To Hinge Or Not Hinge

Oh, I understand the issues at hand. And I'm not speaking of my own personal collecting habits ...

I just don't think it's fair to pick on other collectors for using hinges -- particularly some of the earlier posts in this thread that are so dogmatic that their way is the only way.

No one is picking on anyone, we're passing on experience and viewpoints. If someone is collecting stamps and can't afford anything but hinges, fine. Like I said, I don't care what anyone does with their stamps, they can light them on fire for all I care. But if someone asks about hinges, I'm going to give my perspective that I would never use them and I don't recommend them. Not because we're supposed to preserve postal history or anything like that, but because it does damage the stamps. Hinges rip, they fall off, they are simply not reliable, permanent mounting for anything. You might as well use scotch tape. There's a right way and a... not right way to do things, hinges just aren't the right way IMO.

But hey, do what you want, not my money or collection.

I posted this picture before, but here is the deal not all mounts are safe this picture tells all,I have never seen a hinge do this, "that's all I got to say about that". Forrest Gump



These blocks were all stained by gum of the mounts bleeding into the blocks.

What kind of mounts are those? I've never seen a mount do that, at least not the quality mounts.

Fredcdobbs, I came across those Hinges in one very old Album, this mark on top was on many stamps, directly on the obverse of the hinge, maybe the type of stamp paper plays a part. Old India state stamps were effected the most.

My guess is Crystal Mounts. They were notorious for discoloration. I believe they were discontinued quite awhile ago for this very reason.

Was at a stamp shop the the other day buying those Fold-O hinges mentioned in an earlier post and they actually had a bunch of the Crystal mounts for sale (don't know who would buy them, though) which is probably why they have remained unsold.

Of course not, common sense dictates the motive.
Firstly I wouldn't have such a stamp, and if I did, I would sell it.
What the person does, that can afford it, or can
afford such a collection, is their business.

What I would debate, is Rileysans (Brian's) statement
that "for preservation" you must mount.
That is patently incorrect and arrived at from ignorance.

It is widely held that for the highest level of
preservation, gum is to be washed off.

Gum creates movement in the stamp's paper very similar
to the old school "bi metallic strip" causing
unwarranted breakdown of paper fibres over time, from
constant flexing.

To promote mounted gummed stamps and thereby giving some
allegiance to collecting plant starch and sugar based
muscilage plastered on the back of a piece of paper
as being in the highest form of preservation is ignorant.

Collect gum if you wish, use double sided tape if you must
criticize hinges, certainly, but don't try and tell me it's for preservation.

I believe due care is to be used with all stamps, I don't
ascribe to wilful damage, or to binning poorly cancelled stamps
I have taken hinged stamps from albums that have survived
40 years with a light disturbance of gum from the hinge,
so what? I believe for the vast majority of stamps
in the general public's care, this is a fine
and pertinent way to preserve these little bits
of paper, along with best practices of humidity control
and the most beneficial option of stamp care, the use of slip cases.

Yep, and at the time they were "the best available" and just think of the millions of the inferior Dennison's hinges that were used instead of Crystal mounts,those Dennison's things peel off with almost no trace.Even worse think of all the stamps still in Crystals that have been stashed away, and will no doubt suffer from the same fate.


I would say that 80% of the blocks in this album were stained. This album was not stored in a hostile environment, with the exception of the adhesive browning and transferring the stain to the stamps and pages this album was in very good condition.

I've never known you to be rude so I'll excuse this disservice. If you disagree with my statements/opinions it's ok to say so, but I will never call you ignorant and ask for the same courtesy from you.




This happens because of temperature and humidity changes, and no other reason. The average modern household is temperature controlled and virtually eliminates this problem. If your home does not have heating and air conditioning, I guess soaking gum off stamps is the way to go.

I'd also like to point out that applying a saliva soaked hinge to a gummed stamp is no better than exposing it to sudden, high humidity.




Did I mention that saliva contains enzymes that break down starches found in both gum AND paper used in stamps during much of the classic period?

Taking your argument to the extreme, the publishers of Scott, Michel, Stanley Gibbons, and Unitrade are ignorant for apportioning huge mark-ups for original gum, never-hinged stamps.


But there's no real point in taking everything to the extreme except to try to piss each other off.

I'd prefer that we just agree to disagree.

The fact is, there is no perfect storage solution and more importantly, there is no way to take the human element out of philately. You may practice safe hinging, and I take great care when placing stamps in mounts, but I have no doubt that you have damaged stamps irreparably just as I have.

Yep,
I deserved your comments,
hinging as "stupid" and "for preservation"
gets my blood fairly up.

Using "Ignorance" was suggesting you were not widely read
on the subject. It was not intended for your general attitude
so for that I apologise if taken that way.

You can cite objectives as preservation or monetary reward,
but sorry not both.
I have already stated I would not soak a valuable stamp
I would sell it.
I have no issue with mounting a gummed stamp,
what I disagree with, is that it is it's highest hiearchy.
By all means collect gum, if you feel it is demanded,
and, keep it in a humidty controlled home.

Just allow some lattitude for those collectors
who may not have the wherewithall to collect in
such a fashion.

I'm glad that is behind us -- for a moment I thought we were going to turn into that other StampBoard(s.com)!




To answer Art's original question, I previously used a combination of mounts for mint or high-value used and hinges for all others. When I transitioned my collection to my Father's National album, I decided I would use mounts (black Showgard) for all of the stamps.

I based my decision solely on what I believed would make the most appealing (at least to me) presentation. I didn't care for the overall appearance of a mix of hinged and mounted stamps on the page and, after having paid premiums for mint never hinged stamps, I couldn't bring myself to reduce their potential resale value by disturbing the gum. Fortunately, I was able to find a source of reasonably-priced mounts. I'm very pleased with my choice as my primary album now has a uniform appearance across all pages.

That said, I haven't ruled out using hinges for other presentations but believe I would only do so with used stamps.

Steve

I use all mounts but just because of the nature of my collection. I use strips of black Scott mounts that allow me to rearrange a page as I add to a series.

Quote; "before irreparable damage occurs. ( I think the same thing can be said about soaking)".

Rohumpy, yes that's a sore point to 'some' dedicated collectors. Some old used stamps look like they where printed yesterday because there been over cleaned, bleached and ironed(pressed). When placed next to genuine used 'unprocessed' stamps, they STAND OUT and look fakey, too much human intervention. We've all came across them.
All the collectors I know distance themselves from such stamps.

Oh dear after reading some of these comments I must be the most stupid person on this site. Every one of my stamps are carefully hinged in the 30 plus album I have carefully put together myself.

Yesterday I went back to my first, which is about 12 years old, they look just as good as they did when I placed them there. I carefully removed one from the page pealed the hinge and voila, it looked perfectly fine to me.

Now mind you I collect because I love to collect and to that end I would hope that whomever ends up with my collection will feel the same way. I do not expect to become wealthy building a collection but simply wish to have an enjoyable hobby that I can keep up for years to come.

So ladies and gentlemen this chick will continue to hinge much to the disapproval of many. So if you feel I am disrespecting stamps in anyway shape or form just don't trade with or sell them to me.

Sorry for the long post but I feel that the way one collects is a personal thing. I use good quality hinges, drink nothing but water when I am hinging and am careful to only lightly moisten. I also cut the hinges in half for the smaller stamps.

Moral of the story; I have hinged about 40,000 stamps and I am very happy with how my albums look.

Dianne

Way to go Dianne

I thought I had hinged a few, but you sail pass me,
I am on my 26th stamp album currently, but perhaps
I have fewer leaves, mine are in 4 ring binders.

I think the behemoth that is stamp collecting is large enough
to accomodate all styles of preservation from Museums
to that typical yet tacky boyhood album of john lennon
where he wrote "520 stamps" .

But in my own mind's eye, the truest collector of all time
was that little old lady, who wallpapered her bedroom with Penny Blacks.
She could could have only done that with the belief that
those little pieces of paper were beautiful.
No outside influence whatsoever.