To Soak Or Not To Soak

I have many stamps that are cut from envelopes in my collection. I also have some full envelopes with their stamps still attached. I love keeping the envelope with the stamp(s) and have no intention of cutting them off.

But as for the individual stamps with paper still attached, Should I soak them off or leave them as they are?

Most collectors prefer to have the paper soaked off their stamps before putting the stamps in their album. The stamps look better when they are free of the paper. The exception is when there is a interesting part of the cancellation on the adjoining paper which you want to preserve. Then the stamp is collected still attached to a neatly cut rectangular piece of paper and is referred to as "on piece."

This probably goes without saying, but I would only soak the ones you actually want to do something with. This way, if some day, you change your mind, at least you'll still have some on paper.

I'm a soaker myself, but I do save stamps on paper when there is an interesting cancellation - and the Germans have many of those!

Hi guys

Like Greg I'm a soaker as well.

I did get some entire envelopes that had neat history or cancellation. I received one mailed from the Queen Mary on her maiden voyage. I'll post it when I get home.

As for soaking the others. I find it easier for storing and trading if they're off paper.

Dianne

Here it is

me and my brother are soakers. their is a tip that worked really good for me. get the stamps wet put hem on a piece of paper. then let them dry until their on the verge of drying. then put them in a barely opened book then they will get a very straight. it worked for me. by the way that's a pretty cool envelopes from the Queen Mary!

If you soak a lot of stamps, you might consider buying a stamp drying book. They cost about $10. What's good about them is that they have a super-absorbant page next to a waxy sheet. You put the back of the stamp against the waxy sheet and it won't stick. The absorbant page soaks up the water quickly and efficiently.

I've always bought mine from Subway Stamps. You can Google them.

Ok Here's one for all you seasoned collectors

Please don't bite my head off this was an experiment:
I had received a huge lot on paper and soaked them off drying them on paper towell they came off easily but as you all know needed to be flattened. I tried the heavy books thing and it worked somewhat.
Now not being a patient person and having about 500 stamps to press decided to find a better solution. Here goes.
I experimented using some of the more common stamps that I had duplicates of.
Using parchement paper on the bottom, I placed the stamps right side up ( about 25 at a time) then place white tissue paper on top and with a med low set dry iron Ironed them flat. Worked like a charm.
The one thing I found is that there was a little static but If I let them sit for awhile this went away. I had about 3 lots on the go.
It didn't seem to damage the stamps as far as I could tell. So what do you think about this method guys?

If it works, why knock it? Wonder if a guy would have thought of bringing out the iron?

Have you been practicing by laundering money?

Hello Dianne....

Interesting.....I'm surprised no one thought of it before, a lot of people soak stamps in warm/hot water. I'd be careful with the newer stamps, a lot of them develop cracks when soaked. But, I don't think ironing older stamps will hurt them at all.


In fact.....there are plenty of stamps with pressed creases, to make them less noticeable....I don't think what you're doing is much different.

Thanks guys

Actually the new stamps iron well also but they do end up curling just a bit under. They flatten when placed in an album

I actually started a new topic on this because I thought It may attract more comments. Hope that's ok

Dianne

If I could launder money I would buy more stamps

and about the warm water thing. I have soaked that came in an album that were realy stuck. I did the first page in cool like youre suppose to and it took so long some of the stamps weekened. It the warmer water they loosened much quicker. I'm going to Iron them now so I'll see how they turn out. These were mostly modern stamps from
the UK and African countries. They had very bright colours and didn't fade a bit.

wish me luck

Dianne

I would daub them dry with paper towels and then dry them on wax paper.

I just started soaking stamps off of the paper for the first time a couple of days ago. I was so nervous at first, but it worked out great. I even left a couple over night--fell asleep while soaking--I was thinking the next morning that they were gonners, but that weren't real deep colors and they turned out good.
Dianne, that cover is great and so much history in that!! Thanks for sharing!

Gussyboy1

hi y'all,
from what I am reading in linn's stamp news, there are many new issues from the u.s. that cannot be soaked off paper due to a missing layer of paper in the paper making process. my advise to you, trim the stamp and mount it as such. the postal service has gone this route to save money but in the process, has angered its customers. a protest has been made by the APS.

a bientot,
cajunsr.