Need The Basics

Okay Guys the past couple of days. I've been clipping the envelopes.

Just because I thought the stamps were neat.

So here we go I need the basics.

1. Back in 5th and 6th Grade we have a stamp club in school. Used a photo album to keep them in. I hate hinges but not sure what the standard is on them now. Is this still common practice?

2.I clip the envelopes to ensure I have postmarks etc etc.
Is removal the best tactic? If so is steaming still the practice?

3. Anything else I'm missing?

A Stamp alone might be worth a dollar, leave it on a cover and it's worth 5$. Do not soak or cut unless the envelope is destroyed.

Never use a photo album -- NEVER. It's just that simple -- NEVER.

Stallzer has a point about collecting "covers" if you're dealing with older stamps, but I'm going to respectfully disagree, especially if your talking about modern U.S. stamps. You'll find lots of opinions on this issue, but the bottom line is for you to decide if you want to collect stamps or covers. If you want to save postmarks, then I agree with stallzer, you should save the entire cover.

If you're just collecting the stamps, soaking is the standard method -- lukewarm water until the stamps float, then dry and press until thoroughly dry. Beware of color envelopes (upcoming holiday cards) -- the clipped corner of a red envelope can stain every stamp in the water bowl. Use the search button at the top of every SCF page to search for SOAKING and you'll find lots of previous discussions on the topic.

If you don't want to hinge, there are alternatives. Hingeless albums are expensive (see the other active threads about albums and mounts). You may want to use stock pages or a stock book to sort and organize your stamps until you decide exactly how you want to proceed. Stock books have stiff pages with clear plastic strips; you slide the stamp behind the strip to protect it, but they contain no glue, nothing sticky, nothing harmful to the stamp. Did I mention you should NEVER use a photo album

Keep reading; there's lot of good info here.

Kirk

Hi Insideout, welcome to the forum.

I agree with Kirk's advice above. Also, get yourself a decent pair of stamp tweezers - NOT ordinary tweezers - they'll mean you can move stamps in and out of stockbooks etc without damaging them. Get one from your local stamp dealer or from the internet.

And the real basics about stamp collecting is that you should collect as and how YOU want.

I disagree about photo albums. Some of them today are made of high quality stuff. I have some photo albums I use to store covers, they are made of the same stuff as FDC albums are...Don't EVER use the "magnate" ones though.

I use Vario brand plastic pages with plastic strips to hold the stamps (usually after soaking off paper) or envelopes 92 to a page_.

Photo albums that us a sticky cardboard page and overlay it with a clear page are to be avoided as the glue will Not come off.

Photo albums that are all plastic but made out of PVC (poly vinyl chloride) are to be avoided.

Plastic that is OK is polypropylene or polyethylene.

Soaking will probably not work on USA or Great Britain newer stamps. Need to use chemicals, read on here about safety precaustions. Some countries do soak off, Canada, older GB.

Search for Stamp Tongs (not tweezers) on SCF here to find pics and links to where you can get them. Use thse to keep stamps clean from finger oils and other substances transferred during handling.

Avoid direct sunlight as stamp inks do fade over time.

Avoid high hunidity for new stamps with gum (glue) as the moisture will stick them to things or curdle the gum up a bit. Avoid humidity and dust for used (canceled) stamps as this attracts molds and little bateria. Rust, mold, toning all the same thing roughly. Not good for stamps.

Avoid getting your cat to sort stamps, you will not find some of them again.

Avoid not having fun.

Our friend Kirk was probably referring to "magnetic photo albums"

If so, I totally agree, they are dangerous and never to be used.

Thanks, Rod.

You're correct. I've seen so many stamps and photographs ruined by those sticky devils.

But, if StampVirgin want to keep his stamps in plastic sleeves, well I guess it's OK with me And I guess a photo album designed for 5x7 prints would hold covers fairly well.

The first Columbian I ever saw was the 8c red in mint condition -- stuck in a magnetic photo album, with horizontal brown lines where the "magnetic" glue had darkened and destroyed the stamp.

Maybe I panicked a little...

KirkS

You had every reason to panic....

Ugh!


A cover stored in a magnetic photo album

I sympathize with rod222, I had a bunch of covers in a magnetic photo album as a kid. A year or so later, I decided to remove them with the same result. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), they were all common covers and postal cards that had minimal value, so my losses were not that great.

Interestingly, I still have some of those albums that family photographs are in. Recently tried to remove a photo and it's stuck beyond all measure. All I can do now is cut apart the album pages and reprint the photographs on a photo quality printer. Thankfully, today's technology allows it. Some of these "magnetic" albums predate computers, though, so I just wonder how many items were destroyed because of it.

InSideOut,



few questions for you...
1. What years are you planning to collect or clipping right now?
2. are you collecting USA, world wide, or just a specific type or year?
3. how do you want to display them, stock pages, printed albums.


what years are you clipping, like a few said pre 1940 should stay on cover (if your space is permitting) or be sure someone famous or of notability didn't send the letter or receive the letter past or present as it may thus be more valuable then the stamp.

that being said, I generally float off all modern stamps if they dont come off by themselves don't force them off the paper some of the newer stamps have a non water salable adhesive. (many topics on this forum about this.) however you can always clip close and leave the backing on for now.

I'm very wary of photo albums, and dont use them like others have said there are some you can use and more you cannot.

if you must clip then leaving the post marks are good.

is there anything else, YES...
remember this is a hobby for fun dont do it one way because someone said so! do it the way you will enjoy, display and clip to your hearts content make your own pages or use store bought this stuff is about having fun and enjoying the collection you create and not being a slave to it.

ALSO, keep in mind you can make this hobby as cheap as you want it or spend thousands of dollars in the end it can be just as much fun either way! there is no need to throw money at a collection it will take root itself. look at ROD222 he has a minimalist budget but is one of the top goto guys on this board for information on just about any stamp.

remember to ask any question here, its what keeps this place alive and gives me something to read on my days off :)