Mounts: Clear V. Black -- A New Thought (For Me)

I know we've had the clear v. black debate several times, but there's no reason we can't do it again

First, I'll say that I prefer the clear mounts because the stamps seem to float on the page, rather than appearing framed in black. I know we're about evenly divided on the issue, so there's no value judgment from me.

However, I have realized something that you all probably thought of a long time ago...

When I attempt to scan a stamp mounted in a clear mount, the white areas and perfs of the stamp blend into the white (or near-white) color of the album pages.

So, in order to get a really good scan, I must remove the stamp from its mount, scan it with a dark background and then put it back in the mount.

Granted it's not a huge inconvenience, but it does take time and all things being equal, I'd rather not take my stamps in and out of their mounts.

So, for you new collectors on SCF, give it some thought before you "standardize" on one type of mount.

KirkS

I use Mystic's mounts and strips. I am very happy with them. I decided some time ago that the black mounts make a nice frame around the stamp. It makes it look a little better (in my opinion)and like you said it makes the pictures/scans stand out a little more with the black.

I started out with clear, but went to black a long time ago.

...a barely audible cry from the back of the room..
"I hinge"

i hinge about everything except mint never hinged..then I go to my black mounts !!

Ditto. Only exceptions might be those items with considerable catalog value (i.e. > $20 or so). Mounts are just too expensive to use for the common material.

AKKKKK hinged? OMG! Not that! I've been using scalpel to remove the hinge from the page, and place it with hinge still mounted to back/ in a black showgard / mystic mount as I need to scan them for higher / lower resolution. (who knows because there are envelopes full and no clear delination but at one point, Mystic gave away mounts to "good customers". )anyway. I still don't know for certain how to remove the hinge from the stamp. Yes, I do like the fact that you can see the borders more clearly from a black vs clear scan.
Chime in SCF. We need your opinions and expertise.

All my precancels are hinged, my world wide (which I no longer actively pursue) is also hinged. My pre-1940 U.S. (which I very actively pursue) is black mount regardless of condition or value. I print my own album pages in an presentation format with history and statistics for each issue and the black mounts really compliment the appearance.
Edit: Additional thought, if you are mounting 50,000 stamps mounts are not always a good idea. As with my precancels, I would rather spend my money on the stamps rather than the mounts.

For all my MNH and MH stamps I use Lighthouse black strips. In the last months I start buying the 200 g assortment of strips and blocks which is cheaper. The blocks when I don't need I cut them in strips. Clear mounts I never used. I prefer the contrast of a stamp on a black mount.

Well I use black stock leaves because they are so incredibly easy to update, given that I collect mainly by topic rather than country, and am always thinking up new topics as my collection grows.

I like a black background for most stamps - I just think they look so much better. But personally I don't like the look of black mounts on a white sheet. Hence black stock leaves.

if the CV is under $20.00 I will hinge it, mint or used. anything over that gets a mount.

Hinges will stain the backs of stamps with prolonged contact. For the most part I hinge (if there is significant premium for MNH, or if the stamp is fragile, I will mount. The exception is my Panama Specialty Album which is entirely mounted. I use Showguard black.