s Vol. 5A cover features the Nevis 1981 50¢ Pinney’s Beach stamp (Scott 129) from a set of 14 Island Landmarks stamps.

And the Vol. 5B cover features the 1965 St. Vincent 1¢ Boat Building Bequia stamp (Scott 226) from a set of 16 showing highlights of the island.

For the 2024 Scott catalog season, we continue a review of Portuguese areas, which for Vol. 5 include Kionga, Nyassa, Ponta Delgada, Portuguese Africa, Portuguese Congo, Portuguese Guinea, Portuguese India and Quelimane. Numerous value changes were made for each location with a mix of increases and slight decreases noted.

The first set of 12 Ponta Delgada stamps of 1892-93 showing King Carlos (Scott 1-12) moved from $312.75 in unused condition to $394.25 and from $202.30 to $291.25 used.

With a review of these areas in play, it is no surprise that Portugal was also reviewed. It was an extensive review that netted approximately 2,000 value changes. Of those changes, only a handful were decreases. One notable change was for the 1926 Ceres definitive set (Scott 398-421). In unused condition, the set went from $129.50 to $199.85; it jumped from $19.80 to $28.75 in used condition.

For Portugal, condition is key to value. Stamps with original gum and no toning, staining or disturbances do quite well. A legible cancellation on a stamp in used condition is also helpful. Deviations from those conditions will result in significant reductions in actual market value, especially in the classic period.

Modern Azores and modern Madeira were reviewed with a handful of changes made for each, mostly increases for Europa theme issues. This was somewhat of a surprise to the Scott editors because the Europa market has been soft for the most part.

For those only interested in Portugal and colonies, there is a Scott Digital Catalogue Subscription option that includes only those 25 areas in one volume.

Panama was reviewed for the 2024 catalog season, and approximately 1,900 value changes were made. There appears to be additional interest in Latin American countries, and some of the increases reflect that. One example is the 1956 10-centesimo President Carlos A. Mendoza birth centennial stamp (Scott 405), which went from 35¢ in unused condition to 65¢, and from 25¢ to 40¢ used.

Paraguay was reviewed, and approximately 250 value changes, a mix of increases and decreases, were made. One increase was for the 2-real Vigilant Lion Supporting Liberty Cap stamp (Scott 2), which went from $120 to $150 in used condition. The value is in italics to indicate an item that trades infrequently in the marketplace.

Lastly, Nicaragua received a detailed review. More than 4,000 value changes were made; most were slight increases. For example, the set of four 1983 Visit of Pope John Paul II stamps (Scott 1225-1228) went from $5.60 in unused condition to $6.45, and the souvenir sheet (1229) advanced from $6.50 to $6.75 unused.

Other reviewed countries include Oman and Qatar.

A digital subscription is also available for the Scott catalogs, and information about the subscription can be found on the Amos Advantage website.

Approximately 500 images of stamps not pictured in the Vol. 5 print edition were added to this year’s Vol. 5 digital catalog.

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