One of the really great catalogs is available for our collecting pleasure at a reasonable price. Unitrade Company of Canada publishes an annual spiral-bound catalogue of about 630 pages in a new larger sized 8 x 11 inches. It licenses the use of our familiar Scott numbers for the convenience of North American collectors.

   How it differs from listings in the Scott Catalogue if we already own Vol. 2 is our only major concern. Color photographs are great and all booklets and booklet panes are illustrated, as Scotts shows USA booklets in its USA Specialized Catalogue. Special post office products are also illustrated and priced, special covers and uncut press sheets, for instance. Printing errors and plate flaws are shown and priced.

   Useful additions beyond Scotts are the complete listing of postal stationery and postal cards and a special study of early postmarks which often carry hefty premiums. Rarity factors are given for "squared circle" and other post marks. Christmas seals are a new addition to the list of the yearly "hunting" stamps.

   The listings for stamps are highly specialized. Hinged and NH are valued, as well as up to 3 grades for early stamps, both mint and used. As expected, VF-NH stamps are valued at a high premium beyond the Scotts price, while average copies are rightly cheaper than the prices listed in the Scott. Stamps on cover are also included for earlier issues, and first day covers are priced, some at hefty premiums. Where plate blocks have plate numbers, all are priced, some of them quite rare, similar to what the Durland catalogue shows for the USA blocks.

   Coils are listed in a much more specialized manner. "Jump strips" was a new concept for me. The editors explain everything in detail to help any collector in this area as well as in all other topics, like semi-official airmails.

   New Foundland is listed in full detail as well as the other British North American provinces.

   Stamps with scattered catalogue numbers are also grouped and illustrated, similar to the Scott's USA Specialized in its prefatory pages. Charts are scattered everywhere, showing perforation, color and size characteristics. Postal rates relating to the stamps are clearly defined in the wide margins of pages, making it easy to locate any particular stamp. Some sets like the "Centennial" set take on major importance in specialized listings, printing dies, perforations, and tagging.

   This wonderful catalogue makes it a pleasure for the beginning collector in the joys of Canada's beautiful stamps, and can send the experienced connoisseur back to albums and stock books for years to closely examine holdings again.