US Stamps Sill In Plastic From SFs In Kansas City, MO

US Stamps sill in plastic from SFS in Kansas City, MO

I found from uears ago some stamps, sheets, blocks, I had purchased from the Stamp Fulfilment Services in Kansas City, Montana, US.

They arrived here sealed each in plastic (polypropylene?) and are still in that packaging now.

Example: $3.85 Jefferson Memorial corner block:



They were stored since 2005 in the original cardboard envelope they arrived in. Also they were stored laying on the top of other stamps, so have not been crushed down for years (I hope).

They are all still moving around in their packaging if I tap the side of the package, so are not stuck down or glued to the cardboard backing inside.

The back has a nice label on it stating
' PACKAGE NOT SUITABLE FOR PHILATELIC ARCHIVING '.

Hmmmm. I wonder what that means?


What happens to these stamps if they are left in their original shipping packaging?

Do they glue themselves to the cardboard?
Does the stamp printing ink transfer to the plastic?
Do humidity and pressure make the differnce?

It is relatively dry here in Halifax, even next to the Atlantic Ocean. Must be the salt in the air sucking the moisture out of it?

Help !

The plasticizers in the wrapping might discolor the stamps after a long period. The packaging cardboard might contain enough acid to begin the stamps to tone after a long period of time. How long? Unsure I would not trust it beyond a few years. Environmental conditions might accelerate or decelerate these reactions; extremes in either direction (temp or humid) being the worse conditions.
Don

Thank you.

I also notice that they are not curled either one way or another. Most mint stamps around here curl up because of the dryness in the air.

I will find some Vario pages or glassines to store them in.

Puzzler....not much going to happed to the item shown.
It is a self adhesive stamp.
I would assume that "not suitable for philatelic archiving"
means stamps with gum.

Wow I can finally give an expert opinion. Up until about 4 years ago they all had that warning on them. Just like scrapbooking and photo albums New plastics and coating have been developed to prevent any kind of discoloring due to the chemicals in the board stock and plastics.

Thank you, thank you.
Muchly appreciated all.

"not much going to happed to the item shown. It is a self adhesive stamp. I would assume that "not suitable for philatelic archiving" means stamps with gum."

No, it is as 51studebaker says above - the plastic or cardboard may eventually tone the stamp paper.

I've found sealed year sets from the 70's & 80's which when opened, the stamps did not show any toning, however there were some which had become mildly stuck. The gum was not damaged, but it did give cause to being concerned. I very gently separated them without any damage. I have removed all my stamps from sealed PO packaging and placed into more safe storage methods just to be safe.

Don

Stamps from the 70s/80s were gummed.
SA stamps will not tone because of the cardboard.