Stamps Stuck

My dad left over 500 stamps from WWII and I have to divide them between my two sisters and my self. Unfortunately some are stuck to the album they are in, and some are stuck together.

What is the best way to handle these issues?

My sister said we should just use steam to get them to separate. But neither of us know any thing about stamp collecting and I want to preserve the quality of the stamps as best I can.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Wil

To begin with, it would be helpful to know what kind of stamps you are talking about. They may not even be worth going through all the bother.

Maybe a scan of the stamps in question would be in order, then we can give you an informed decision on what to do.

Welcome to Stamp Community Forum, Wil!

As Glen suggested, some pics would better guide us in providing advice.

However, definitely DO NOT use steam (you don't want to risk accidentally burning yourself, anyway). There are better alternatives.

Kim

OK, I down loaded Irfanview and tried to re-size the scanned jpeg image and I must not be doing something right because it looks like trash.

Only a couple of them have much value, one is a "La Maja des Nuda" from Spain.

It is as much a matter of these are something Dad brought back from WWII and we would like to preserve them.

Wil

G'Day Wil and to the forum

very interesting situation your in Wil

Ok,

I am trying to upload some images of one group of stuck together stamps.

Wil

https://www.stampcommunity.org/uplo...IMGSmall.jpg

The others that are stuck, are stuck to the pages in the album.

Like the two in the bottom right.

Wil

https://www.stampcommunity.org/uplo...002Small.jpg

Ouch. Those tend to have a very sticky coating of gum on the back. I'm afraid the only thing you will be able to do with them is soak them apart in hot water. It will kill the gum, but freezing them and trying to take them apart with the glue frozen will only lift the ink on the face of them.

What say you all?

I only use very lukewarm water. Let them soak until they float apart.



Butch

Will soaking them remove the glue on the back and thus reduce their values?

I'm guessing so, but like I said before it is more that these are things Dad brought back from WWII more than a resale matter.

But I'm guessing that effects the value and thus the fair distribution.

Wil

Unfortunately, the answer is yes, removing the gum will reduce the value. But then again, trying to peel them apart will undoubtedly lead to ink loss on the face of them (the ink on this issue is thin) and that will make them worthless.

They are pretty much past the point of no return at this point. Better to have a mint stamp with no gum than a worthless stamp that has large areas of ink loss.

You will have to soak them and loose the gum. If not,l you will damage the stamps. You could try a sweat box.

Ok jaxom,

What is a sweat box and how is it built and used?

Wil

A sweat box is a box (obviously) that produces a high degree of humidity. This humidity acting over a reasonably long period may permit removing stamps that are glued together without overly damaging the good involved. Typically, it is a sealed box, with a moist sponge on the bottom and a screen above the sponge on which the stamps would lay.

Please see http://www.subwaystamp.com/prodinfo...er=ZCGWATT53 as a commercial example, but this could easily be made at home with little effort.

Thank you Idhaber,

I think I will try that first.

Wil

Best thing to use for something to put the stamps on is one of those plastic square baskets strawberries come in. If you place it upside down over the sponge you can put the stamps on the basket's bottom.