International Numbers

There are dozens of local catalogs used worldwide. In the United States it's Scotts; United Kingdom: Stanley Gibbons; there's also Yvert, AFA and Michel and others. Some of these catalogs protect their numbers with copyrights and refuse permission for projects like this to use their numbers. Most of these catalogs also use an inconsistent and arbitrary system. Look at the stamps of the 20^th century - variations of paper and perforation, and even issues themselves, were assigned various numbers that are inconsistent.

Modern issues are assigned sub numbers such as "a." while paper varieties in the early part of the 20th century have major numbers. Airmails are usually assigned a "C" number by Scott except many recent issues that are listed with their regular issue counterparts. Sets like the US transportation series are broken into many short sets. Stamps are not in chronological order and when issues are omitted they are assigned "A" numbers. Numbering systems are not sacrosanct. They are just abbreviations that can be used by dealers in lists and by collectors in references. We therefore use a system that contains a date code. You can use this code and easily look up in the stamp in your favorite catalog. Here's how it works:

An International Number contains 6 parts as follows:

XXX1234Y56.78z

As you can see we alternate between alpha and numeric characters. The parts of the number are:

XXX is for the Country: USA=United States, FRA=France, RUS=Russia, UKI=United Kingdom, etc. For a complete listing click here. The abbreviations are based on those international country abbreviations adopted by the International Standards Organization, an agency of the United Nations. We have submitted other abbreviations to the ISO for dead or discontinued countries for official adoption.

1234 is for the Year: 1995, 1996, etc.

Y is for the Month: A=January or the 1st month, B=February or the 2nd month, etc. In non-English speaking countries, use the equivalent month.

	English	French	Spanish	Danish	Chinese
A	January	Janvier	Enero	Januar
B	February	Février	Febrero	Februar
C	March	Marche	Marzo	Marts
D	April	Avril	Abril	April
E	May	Mai	Mayo	Maj
F	June	Juin	Junio	Juni
G	July	Juillet	Julio	Juli
H	August	Auguste	Agosto	August
I	September	Septembre	Septiembre	September
J	October	Octobre	Octubre	Oktober
K	November	Novembre	Noviembre	November
L	December	Décembre	Diciembre	December

56 is for the Date during that month that the stamp is issued. If issue dates are not known we use earliest known usage.

.78 is an enumerator for multiple stamps issued on a particular date

z is for a variety of that stamp

Examples:

The first postage stamp was issued by the United Kingdom on May 6, 1840. Therefore that stamp is numbered as UKI1840E06. The 2p value was placed on sale the following day. It is listed as UKI1840E07. There is a pale blue variety of that stamp. It is listed as UKI1840E07.1b. The original blue can also be listed, in full, as UKI1840E07.1a.

The first postage stamp for the United States was placed on sale July 1, 1847. Therefore the 5 cent value is USA1847G01.1 and the 10 cent value is USA1847G01.2. If you wanted to refer to the two as a set, the number is USA1847G01.

If you are interested in the State Birds and Flowers issued by the United States, the California stamp is USA1982D14.5. If you are referring to the set use USA1982D14.

Things are not that easy when a country issues two or more distinct sets on a single day. They are listed as follows:

SET 1

AAA1996A01s1

.1 Value 1

.2 Value 2

.3 Value 3

Varieties:

.1b Variety 1 of Value 1 (The original is 1a, but "1a" need not be stated.)

SET 2

AAA1996A01s2

.1 Value 1

.2 Value 2

Varieties

.2b Variety 1 of Value 2

Notice that there are several ways to refer to these stamps:

AAA1996A01 - all 5 stamps issued on the date

AAA1996A01s1 - The first set only

AAA1996A01s2.1 - The first value of the second set

AAA1996A01s2.2b - The variety of the second value of the second set

The longer numbers can be shortened. As in our original example, a want list for the United Kingdom does not need to repeat "UKI" each time. Year sets which are popular ways to purchase stamps need only include FRA1956 or even "1956" in a listing of all French stamps. Sets do not need the decimal numbers, etc.

Modern data processing needs a numbering system that can access data from large databases. From hundreds of items, these unique numbers can isolate items from a particular country or a particular year and even include the numbering capability for hundreds of varieties of a single stamp.

Booklet Panes, Souvenir Sheets and Miniature Sheets

We have made a decision on the listing of these items as follows. Collector comments are welcome.

If a single stamp in a booklet, souvenir or miniature sheet exists only in that format, the item is listed as follows:

Columbian Example

USA1992E22

1. 1 cent
2. 2 cent
3. 3 cent
4. 4 cent
5. 5 cent
6. 6 cent
7. 8 cent
8. 10 cent
9. 15 cent
10. 30 cent
11. 50 cent
12. $1
13. $2
14. $3
15. $4
16. $5

Varieties:

Since these Voyages of Columbus Souvenir Sheets are usually collected as a complete set, the International number would be USA1992E22. In a USA list, it can be listed as 1992E22. If a single stamp is listed use the decimal suffix: 1992E22.1, etc. Finally, you can list a particular sheet. In this case the number would be 1992E22.1b.

Moon Landing Example

USA1994G20

1. 29 cent Moon Landing
2. $9.95 Moon Landing

Varieties:

1b. Sheet of 12

This stamp is issued in a miniature sheet where the 12 stamps are identical to the single stamp.

World Soccer Example

USA1994E26

1. 29 cent
2. 40 c
3. 50 c
4. $1.19 Souvenir Sheet

In this case the stamps in the Souvenir Sheet are not identical to the single stamps. They are given their own listing (USA1994E26.4).

Manx Harbors Example

ISM1992I18

1. 18 pence
2. 23 p
3. 37 p
4. 40 p
5. £1.18 Souvenir Sheet

Again, in this case the Souvenir Sheet is listed as it has a £1 stamp not included in the set.

Tourist Trophy Example

ISM1991E30

1. a. 17 pence
2. 21 p
3. 26 p
4. 31 p
5. 37 p

Varieties:

1b. £1.32 Souvenir Sheet of 5

1c. £1.32 Souvenir Sheet (1b) overprinted

Booklet Example

UKI1981A14

15½ pence

Varieties:

See also Booklet pane of 4 12½ and 6 15½. See UKI1982A27

There are many forms of postage stamps and varieties in the way they are issued. If you desire one of each face different stamps regardless of perforation, paper and sheet format use the major designation. Perforation, sheet makeup, including reissue in souvenir sheets and booklets are found under varieties.

Summary

The numbering system outlined above can easily allow you to cross reference our data with your favorite catalog in any language. With our coming search capabilities, clicking on CAN1943J14 will allow you to find any stamp issued on October 14, 1943 in Canada.

The International Numbering System is copyrighted © 1995-2004 by Ideal Solutions, Inc.. Collectors and dealers may use it freely to list stamps for sale or to compile lists of stamps needed in an individual collection.