This is a fabulous encyclopedia-type collection of not only articles and history of artistamps by artistamp creators, but also contains a stunningly huge gallery of stamp artwork by more than two HUNDRED artists from more than 27 different countries. Just flipping through its pages is like having instant inspiration just a click away. For beginning artists, it's like an artistamp bible, with articles that were published previously in places like "Artistamp News" and on the websites of leading artists. For those more advanced, it's a way to see some of the editions that are long gone now, from some names you know, as well as some names that you may not be aware of. It lists tons of additional resources for you, so it's interactive, as well.
Some of the eight "chapters" include: * "Works of Art", an index of the art form by country * "Art and the Postage Stamp", an explanation based in historiacl fact about postage art * "Postal Modernism" a reprint of the article in Art Express from May of 1981 * "Artistamp Collaborative Works", a definition of the projects by the International Mail Art Network * The gallery, which as I've mentioned, is exhaustive and impressive.
The best thing about this CD-ROM is that it's not platform-specific. It uses your regular web browser to display images and articles in a web-like format, so things can be cross-referenced and seen independently. I've tested it both on my own Macintosh G-3 and on a PC, and both display similarly, as they do in both Netscape AND Internet Explorer.
My one complaint is visual, and since I did web design before I gave it up for Lent one year, I'm kind of a stickler on these kinds of things. There is little navigation, requiring the use of the "back" button often to get out of a chapter and back to the index. The background is inobtrusive, but still seems busy. If they had written in some solid-colored tables rather than just having the text over the cloudy background, I would have had no problem with it at all.
Still, despite the small design flaws, the information presented is clear, easy to read, and comprehensive. For my artistamp hobby, this has been one of the best purchases I've ever made, and I don't regret it for a second.
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