In philately, the Higgins & Gage World Postal Stationery Catalog is the most recent encyclopedic catalogue of postal stationery covering the whole world. Despite most volumes not having been updated for over thirty years, the catalogue and the H & G numbering system are still widely used by philatelists and stamp dealers although the values given in the catalogue are out of date.
The catalogue was published between 1964 and 1989American Philatelic Research Library catalogue search 20 Dec 2023 Library Home Page and comprises nineteen alphabetical volumes with supplements. The earlier volumes were edited by Edward Fladung who worked with Alexander D. Gage in the production of the catalogue.Negus, James. (1991) Philatelic literature, compilation techniques and reference sources. Limassol, Cyprus: James Bendon. pp. 159-160. Ed Fladung died March 1977, Tell, American Helvetia Philatelic Society, April–May 1980, p. 76.--Date of death for Edward G. Fladung, editor of World Postal Stationery Catalog is 3 March 1980, not 1977 (information contributed by his daughter, Jill R. Hillary).Gage and Fladung jointly received the 1977 Distinguished Service Award for Valuable Contributions to the Advancement and Enrichment of Philately from the Federated Philatelic Clubs of Southern California. Later editions were edited by Melvin Feiner.
Publisher Originally published by Higgins & Gage Inc., the catalogue has now been acquired by Classic Philatelics of Huntington Beach, Pasadena, California. Classic Philatelics also produce a new issue postal stationery report.
Scope The postal stationery items which are included in the catalog are stamped envelopes, postal cards, lettercards, wrappers, aerograms and registration envelopes
List of volumes (Titles from most recent editions)
Vol.1 Abu Dhabi to Azores Vol.2 Baden to Bushire Vol.3 Cameroons to Czechoslovakia Vol.4 Dahomey to Dutch New Guinea Vol.5 East Africa to Ethiopia Vol.6 Falkland Islands to Funchal Vol.7 Gabon to Guyana Vol.8 Haiti to Hungary Vol.9 Iceland to Ivory Coast Vol.10 Jamaica to Kuwait Vol.11 Labuan to Luxemburg Vol.12 Macao to Muscat Vol.13 Natal to Orange River Colony Vol.14 Pakistan to Queensland Vol.15 Reunion Islands to Ryukyu Islands Vol.16 Sarr to Syria Vol.17 Tahiti to Turks & Caicos Islands Vol.18 Ubangi to Uruguay Vol.19 Vatican City to Zululand
References
Further reading "Some Observations on Higgins & Gage", in the Australasian Informer, August 1976. "The Higgins and Gage Story", Wayne Menuz, originally published in the Journal of the Postal Stationery Society Issue No 4 (August 1994) and Issue No 5 (February 1995)