Peel And Stick Stamps

How is anyone dealing with adding these to a collection? Do you leave the backing on? How are they being classified as far as mint or MNH?

Donna

It is a great way to save on hinges just peel and stick.

I keep the backing on and use Showguard mounts for the mint stamps.

Same here. Now they cut the backing between each stamp so they can be separated easily as singles.

Is there any harm in using an old fashioned stamp hinge to apply a mint stamp (with it's backing paper) into a stamp album? Even if the hinge damages the backing paper, the stamp is not affected, so it technically still retains the status of MNH, right?

Or here's another idea: A separate post talked about the use of Scotch 811 Removable Tape. It was said it could be used for temporary but not permanent use on stamps because the tape could degrade over time and potentially affect the stamp. As a practical matter, though, what more harm could it do than the degrading of the adhesive already on the self stick stamps?

I separate one from the blocks of 4 I buy from the USPS, put it in a mount with the backing still on I consider the backing part of the stamp that keeps it mint.

I use the other 3 left from my blocks for my mail. then buy a different block of 4 and do it again, seems there are more types of stamps then bills to pay by mail, I guess that's a good thing.

I'm thinking of posting my duplicate 2010 for trade for ones I don't have, so I don't have to buy 4 of everything. anyone out there interested in this thought?

Your method works fine, Edwin, if you're willing to take the hit for the cost of the extra stamps and simply use them as postage. When you get into the higher values, though, it could become costly.

I do find that certain self stick stamps are not that great to separate, so if you have a block there is room for error should one tear the backing paper more than desired when separating them at the so-called "perforation" point.