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III. SO AKING
STAMPS FROM PAPER
3.Soaking Stamps from Paper
Assuming you have either found or been given stamps on an
envelope, your next job will be to remove the stamps from the paper. Do NOT try
to peel the stamp from the envelope. You will tear it or damage the paper.
However, before deciding whether to remove the stamp, you should examine the
covers (envelopes) carefully. Very old stamps may be worth more if left on the
cover. Covers with interesting cancels, handstamps, postal markings, or unusual
stamp combinations should be left as covers -- their stamps should not be
removed as they help to tell an interesting postal history story. If in doubt as
to whether to save the entire cover, ask a knowledgeable collector. Also, stamps
from first day covers should not be removed.
To take stamps off an envelope, start by cutting neatly around the stamp. Do
not cut so close as to trim off any perforations- the little "teeth" around the
edge of the stamp.
It is best to sort your stamps before soaking them. Separate stamps that are
on colored envelopes or have colored cancels. These stamps should be soaked on
at a time in cold water so that if the color should run, it will not spoil any
other stamps.
The most common way to remove stamps from paper is to soak them in a dish of
warm, not hot, water. Allow the stamp to float free from the paper. After the
stamp has separated from the paper, very gently rub over the back of the stamps
with your fingertip to remove any remaining gum.
To dry the stamps, spread them face down on black and white newspaper or
white absorbent paper. After the stamps have dried, they can be picked up and
pressed flat between the pages or beneath a heavy book.
Care should be given in selecting the stamps for your collection. Torn,
dirty, heavily canceled, and damaged stamps should be replaced when possible
with better examples.
Previous: 2.What to collect
Next: 4.Organizing your colection
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