Australia was the first stamp issuing country in the world as far as I know to issue large size annual year books. They started back in 1981.

These large A4 (quarto) sized books contain all the Australian stamps issued in that year, and are placed on sale at year end. Clear Mylar Hawid mounts are already affixed to each page, so the stamps can be quickly and safely inserted, leaving a beautiful and fascinating stamp product. The Australian ones all have been issued in a matching protective heavy slipcase, and a further protecting outer vinyl sleeve.

For collecting modern issue stamps in the Australia climate these are THE best thing you can buy. Dust, humidity, moisture and insects just do NOT get into the stamps I have found in my 25 years of buying and selling these books. If I buy an Estate lot where the early year books are stored along with stockbooks and albums, the stamps in the year books are in perfect condition after 20-25 years, and many of the same issues stored right around them have toning/foxing/rust.

That is by far the most important point.

Secondly the presentation of the stamps and the artwork and detail on the pages is an absolute credit to Australia Post. High gloss varnished paper, and double facing pages of info on EVERY stamp issue. Laden with photos and factual background information. For collectors with younger children or Grandchildren this is a goldmine for their education and general knowledge.

The average Australian 12 year old sadly does NOT learn this stuff in school anymore it seems. Most would not have a clue who George Bass, Murray Rose, Alec Campbell, Edmund Barton, Jessie Vasey, Frederick McCubbin, Roden Cutler or Lawrence Hargraves were, or even who the British monarch was when Australia was founded. Sad but true.

The same youngsters have no idea whatever what a Flannel Flower looks like, what year Western Australia was founded, what the 'Cutty Sark' was, where the 1988 Olympics were held, and when the Snowy Mountains Scheme commenced. This is our HISTORY here, and the schools simply do not teach it anymore it seems to me.

The answers to ALL these questions and facts are contained in Year Books.

Youngsters LIKE looking at these books as they are bright and colourful with lots of photographs. They absorb this knowledge like a sponge. Anything that can drag them away from Sega Play Stations, Nintendo games, mobile phone text messaging and internet music downloads is a PLUS.

Folks often buy a set of these books from the birth year or a child or grandchild. They are an easy present to keep up to date with each year.

As far as 'value for money' - you can't beat these - especially at my prices. Remember you are buying MINT STAMPS here - which is like buying cash in a way. Look at my prices - for many of the books you are buying them even now - over 20 years since issue at virtually the PO issue price, like the 1985 book - BEFORE my 27% discount! All the Mint stamps inside are postally valid - so you can use them on letters and parcels if you wish. How can you lose?

And children aside, adults like buying the books, as not only are ALL the stamps in one place so you miss nothing, they are all in good condition, and stay that way. Unlike FDC or packs etc, you do not need to buy expensive albums to house them in. These are fully self-contained and ready to go the moment you buy them.

The year books are compact and easy to store - a full set from 1981 fits neatly in a metre of bookshelf space. Or in a box in the garage or spare bedroom even. As they are in slipcases and plastic outers they are THE easiest stamp product to store where you have space. And if and when you sell them you have a saleable and readily traded entity.

The "Leather" (Executive) books are VERY classy. All have been Black leather with brass corners since first issue in 1986, so they are a fully matched set. Covers are thickly padded and deeply gold inscribed on front and spine. Australia Post charges about $30 more for each one over the regular book, due to high cost of making leather covers, (the stamp contents are identical) and almost NO dealer has stock of older ones at any price from past 5 years.

Many of the books of either type are scarce. The 1988 sold out WAY ahead of time as it was a popular "Bicentennial" gift for the general public to send to friends and relatives overseas. Most stamp collectors missed out, and hence the high price. My price is $A95 before any discounts yet the Seven Seas Stamps colour ASC market leading catalogue lists that book as $A210 retail. My price is well under HALF retail - before any discounts are deducted.

The 2000 year book surprised everyone by having in it the Australia Sydney Olympic Gold Medal winner sheetlet of 16. NO other way could you obtain this sheetlet. Hence my $A120 price - that sheetlet alone retails for $100 in many shops.

I have ALWAYS had the largest stock of year books in Sydney. I buy more estates than anyone else it seems, and also folks come to me when selling these books, as they know I will buy them. And I thus MUST sell as cheaply as I can, to MOVE all this stock or I will drown in it!

Check my '20% Off' discount for 10 year runs ... these are GREAT prices as you can see. Get '27% Off' for two runs! I'd rather make $3 a book profit and sell 10 at once, than $10 a book and sell just one book. That is where I differ from most dealers. You buy more - you pay less. You do the Maths on that. Which is why I am in business after 25 years, and most of them are not.