SPECIALIZOVANě KATALOG ZNŐMEK A CELIN: CESKŐ REPUBLIKA 1993- 1999: A Review
by Jaroslav Verner

(Specialized Catalog of Stamps and Stationary: Czech Republic 1993- 1999),
published by Merkur Revue, Brno, 2000, 160 pages.

The publishers of Merkur Revue, a Brno bi-monthly philat elic journal, have just p ublished their first catalog of stamps and postal stationary. It is a full color, highly specialized cat alog of the postal paper o f the Czech Republic. The catalog is divided into four sections: st amps; stamp booklets and commemorative stamp booklets; commemorative prints (black prints); and post cards and envelopes. The pages of each section have a distinctive color bar on the edge which makes it easy to find the part of the catalog one wishes to use. Rate tables are included at t he end of the catalog.

Entries for each stamp give the information we have come to expect in good catalogs: stamp designer/ engraver, perforation size, quantity produced, number of stamps in the sheet, and their perforation size. The catalog assigns value to the stamp for mint, used, blocks of four, strips of four, first day covers, and sheetlets in those issues where they exist. This information is followed by plate errors and the plate position of the stamp which bears them; perforat ion errors; and production errors. A value is assigned to each of these variations.

Covers of the stamp booklets are illustrated in the next section. This section also includes what are called ňspecial stamp booklets˛ which were issued to commemorate some event or activity. In these booklets the stamps usually have commemorative tabs. The layout s of the stamps in the special booklets are illustrated and all the combinations of stamps and tabs are listed, each with an assigned value.

The Commemorative Print section begins with t hose prepared by the Czech Post for inclusion in official presentation books. This is followed by a much larger number of commemorative prints the purpose of which was to publicize philat ely. For instance they were prepared for inclusion in books, for presentation to members of various philatelic organizations and so on. Co mmemorative prints issued by the Postal Museum come next and the section ends with listings of maximum cards, and commemorative pages.

The final section of the catalog begins with postal cards, both regular and commemorative, envelopes and official envelopes. The next part of this section is a listing of ňunofficial˛ imprinted postal cards categories ňA˛ and ňB.˛ Category A are cards that were imprinted and issued by Postfilia, t he philate lic arm of the Czech Post , and which were on sale in post o ffice philatelic windows and were also available thr ough the new issues service of t he post o ffice. Category B cards were imprinted by Postfilia based on orders from private organizations or individuals. They are not on sale at normal postal philatelic outlets.

The bottom line is that this catalog is a must for collectors of the new issues of the Czech Republic.

Jaroslav J Verner