Stamp collecting is an exciting and rewarding hobby, and every now and then, a collector stumbles upon a truly remarkable album. Today, we are diving into a special acquisition — a Scott Minuteman Album.

Typically considered a youth album, this particular collection stands out for its completeness and the quality of its stamps, most of which are mint. Join me as we explore this fascinating stamp album in detail.

Overview of the Scott Minuteman Album

The Scott Minuteman album is typically marketed towards beginner collectors, but as we’ll see, this album contains high-value stamps, some of which are rare and highly sought after. Despite some wear and tear, such as tape repairs on the side, the album holds a wealth of U.S. stamps, many in excellent condition. Let’s dive into the individual pages and highlights from this incredible collection.

Page 1: Homemade Page with Mint Stamps

The first page of this album is a homemade one featuring clear mounts. Among the stamps are:

• Scott 573: A well-centered example.
• Scott C3, E7: Top-quality mint condition stamps.
• Parcel Post Set: Mostly mint with a few duplicates that appear used. The 25-cent stamp is particularly well-centered despite a minor mark.

Newspaper Issues and Early U.S. Stamps

Moving along, the album features newspaper issues, likely the lower-value versions with a single-line watermark. Highlights from this section include:

• Scott C11 Plate Blocks
• Scott Number 1 and 2: Both with visible pen cancels, though the covers show signs of wear, such as tears and red cancels.

Card Proofs vs. Original Stamps

On this page, there are also several card proofs of the Scott 3 and Scott 4 designs. While these proofs are valuable, they are not as expensive as the original stamps. For collectors on a budget, plate proofs offer an affordable way to fill spots for high-value stamps in an album.

Exploring Classic U.S. Stamps

As we move through the album, we come across a variety of classic U.S. stamps, ranging from early issues like Scott 11A (Type 2) in dull red to Scott 12 (5 Cent), which has light cancels and near-perfect margins. Some notable stamps include:

• Scott 15 (Type 3): Appears unused, a rare find for this issue.
• Scott 17: Both used and possibly unused versions are included, though the latter may need further inspection to confirm its status.

Perforated Examples and Rare Varieties

This section also features perforated examples, although not every design type is present. Some notable stamps include:

• Scott 24 and Scott 26: Both showing different frame line varieties.
• Scott 30 and 30A: Possibly the orange-brown variety, though further inspection under better lighting is needed.
• Scott 35 and 36: A well-represented series with a fully intact frame.

Scarcity and Rarity: Scott Number 39

The album includes a Scott 39 (90 Cent), a highly valuable stamp when genuinely used. If you ever come across a used Scott 39, obtaining a certificate of authenticity is essential to ensure that the cancel is not fake. Mint examples of this stamp are worth less than genuinely used ones, making it one of the more unusual cases in philately.

The 1861 Issues: Civil War Era Gems

The 1861 issues are well-represented in this album, including a nicely canceled 30 Cent stamp with a July 4th, 1862, Civil War cancel. Most stamps from this era are unused, and the centering is generally quite good.

Grilled Varieties: F Grills and Their Value

The collector also included several grilled varieties, though it appears they opted for the more affordable F grill types. The 5-cent issue is particularly tough to find centered, making the well-centered example in this album a notable feature.

Pictorial Issues of 1869: A Unique Design Shift

The Pictorial Issues of 1869 feature a shift from standard portraits to more illustrated designs, including:

• 3 Cent: A train illustration.
• 12 Cent: Featuring a steamship design.
• 15 Cent: Showing Columbus, and the
• 24 Cent Depicts the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Most of these stamps are unused, with a mix of lightly canceled examples.

The Large Banknote Series of 1870

The Large Banknote Series follows, and most stamps appear unused, except for some possible cancellations. The album also contains proof fillers for rarer issues like Scott 164, valued at over $350,000.

The Soft Porous Paper Issue of 1879

The album includes stamps printed on soft porous paper, recognizable by their thicker, more porous texture. These stamps feature a variety of color changes, such as the 3 Cent Vermilion and 90 Cent Purple, all appearing to be unused.

Classic Complete Sets: Columbian, Trans-Mississippi, and More

The Columbian Exposition set and Trans-Mississippi Issue are complete and mostly unused. Although some stamps have minor faults and less-than-perfect centering, they still represent a significant investment by the collector.

Modern Issues and Space Fillers

As we approach the 20th-century issues, the album includes:

• Pan-American and Louisiana Purchase Sets
• Jamestown Issues
• Panama Pacific Issues

The album continues through various regular and commemorative issues up until the 1980s, with most modern stamps in unused condition. Even though many of these stamps are common and less valuable, they contribute to the overall completeness of the album.

Wrapping Up

The Scott Minuteman album we explored today is a well-curated collection filled with valuable U.S. stamps, including several complete sets and rare issues. While some stamps have faults or lack perfect centering, the overall collection is a testament to the collector’s dedication and effort to acquire affordable yet impressive stamps. This collection is a beautiful example of how a thoughtful approach to collecting can result in a visually stunning and valuable stamp album.

If you are interested in stamp collecting or want to explore more of these unique stamps, make sure to join the Stamp Collectors Facebook group, where premium stamps are available for sale every week. And as always, happy collecting!