# Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue Scraper (`jungle_synthesizer/stanleygibbons-stamp-catalogue-scraper`) Actor Scrapes stamp listings from the Stanley Gibbons online shop — the canonical British and Commonwealth philatelic catalogue authority. Extracts SG catalogue numbers, conditions, issue years, prices, and availability across all stamp collections. - **URL**: https://apify.com/jungle\_synthesizer/stanleygibbons-stamp-catalogue-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [BowTiedRaccoon](https://apify.com/jungle_synthesizer) (community) - **Categories:** E-commerce - **Stats:** 3 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per event This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue Scraper Extract stamp listings from the [Stanley Gibbons online shop](https://shop.stanleygibbons.com) — the canonical British and Commonwealth philatelic catalogue authority. Covers Great Britain and Commonwealth stamp collections with SG catalogue numbers, conditions, issue years, prices in GBP, and availability. ### Features - Extract stamp listings from Stanley Gibbons' Great Britain and Commonwealth collections - Capture SG catalogue numbers, condition grades, issue years and date ranges, and denominations parsed directly from the product title - Get live sale prices in GBP and availability status for each stamp - Includes product images from the Stanley Gibbons CDN - Reads the Shopify JSON API directly — no HTML scraping, no authentication required - No proxy needed — the Shopify storefront API has no bot detection or rate limiting - Pay-per-event pricing at roughly $0.001 per record ### Who Uses Stanley Gibbons Catalogue Data and Why? - **Philatelic collectors** — build searchable price guides for British and Commonwealth stamps, track catalogue values, and monitor in-stock listings - **Stamp dealers and auction houses** — cross-reference SG numbers against current Stanley Gibbons sale prices to benchmark inventory - **Price guide developers** — build stamp valuation tools using the canonical SG-number reference used globally for British stamps - **Market analysts** — analyze pricing trends by reign, condition, denomination, or country across the British Commonwealth - **Researchers** — catalogue philatelic data by watermark, perforation type, or issue period for academic study ### How It Works 1. You specify which Shopify collections to scrape (default: Great Britain and Commonwealth) and an optional item cap. 2. The actor fetches the Shopify `/products.json` API in pages of 250 items per request. 3. Each product record is transformed: SG catalogue number, condition, issue year, and denomination are parsed from the product title; price, availability, and image are read directly from the Shopify variant. 4. Results are saved to the Apify dataset. ### Input #### Basic: Scrape all GB and Commonwealth stamps ```json { "maxItems": 100 } ```` #### Scrape only Great Britain stamps ```json { "collections": ["stamps-great-britain"], "maxItems": 500 } ``` #### Scrape all available stamps (no cap) ```json { "collections": ["stamps-great-britain", "stamps-commonwealth"] } ``` #### Include a sale or special collection ```json { "collections": ["stamps-great-britain", "stamps-commonwealth", "david-spivack-april-2026"], "maxItems": 200 } ``` ### Input Fields | Field | Type | Default | Description | |-------|------|---------|-------------| | `collections` | array | `["stamps-great-britain", "stamps-commonwealth"]` | Shopify collection slugs to scrape. Leave empty to use both stamp collections. | | `maxItems` | integer | 10 | Maximum number of stamp records to return. Omit for no cap (full catalogue run). | ### Output Schema Each item in the dataset has these fields: | Field | Type | Example | |-------|------|---------| | `sg_product_id` | string | `P267000578` | | `product_url` | string | `https://shop.stanleygibbons.com/products/great-britain-sg-266-...` | | `sg_number` | string | `266` | | `title` | string | `Great Britain SG 266 Unmounted Mint 1902-10 £1 dull blue-green` | | `country` | string | `Great Britain` | | `region` | string | `great-britain` | | `issue_year` | integer | `1902` | | `issue_date` | string | `1902-10` | | `denomination` | string | `£1` | | `condition` | string | `Unmounted Mint` | | `sale_price` | number | `1750` | | `catalogue_value` | number | `2500` (or null) | | `currency` | string | `GBP` | | `in_stock` | boolean | `true` | | `image_url` | string | `https://cdn.shopify.com/...` | | `description` | string | Full text description from the listing | **Notes:** - `sg_number` is the Stanley Gibbons catalogue number — the global reference identifier for British and Commonwealth stamps. - `catalogue_value` is populated when the listing's compare-at price is set; otherwise null. - `condition` is extracted from the product title. Common values: `Unmounted Mint`, `Mounted Mint`, `Fine Used`, `Used`, `Colour Trial`, `Proof`. - `denomination`, `issue_year`, and `issue_date` are parsed from the product title and may be null for unusual title formats. ### Available Collections | Collection slug | Description | |----------------|-------------| | `stamps-great-britain` | ~1,200 British stamps from penny black to modern issues | | `stamps-commonwealth` | ~2,750 stamps from across the British Commonwealth | Sale collections (e.g. `david-spivack-april-2026`) appear periodically and can be specified directly. ### Notes - Prices are in GBP (pounds sterling). - The Stanley Gibbons online shop is updated regularly — run the actor periodically to capture new listings and price changes. - This actor scrapes the live Stanley Gibbons Shopify storefront. It is not affiliated with Stanley Gibbons Ltd. # Actor input Schema ## `sp_intended_usage` (type: `string`): Please describe how you plan to use the data extracted by this crawler. ## `sp_improvement_suggestions` (type: `string`): Provide any feedback or suggestions for improvements. ## `sp_contact` (type: `string`): Provide your email address so we can get in touch with you. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of records to scrape ## `collections` (type: `array`): Shopify collection slugs to scrape (default: both stamp collections) ## Actor input object example ```json { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "maxItems": 10, "collections": [ "stamps-great-britain", "stamps-commonwealth" ] } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "maxItems": 10, "collections": [ "stamps-great-britain", "stamps-commonwealth" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("jungle_synthesizer/stanleygibbons-stamp-catalogue-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "maxItems": 10, "collections": [ "stamps-great-britain", "stamps-commonwealth", ], } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("jungle_synthesizer/stanleygibbons-stamp-catalogue-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "maxItems": 10, "collections": [ "stamps-great-britain", "stamps-commonwealth" ] }' | apify call jungle_synthesizer/stanleygibbons-stamp-catalogue-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=jungle_synthesizer/stanleygibbons-stamp-catalogue-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue Scraper", "description": "Scrapes stamp listings from the Stanley Gibbons online shop — the canonical British and Commonwealth philatelic catalogue authority. Extracts SG catalogue numbers, conditions, issue years, prices, and availability across all stamp collections.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "Mo9sG7DRb8X5B5VLt" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~stanleygibbons-stamp-catalogue-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-jungle_synthesizer-stanleygibbons-stamp-catalogue-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~stanleygibbons-stamp-catalogue-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-jungle_synthesizer-stanleygibbons-stamp-catalogue-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~stanleygibbons-stamp-catalogue-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-jungle_synthesizer-stanleygibbons-stamp-catalogue-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "sp_intended_usage": { "title": "What is the intended usage of this data?", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Please describe how you plan to use the data extracted by this crawler." }, "sp_improvement_suggestions": { "title": "How can we improve this crawler for you?", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Provide any feedback or suggestions for improvements." }, "sp_contact": { "title": "Contact Email", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Provide your email address so we can get in touch with you." }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max Items", "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of records to scrape", "default": 10 }, "collections": { "title": "Collections", "type": "array", "description": "Shopify collection slugs to scrape (default: both stamp collections)", "default": [ "stamps-great-britain", "stamps-commonwealth" ], "items": { "type": "string" } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```