Post-It Note Strips And Used Stamps

I'm curious if anyone knows if a basic paper post-it note strips would damage a stamp? 99% of my stamps are floated and canceled, so were not talking mint or gum on stamps only used.

basically I look up all my stamps in a group, but I have limited albums so I find alot that I can't put into albums right now and I don't want to have to look them up again when I do get those albums. so I was thinking take a post-it pad cut it in strips and sticky side to back of stamp and write year, Scott # and type on the strip. thus I don't mark up the stamp while I can have them mixed into a envelope, yet easy to find and place later.

any thoughts on the subject.

Ed

I have not seen this problem with the newer post-it notes.

However, I can tell you for certain that the older post-it note adhesives should NOT be used on stamps. I have seen decade old collections where it was used and left a stain on the album/page/stamp. Out of curiosity, I retrieved some archived office paper files from a decade ago, and also saw the same light staining! My initial conclusion is that the older adhesive is somewhat sensitive to elevated temperatures/pressure.

I have not seen this problem on more recent collections nor on my more recent archived paperwork, so I can only assume that 3M changed their formulation slightly around the turn of the century.

I use Scotch 811 removable tape, cut into little strips, folded into hinges, and mount the stamps onto acid-free paper. You can then write on the paper below the stamp to your heart's content. So far, no damage. But I wouldn't use it on stamps with thins or weak paper. Also, I'm still testing, so no guarantees.

I think cutting and folding my own hinges may be a little past my attention span.

however I see your point I could then just drop them onto a blank album page and have a stock binder that are labeled for later.

KHJ, can you post a picture of what you have?
I have been looking for some cheap way to organize my stamps,
and I think what you have might be a good idea for me.

Is this the stuff? I see it for sale at Office Depot for only $4.69
at that price its worth a try...

I do not recommend ANY adhesive directly on stamps. I have seen to many ruined. Instead I would keep my eyes open at shows or ebay, Delcampe, etc. for a few used stock books. I bought a lot of 8 on ebay a while ago for $25.00 + $13 for shipping. Retail was over $175 as most were premium brands.

Yes, that is the 811. If you just think of it as tape, you will reject it outright. If you actually try it, you will be amazed and intrigued. For me, up to a point that I was willing to test its usage on stamps. I know of at least one collector (not me) that uses it on his specialty collection (catalog value easily >$10K). I had been looking for an alternative for years, but he is the one who introduced me to the 811, and he has been experimenting for far more years than I have. Obviously, since his core collection is mounted with 811, he is no longer experimenting.

I primarily use stockbooks also. However, it just doesn't make sense to some people to spend $20-$30 for stockbooks to house/mount hundreds of stamps that may only be worth a few dollars.

Also, keep in mind that people used to (and still do) put hinges on stamps. The 811 will NOT be any worse than that.

There is a stigma associated with adhesives, but that is primarily because people are not aware of modern adhesives and what is available. 3M has a vast archive of adhesives that are not normally available to the general consumer. It's no longer our mother's cellophane tape. That's also why I made the distinction between older Post-It notes and current Post-It notes. In the past 20 years, they've been a bit more aggressive about marketing to the general public the specialty adhesives, and revising their formulations. Some of these adhesives, like on the 811, are quite amazing and appear far more archival than most philatelic products. Those doing photographs/art who have used the 811 type adhesive know how well it works and its relatively low reactivity.

Innovation is one key to this hobby. Otherwise, we'd all still be using glue to stick stamps onto acidic paper, or cellophane tape! Sometimes it takes a few bolder pioneers researching what is available to make things easier and cheaper for all.

To apply past bad experience and block off future consideration of innovation, may be prudent and protective, but then what happens to the innovation. Let's face it. Our hobby is not doing too well in terms of growth. Innovation in stamps design/concepts, philatelic products, helps a little to keep the hobby going. Learning from products successfully tested and used in other fields, I feel is something that is worth considering in our hobby.

Just my thoughts.

k

I may not have been very clear about this in my original post.

I am still experimenting with the 811. It is not my primary choice.

Kim,
How long have you been experimenting with this tape? Does it say on it that it is "archival Safe"?
I am not opposed to innovation! Just sceptical! I have invested more money and time than I care to think about in my stamps. They rank right up there with My Wife, Kids and Dog (in no particular order )

About 2 years. The others, for several years more, probably about 5 years.

"Archival Safe" is a sales tactic, not an actual standard.

No, 3M does not market it as archival safe. They know better than that.

Sorry, Revstampman, I jumped the gun a bit in my reply. Didn't mean to appear to razz it up with you. For the record, I also do not actually recommend putting any adhesives directly on stamps. I'm also a stockbook (and Vario-type stockpage) fan. However, when somebody asks me about hinges, I tell them what's available. When somebody asks me about Post-It type adhesives, I tell them what's available. Buried inside all my verbosity, is usually the phrase -- no guarantees!

I listed some of the problems encountered using 811 in another thread somewhere. Interestingly, the problems are primarily with the specific stamp itself, rather than any "non-archival" problems with the 811.

I found it interesting that all of us have had the best results with MINT stamps! All the problems were with used stamps, particularly ones that already had thins -- removing the tape would result in some very minor but "see-able" fiber loss. Of course, keep in mind that the original thin was often caused by hinge removal. I've been able to circumvent this problem so far by simply using a very small hinge size (about 1/3 the size of the standard hinge).

The real question is, will the 811 adhesive get absorbed into the gum of mint stamps. Under proper storage conditions, so far the answer is no. There does not seem to be anything detectable on or in the gum; including under UV illumination. I've been meaning to try it on some cheap stamps and leave it in the garage in Texas for 1 year to see what happens. Of course the stamp will suffer, but I'm interested in seeing any additional affects of using the 811. On my list of things to do (eventually).

Willing to be a guinea pig (or should I say, willing to let some of my stamps be guinea pigs!)...

k

thanks guys I got what your saying about not Archival safe,

keep in mind so far my most expensive stamp I found is $8 the next is $4 all the rest are .20 cents also they are all floated and canceled so I'm not about to ruin anything expensive nor is it 50 years of work, more like 1 month. I think I may try your 811 as a stock book option, hopefully they will only be in books temporarily. I'll continue for now with hinges in my main Albums unless I'm unsure of the stamps location then the 811 till I'm sure. also I'm thinking since I put an extra stamp right under the primary stamp if I have one for trading in the future, I'll use the tape on that extra one instead of a hinge.

that's the plan...

Ed

Canadian packaging, available from Staples product no 11244.


I myself, so far, now-a-days, use stock books and vario pages also.

Wife, Kids and Dog (in no particular order )



...but we are pulling for your wife!

Kim,
Well you did. Just Kidding!

Like I said I'm Just skeptical. I have seen WAAAAYYYYY to many little gems destroyed with a host of different adhesives that purported to be safe! As I'm sure you have as well. It may very well work with no ill effect. But, I personally will stay away from ALL adhesives!

BeeSee,

Yah, I tell Her all the time that She is Ok ...For a Girl!

But seriously, Thank You Very Much!

Kim,

After this discussion I contacted 3M R&D. I received a response this AM(Sat.!). To summerise their response. It is OK to use it short term, but Do NOT use long term. It WILL caues damage! Over time the gum will breakdown and leach into the paper. The breakdown rate IS slower and not as severe. But, it still will!