Want To Protect Your Collection? Laminate It!

Here's something I came across left over in a box of stuff I bought a few years ago. A few of the items were clipped out, but if you look carefully, especially along the bottom edge, you will see that someone actually laminated this White Ace page along with their Christmas stamps.

A great subject to refect on the tactile appreciation
of philately.
I am a hinger, partly because I just like the feel, the look
the way the page has when the album is opened.
Good albums have a smell, a hint of quality and preservation.

A nicely preserved slab of plastic has its place I guess
but not for me.

Rod, I'm a hinger myself, having left many previously MNH virgins in my wake.

I remember back in the early 70's their was a huge do it yourself "preserve everything in lucite craze".I was at a local antique show and a dealer had "Preserved" a Mint 4 margin US #1 & #2 lucite. My Dad and I both almost had a stroke. He insisted that this way they would always be "Post Office Fresh".

rev: Like an insect trapped in amber, I'm sure those stamps will be around for a long time. Sad, someone's misguided good intentions did that. I have some modern unused postcards from Greece and Israel that came in a box lot that were laminated. They're like little placemats now. I could use them as coasters or really big bookmarks.

I had a guy tell me that he had wrapped plastic wrapped his stamp albums and placedthem in a safe deposit box or safe. He also said that he had several complete country collections. I just shook my head in disbelief.

I had a similar thing happen to me, but with a turn-of-the century (20th century, that is) stock certificate dated about 1903. Someone thought they were doing me a real favor by having laminated it beforehand. Can't really complain, as it didn't cost me anything ... but it's not worth anything either.

Here's an idea: Someone should start a campaign to apply a "warning label" to laminators advising users of potential financial loss if they attempt to laminate things that were never meant to be laminated!

oh my goodness!

Laminate is "extreme mounting"

My name is Fred and I am a conservative hinger

Rod, may the hinge be with you.

I am somehow comforted to learn we still have
some closet hingers,
But I really have no beef with other means,
as long as the little fellows are cared for, is enough for moi.




and fred, may your cotton bud remain moist.