Moving from collecting Stamps to collecting Postal History ?

I think that by nature I am a "stamp collector" - I like completeness.

I collect a number of mainly European countries. I enjoy getting them to an affordable level of completeness using a fairly specialised catalogue (I do shades, perforations, watermarks and sometimes different papers) but I don't go to the ultimate level.

I enjoy putting the stamps into a historical framework, for example identifying the political changes that are going on in parallel with the stamp issues. Once I've done this I like to have a story to tell, that I can use for an evening's display at my local philatelic society.

I have also had a small collection of Postal History based around postmarks from the town in Somerset that matches my surname.

I am now thinking seriously about expanding this sideline to collect "Somerset Postal History" which brings me to a number of questions:

What is "Somerset Postal History" ?

Unlike stamp collecting there is no definitive list to check off so I know my desire for "completeness" is going to be frustrated. However on the other side, I know that I'm always going to be able to find affordable items to add to my collection.

I think Postal History is different from just "stamps on covers", at least for me.  Aspects that occur to me include:

• Postmarks from all the different places in Somerset
• All the different postmarks from a single place in Somerset
• Postage rates illustrated on cover
• Other cancellations, instructional marks
• Postal routes
• Slogan and commercial postmarks

I'm also interested in how things look, so postcards showing views of the places come in scope too.


How does one structure a postal history collection ?

Is there a general approach that can sketch out a framework that I can slot my postal history items into ?  Otherwise I'm going to end up with lots of boxes (which I'm sure is one tried and trusted approach !).


What reference books are there ?

Books I have found to help somewhat for Somerset:

• the British County Catalogue Vol 5 (Willcocks & Jay)
• British Post Office Numbers (Brumell)
• Publications from the Somerset & Dorset Postal History Group (UDCs & Steel Impressions)
• Postal Addresses March 1972 (The Post Office)
• "Collecting Postal History" by Prince Dimitry Kandaouroff, translated by William Finlay; and published by Peter Lowe in 1973.
• The Rossiter Trust at http://www.rossitertrust.com/SRTLecture2009/img0.html
  

I've also acquired a set of Ordnance Survey maps (pre-motorway vintage), though Google Maps is very good for working out distances (as long as you alter the routes to avoid motorways).