Middle East

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I am supportive of anything that improves the Categories for stamps in the British Commonwealth area ... and notably addresses this recent split of many countries between two different Country areas on the site. This is bizarre and doesn't work. Even some of the dates used are wrong and don't tie up.

Fundamentally a decision needs to be taken about whether to group all countries that were/are 'British Empire' together irrespective of any other segmentation or leave them within geographic regions.

Regarding the Middle East I think it would be helpful to have something to comment on rather than provide input blindly. The only comment I would make is perhaps to consider reallocating 'Italy: Occupied Colonies' as this section appeals more to British Commonwealth collectors and you might not immediately look within Italy for this material.

From a seller's point of view I dread new categories arriving because of the effort required to reassign listings. I know you often help but Sellers should be able to do this task themselves so once again I appeal for a Tool to help us accomplish this.

And while I am at it I would like the re-introduction of the 'A-Z Title' sorting feature. Sorry, but I just have to plug this at every opportunity.

Alan Catherall
[Hoatzinstamps]

I'm with you on the 'Sort by Title' problem; strange that this option is still available when viewing one's own listings (open or closed) through the Control Panel!

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I can understand the reasoning behind the way Delcampe placed the categories, but it just doesn't work in practice

Many collectors will concentrate on just one period of a country's history - commonly pre-independence, say, for argument's sake, so differentiating between pre- and post-independence does make some sort of sense; one other aspect of numerous sub-categories is that it reduces the number of items in any one category although this can equally be a negative point when looking for items!

Where the system fails is when one country magically moves from one top category to another, witness Ceylon/Sri Lanka or Hong Kong for example; I still maintain the best way is to still use sub-categories if you must, but to place them all under one country heading within the geographical area they really are - after all, it's the name that changes, not the position on the planet (apologies to any plate tectonicists out there)

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Looks like you are aiming to establish a new region 'Middle East' on the site and create a model for how the other countries should look - quite challenging. I hope that Delcampe can cope with this proposed change of a new region technically ... and that it won't affect things like Lister. Probably not, but I just mention it as something that needs to be checked.

Regarding the list the following observations come to mind:

1. British Post Agencies in Eastern Arabia / Muscat: should this appear separately or under Oman?

2. U.A.E. seems to be missing together with the constituent parts i.e. Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujeira, Sharjah, Ummal Qiwain, Ras al Khaima

3. If this is to become a template for other areas I would raise the question of whether Covers and other documents should appear separately within each prime country category? I don't want to overcomplicate what you are trying to achieve but it is a consideration.

Bringing me back to my currrent frustrations with Delcampe:

1. We need a tool to effect the transfers of listings.

2. We need the 'A-Z Title' sequence feature to be reinstated. A prime example of its potential usefulness would be Aden & States where you have 'Seiyun' and 'Qu'aiti' which if they appear in the title can be easily segmented from early Aden stamps notably where sellers have several hundred listings. This feature has never been properly promoted by Delcampe and I don't think they recognise its potential to help buyers find what they are looking for.

Hope the above helps with your deliberations.

Perhaps some input from others will appear too. If I think of anything else I will be back.

Alan Catherall
[Hoatzinstamps]

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Pleased to have been of some assistance.

Hopefully some other members will add comments too.
This is the way that Delcampe should sound out input too. Well done for taking a lead.

Regarding Oman: my only concern on this one is will buyers [or even sellers] look for [to add] stamps for B.P.A. in Eastern Arabia / Muscat if it isn't shown as a separate 'named' sub category? 'Oman' would not be my obvious choice for such listings.

I accept your other comments.

That's it for now.

Alan Catherall
[Hoatzinstamps]

In the case of British (ex)colonies I can see that separation of a single country into two different geographical areas according to whether the stamps were issued before or after independence does not really make sense.
I do not have an opinion as to whether they should be allocated to their appropriate geographical area or lumped together as British colonies. However, I do think it is important that, for each country, there are subsections for pre-independence and post-independence issues. This would avoid the problem on some other sites where they are all lumped together and to find pre-independence issues it is necessary to flog through masses of post-independence issues.
Personally, I would also prefer if covers were separate but I can see that this might create too many subsections
Tony

A little disappointing to see so few inputs to your suggestion.

Perhaps you should post the final draft of your recommendation within the categories section with a deadline for comments?

Just a thought ...

Alan Catherall
[Hoatzinstamps]

Under Israel you can add Palestine. Palestine is more suitable to pre Israel than to other Middle East countries.
There are many stamps and coins of this period:1918-1948
And of course there are many Palestine (pre Israel) catalogues.
BTW I was born in Palestine (1939) and am an Israeli citizen.

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Good morning "Mitnadev Chuts Laaretz".

Best wishes
Baruch