A Question Of Salvage

Hi everyone!
I have a question for the forum. I recently purchased a pretty good stock of mint and other unused sheets. The antique shop I bought them from threw in a few other sheets that have gotten themselves stuck together. They may not be worth much but they were free. Still, they are full sheets and one half sheet, (Scott #'s 1145, 1190-1193 and 1198). My question is, is there any way to separate them and retain any of the original gum? I almost panicked when the lady started to separate them with an ice pick and brute force!

My other question is this. Several of the other sheets have this pattern of indentations throughout the entire sheet, almost like they got pressed into a waffle iron. I'm hoping that there is some way, other then soaking and pressing them, to remove the indents. Will they press out without getting them wet first? I would like to maintain the original gum on these too if possible.

I'm hoping someone here has some good ideas.
Thanks again,
Devlin

Your description of the "waffle" pattern sounds like natural "gum breakers" that are common in the US stamps of the mid-20th Century. They appear as a pattern of vertical/horizontal/both indentations, depending on the stamp. You cannot press them out. They will disappear when you remove the gum. That is why you don't see them on used stamps and no-gum stamps.

Regarding the stamps stuck together, you can use a "sweat box" or StampLift. But both methods will result in damaged gum. Since those sheets are rather common, it's probably not worth the expense and effort. I would suggest just soaking them apart and using them with a gluestick for postage. Because being stuck together usually indicates they were not stored properly, and they are likely to have "other" problems as well.

Thanks Khj. I didn't know that about the gum breakers. Who says you can't teach an old dog something new. :-)
As far as soaking the other sheets, I was pretty much afraid of that. Oh well, gum or no gum they were free and like you said I can always use them to mail trades. Which I am looking at in another 20 posts. LOL

Thanks for the input.
Devlin

I would also just soak them apart and use them for postage. You could always separate what wasn't stuck together so you would have original gum on some of the stamps.