Used Stamps, Seem To Be Laquered In Place--What To Do?

Hello,

This is my first post, so please be kind. If I do something stupid, just tell me. I'm a quick learner! I have inherited a stamp collection from my father who inherited form his mother and his grandfather. I've been trying to classify these stamps and sort them for weeks and have often turned to this forum (as a lurker) for answers.

I have two US stamps that are both used and both were pre-cancels. The red one is 1923 Golden Gate Scott #567 and the green Franklin has a perforation of 11 x 10 to my eye (I'm not pretending to be great with a perforation gauge) which would make it 1923 Scott #578.

I recognize that these stamps are not in the best of condition and while the Franklin could reasonably have some value even in its condition (maybe $10? I dunno) as the centering looks like it might be F since only one side touches the design and the design does not look otherwise centered, but there is a tear on the corner.

So, I don't really know what to do with these. I'm worried that if I try to get the stamps off the paper by putting them between two very well wrung out sponges, they still won't release because there seems to be almost a coating of something over them. If I leave them on the paper, will that cause problems? The backing is very rigid and it seems like some kind of early corrugated cardboard, but the corrugation has collapsed. I've attached a picture in case that helps, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

These dont really have any value in this condition I wouldnt worry about them

To elaborate on jim6092252's reply. Both of your stamps are common and their current condition is poor.

It is very unlikely, but the precancels might be interesting. However, given their poor condition, it is unlikely that they would be worth the effort to separate them from their backing even if the precancels are interesting.

Given that they are nearly valueless, I'd personally keep them as they are interesting as a speculative piece to ponder the 21 cent rate.

Even though they are valueless, they are still historically interesting. I still keep many such items myself because nearly 100 year old "anything" is interesting to me despite having no monetary value.

Others may disagree, but I`d give `em a good soaking overnight and see if the stamps release a bit from the cardboard. Be gentle and don`t force anything. If the stamps do come loose, then you might think about giving them a bit of a wash in a weak solution of hydrogen peroxide.

I hate throwing away stamps, so I'll give an overnight soak a chance...what have I got to lose? Thank you!

I soaked these overnight between two sponges and was able to remove the stamps (they slid off of the cardboard without my having to do anything so the "vanish" was either water soluable or not on the stamps):



Then I soaked them for two minutes in 2% hydrogen peroxide:



I was worried that I was losing the image on the golden gate bridge stamp, so I stopped soaking that one, but I went ahead and soaked the Franklin for a total 6 minutes in the peroxide:



It looked to me like the cancel was starting to bleed, so I stopped.

What is the verdict? Did I stop too soon?

Looks like everything is going well. Are you able to scan the stamps instead of using photography?

I have a scanner, but the quality is poor--the camera does a much better job. At some point, though, I'll have to scan these as I'm writing a story/explanation to go with each stamp that has a story and my plan is to build a little website on a DVD to put with the collection so that those who come after me know what the story is. The collection itself is not terribly valuable (I'm worried about these valueless stamps!), but the stories are pretty good.

I talked with my father about these stamps and sent him the pictures and he was able to tell me that these two stamps had adhered to the bottom of a cigar box in which he kept some of his stamps. He grew up in South Carolina without air conditioning near the beach, so heat and humidity were the cause. He had put a fair amount of his collection into glassine envelopes as a kid (maybe half his stamps?) and the remainder were in albums and/or crystal sleeves. I guess that he found these when he was doing that. He cut the bottom out of the cigar box and put it into an envelope with other stamps he or his mother had cut from envelopes and that is how I came across them. Lord knows how he recognized them, but that kind of kills the mystery of what must have cost 21 cents to mail!

The stories are what make the stamps really worthwhile!