Encapsulate?

What is everyone's thoughts on encapsulating stamps?

Personally I don't like it. Besides the extra cost it takes away from enjoying the stamps. You can touch, feel or mount them. I love taking the risk of an added fault to the stamp with the personal experience.

Encapsulating stamps is a cross-over from the same grading folks who grade coins. The basic protection for a stamp is a plastic mount of some description. Coins get encapsulated, so they offer it for stamps. What they quickly realised is that there is no way you can mount that stamp in your album... and we all know that a true philatelist would want to put that rare/valuable stamp in a stockbook or album.

The only folks that I am aware of that want their stamps encapsulated, are those who are looking at aquiring the rare stamps for the purposes of an investment. They are not "collectors" nor philatelist.

The big question I have, especially if the encapusulated stamp has gum (and we know how important gum is to these folks), how does the stamp breath? Is it hermetically sealed in that plastic block? Would condensation form on the inside?

Just because it works in coin collecting does not mean it works in stamp collecting!

David

I am closing my eyes, and having a vision
of, Mrs Bruno encapsulating Phil.

Encapsulate ? I see no need for it..if someone wants to encapsulate a rare stamp and leave it displayed where it can disappear thats up to them..thats why the Good Lord gave us stamp albums !!

Are the plastic blocks archival safe and non PVC? Plus if the stamps is being displayed there is the possibility of fading from light.

I am happy that encapsulating stamps in plastic slabs never caught on.
Occasionally I will buy a coin in a slab and then crack it out.

Dead right, Phil!

At least, then you could show the stamp to someone.

David

From what I understand they are not air tight so you don't want to drop it in your coffee cup. The plastic is safe for the stamps however from what I understand you have to send it back to the service to have the stamp taken out. Of course this is an additional charge.

Now with PSE Grading and encapsulating you wonder why the price of stamps is climbing. Of course toss in investors and speculators and they can make a mess out of stamps just like they did with the gas.

No hunk of plastic for me.

plastic is great for plumbing..they have this stuff now that flexes in the middle..the guy that invented it should get a medal !!

Why not just coat them with shellac?

Larry, havent you seen the decopage waste baskets and even serving plates, stamps with some type of coating ? I guess I could make up a few of those !!

Phil here is a example of what you mean huh?

I have seen stamp shelac'd ashtrays before at an antique mall. That gives the phrase "Watch your collection go up in smoke" new meaning.
1775mac,
That is an interesting keyboard. You would really need to have all your keys memorized.