Re-Hingeing

I'm moving some hinged stamps from an older album to different album. Since they have already been hinged I intend to just put them back on with hinges (unless something shows some real value). My question is, should I just hinge on top of the old remnant to avoid any stamp damage or soak the old hinge off. If the old hinge pops right off no problem but I am thinking more about hinges that seem to have really held on tight.

Scouter,

If the hinge pops off then go ahead and rehinge. If they don't come off easy then I guess soak them. It's better to hinge over an area that has already been hinged then to ruin any more of the gum. I have a lot of stamps that I am doing the same with.

Donna

Like Donna, I rehinge. I try to re-hinge in the same hinge spot (or spots). I will hinge right over a hinge remnant

If I may jump in here.
I'm in the process of removing mint stamps from my
grandfather's old album and found many where the gum is
partially stuck to the album page, I guess he used too
much spittle.
Now I've tried steaming and it does work except for
for the odd burnt finger and some curling but it's
labourious and I have damaged a couple of stamps.
Is there another way? Also could the steaming discolour
the stamps although I haven't seen any evidence of that yet.

My recommendation would be to acquire a liquid called Stamp Lift. You daub the liquid on the back of the paper the stamp is stuck to, and it releases the stamp. Steaming will melt the gum which will cause more damage, if you are worried about preserving gum. The heat and water vapor will also damage some stamps.

Thanks smauggie, I'll get some & try it.

Or just go Mint no gum, and soak them off and do no damage at all... I had to do this with a stock book that was stored in a damp country house and all the mint stamps became attached

I know most of you want MINT stamps with perfect gum on the back but some times you have to pick your battles to do the least harm, as one of our forum members once stated, "I look at the front not the back" you can always put Mint no gum in mounts.

when I soak off mint stamps, I remind myself I'm doing less damage and they are for me as a hobby, not a business...

Good luck, and like Smaugggie said "STAMP LIFT" is the way to go.

i will repeat what other shave said.. stamp lift works wonders....

Edwin, where on earth are you getting all these stamps?

I just found this on the net re Stamp Lift.




If he is right then I might as well soak them instead going through all this.