Reviving The Color Of Faded Stamps! Can It Be Done?

Hello everyone! Just like most of you, I have a "ton" of U.S. 19th Century stamps. I was wondering if it is possible to revive the faded color of a stamp, particularly, without harming the stamp in any way, which, of course, is of the utmost importance. Has anyone reading this post ever done it? If so, how? Thanks.

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It depends on how the stamp became discolored in the first place. Bleaching by means of chemicals or sunlight cannot be undone as far as I know.

Sulphuretting or toning can be improved.

I doubt you can replace what is lost when the ink has faded away. Best way to bring out the colour would be to give them a bath and mount them on black backgrounds.

Ringo, thanks for the feedback. Yes, I certainly agree that we can't revive stamp material that no longer exists. I'm speaking about reviving the "color" material of the stamp that does still exists. I'm in no way a sort of "kamikaze" philatelist who is willing to put a stamp at risk in an attempt to improve its appearance regardless of the consequences. That is non sequitur! I just thought that, perhaps, someone out there (in the land of the constantly evolving philatelist) had a reasonably successful method(s) to help improve a stamp's color.

I once had a C19 which had gone from dull orange to a brown. I liked the cancel and posted the same question. It was suggested I try placing the stamp into a container and adding a cotton ball lightly soaked with peroxide and raising the stamp above it and closing the container. After a short time, the vapors changed the color back to orange. Its been about a year and the stamp still remains dull orange and I see no ill effects. Stamp looks good in my album. You might try it on one of your less expensive stamps.

TheStampNut, thanks for your input. The idea here is for all of us to put our experiences together so that we can all benefit. This is one particular subject that I'm sure interests a great many philatelists. Like you said, it's worth a try!

sounds not possible but you have the proof.

Hydrogen peroxide fumes remove sulphuretting on orange stamps, not alcohol.

H202 can make a stamp that is dark orange/rust color look more like the orange or red orange that it was originally, provided the color change was a result of the sulferization of the original pigments. This lightens the color, rather than darkening it.

Here's a before/after of hydrogen peroxide on one of my C1s