New To Collecting

Hi my name is Aaron and I'm relatively new to collecting stamps after I inherited my grandfathers collection.

There are a lot of old stamps in his collection and he used sticky tape to stick them into an old album. Some of the stamps are discoloured on the back now and are nearly transparent, kind of if you know what I mean lol. The tape comes off pretty easily as most of it has lost its stickiness, I'm wondering if I can get them restored.

Also I have an envelope with a Gestapo stamping on it from when they checked a letter, is that something that is valued as a stamp as well?

Thanks for any help!

Aaron

Hi Aaron,

I'm also new so welcome. I haven't a clue on the questions you asked so I'll let the experts get these answered for you.

Just wanted to welcome you.

Thanks MenzaMenz, I'm really looking forward to learning a lot more from this group!

Melbguy, welcome to SCF. many old collects have this problem you might check this thread https://goscf.com/t/9895

Welcome!
The tape's acid is discolouring your stamps and eating away at them. Unfortunately, this pretty much destroys the stamp. The only thing I can suggest is remove them from the albums and soak off any remaining tape. As for the Gestapo markings, yes there are stamp collectors of Nazi material, I do not know values. Search our forum for "nazi" topic threads for more info.

WElcome Melbguy.

have fun here and enjoy your collection.



Londonbus1

Welcome melbguy!

The envelope with a Gestapo censored mark, is that what you mean? Is there a special marking or stamping of a censor on the cover (envelopes are known as covers (covering the actual letter) or entires as opposed to just stamps on piece (ripped off corner of the cover). Or does the stamp itself have a special stamping upon it alone?

Pictures are worth a thousand words you know, if possible. A local library may indeed have a scanner (best for stamps) available for use nowadays also.

If I saw stamps with scotch tape on them I would consider them rady for the trash but if they have sentimental value (as they do) or are worth keeping for some other reason for you alone then there are methods using chemicals that will somewhat restore the stamp. It was talked about on here a while ago. I will see if I can find the topic (if Russ hasn't already referenced it).

Found one thread BE CAREFUL https://goscf.com/t/8978&SearchTerms=scotch

Welcome to SCF Aaron. If you search the ebay stamp section using the term "censor" you'll get a sense of the range of prices sellers are asking for that type of material.

Steve

Welcome Aaron

welcome to our group. You'll find lot's of helpfull people eager to help.

Hope you have luck salvaging some of your stamps.

Dianne

Hi Aaron, and Welcome!
I can sympathize with your sticky tape problem. I have an album of stamps all glued in, and the glue more often than not diffused to the front of the stamp and then turned dark. So far I haven't found a way to remove the discoloration without damaging the stamps, though I keep trying. Chlorine bleach in moderate amounts can help, but only with certain stamps having bleach-fast dyes or pigments. Since the dyes used are not listed anywhere, as far as I know, it becomes a matter of trial and error. If nothing else, you can at least generate some very interesting shade or color varieties that way!

Hi again
Stamp restoration is a rather tricky and controversial subject, so I thought I'd better add a few caveats.
My case of darkened protein glue is likely not at all similar to yours of probably synthetic adhesive. In your case I would first try removing the glue with solvent--first water, then hot water, then rubbing alcohol. If none of those give improvement after drying, then you most likely have a problem best left to experts. Other solvents and procedures are available, but they come with increased likelyhood of stamp damage and increased hazards to anyone not familiar with the hazards of chemical solvents (flammability and toxicity). If alcohol works an easy way to use it is to drip it onto the face of the stamp while the stamp is lying on absorbent paper or cloth. That way the glue retreats to the back of the stamp, and, if lucky, onto the cloth.

Also, in my experience newer stamps are nearly impossible to restore because they are so much more fragile (huge clay and sizing content, etc.) than the old engraved stamps.

Hi Aaron and welcome to this website. I am a newbie and find the information contained in this site to be very illuminating. Enjoy.
Regards Mike

welcome aaron, come join the fun, glad to have you aboard.