Selvage - Save It Or Trash It

I always leave it. Adds character I think.

Good point HAL!

There are a lot of interesting stories told relating to the importance of the margins of the stamps. For years I have studies and reconstructed the Large Dragons of China (China #1-9). Some of these stamps can only be reconstructed by using pairs, blocks and strips, as there is no complete sheet existing. #5, the 3 Candarins, wide spacing, puzzled the specialists for years, because no matter how hard they worked, the largest reconstructed block was 15 cliches, 5(H)x3(V). It was thought to be 5x5 just like the other values, #1,2,3,4 and 6, which were all printed in sheets of 25. Finally, there was a cover sold in London with a vertical strip of 3 of this #5 tied on the reverse of this great cover. Yes, you guessed right; the strip has the top and the bottom margins intact, which proved that the sheet of #5 was printed in 15 (5x3) only. To the collectors who did not do the plating studies, it had no importance whether this strip had margins or not. These seemingly unimportant selvages, however, solved our puzzle on this issue.

I only keep selvage if it has a plate number or other margin printing visible. It takes special consideration for an album page with tightly fit stamp locations.

This one however was the first stamp in the upper right of the page and is one of my prides and joys.



If I was in the middle of the page and found one similar to this, I would make an exception and mount it elsewhere.


-IBFS

I would keep the selvage on. I have a set of old stamps in which one of the higher values had a blank selvage attached to it. Since it was the only stamp in the set to have it, I decided to remove it to make it look more like all the other stamps. However, when removing the selvage, the perforations on the stamp got damaged while those on the selvage didn't since they were left long while those on the stamp were left short. I regret this to this very day because I have not been able to find a replacement copy that is just as good as the stamp was and that is affordable too since I got this set in an auction lot years ago. Also, just folding the selvage and tucking it around the back of the stamp can lead to the gum sticking together on both the stamp and the selvage which can damage both. I guess it's all about learning the hard way from one's experience and heartbreak.

@western1688



To remove those marks most safely you need two tools: a fresh art gum eraser and an erasing shield. The latter is an inexpensive metal device that was used by a draftsman in days of yore. I have one around someplace, and may try to find it and scan it if you need to see one. or just Google it. As you can tell, I use it all the time with my stamps. [Not.]

First ascertain that the paper is strong enough to withstand what you are about to do (per the suggestions below) I would not try even this on an unsized or lightly sized paper, such as India paper.

With the shield properly in place, bear down on it against the stamp, and then in the open slot gently scrub in small strokes everywhere the marks are found, letting the eraser crumble to nothing as it removes them. As you get near the paper edges make sure your strokes start on the stamp paper and always move toward the edge never away from it into the stamp. When you have cleaned a spot as much as you wish, move the shield and start over at another part of the problem. DO NOT slide the shield around as you are running the eraser on it.

This is about as gentle a low-tech solution as you will find for your pencil marks.

@tonymacg
https://goscf.com/t/18122&whichpage=3#189072

I know you said it a while ago as these things go, but it cannot be said too often, that as true philatelists our relation to the material is custodial. You have very elegantly expressed the distinction between having the legal right to treat your material any way you like, but that if you have regard for the interests of others you may not have the moral right to mishandle it, alter it, or destroy it altogether. This is a lesson that requires some thinking time and again, especially in the mercantile aspects of the hobby, and I thank you for bringing it up in this context.

I take no shame in saying it that stamp collectors may own their stamps, but philatelists are always caretakers for a time.

keep it on!!

I'm allot newer here than this thread but my opinion is an old one. I have been actively searching for stamp examples with selvage attached for many years. Sometimes it makes laying out pages difficult and, as far as pre-printed pages go, that layout is out the window. I still like them even if the album looks a little cluttered. The pages I prepare on computer to be printed are designed with each item in mind so they are much neater.

As you can see in this picture I like selvage. These Minkus pages are typical in my collection.