What Type Of Stamp Mounts Do You Use?

ok, we got the glassine squared away... on to STAMP MOUNTS!

I've never bought a stamp mount I see a few in one of the extra albums I bought and like the look of black backing so thats where I'd like to focus.

What types do you use? I don't know all the brands
Prinz Mounts
Scotts Mounts
Show Guard Mounts
Blue Rose Mounts

do you use
Standard (top opening, and sides) or
Gard (back opening, two folding flaps)
??is there a version where only the top is open so you can just slip in and 3 other sides are sealed??

Sticking it to the page
do you use a hinge to mount it so you can swap it later?
Do you only secure 1 of 2 flaps
do you secure both flaps, its not going anywhere!!

how much for how many do you usually pay I'm seeing prices all over the place

what did I forget to ask?

Ed,

I use Showgard mounts and generally only attach one of the flaps so I can easily remove the stamp for inspection. I also use the glue on the mount itself to affix it to the page but do so sparingly for ease of removal and remounting. As to pricing, I haven't bought any in quite awhile but you can look at the prices Showgard charges on their website for sake of comparison with other vendor pricing.

Steve

EDIT: This link will give you prices for both Showgard and Hawid, cut or strip, black or clear, etc.
http://www.showgard.com/supply_index.cfm

This topic comes up here time to time and it all comes down to a matter of personal taste.

I like clear mounts, not those with a black backing. Why? Because I cut mine from long strips and if I am not perfectly square in my cut and/or I've placed them into the album slight cockeyed, since they are clear it is not noticeable. The mount melts into the page. (That's what some people don't like about them and prefer black since they stand out) Whereas if a black mount is not evenly cut or evenly placed in the album, it stands right out to me.

I like mounts that open at the top. Makes it easy to cut some down to fit perfectly if the stamp size is a little off or if I don't have that exact size.

The mount comes with a nice adhesive and I use it.

I originally used Lighthouse but after they're always being out of stock for whatever I am looking for, I switched to Hawid.

Now watch everybody disagree with me.

-Larry

Up to this point I have always used Showguard Black split back mounts. I do like the idea of using top-loaders for the exact reason Larry stated, and Hawid mounts are, like Showguard, high quality mounts which will protect your stamps well.

I moisten the gum already on the mount, using as little moisture as possible (though I find I am still using more than I would like sometimes, but I guess that comes with practice).

As I am putting together my first album with mounts this year, I am still somewhat inexperienced in mounting stamps. I will post a pic later of a sample of my mounted stamps.

Edit: I forgot to add my cost. The standard Showguard packet of strips (I do not buy precut) at my local dealer costs $6.50 +50¢ tax.

I have seen offers lower than that, but shipping would probably eat up any savings, plus I like buying local when I can.

It occurse to me that you might ask how I cut my strips to size. You can buy a Showguard (or other brand) mount guillotine, for about $25-$30 (less if you are lucky). I picked up a paper trimmer that uses a super sharp blade. I place the stamp in the strip and position it where I want it at the end of the strip.

I then place the whole shebang in the paper trimmer with a sharp blade and shear off the mounted stamp from the rest of the strip. If your stamps are expensive, you might find this too risky, though I have never cut a stamp in this fashion.

I can agree with virtually all of the comments made previously. I, too, use Showguard mounts (black background pre-cut to size, because I can seldom get the strips to cut perfectly). I also use the center opening mounts, as the top open mounts have tended to release some stamps too easily and the center opening style makes them more secure (at least in my opinion).

Some old Showguard packages I still have show a cost of $2.50 per 40 pack; an internet search today suggests the price is more in line to about $3.85 per pack; although I've seen some higher. When considering shipping, etc., you do have to be somewhat conservative about spending what amounts to about 10 cents for each mount if the stamps are of common variety, although, for a quality collection, and certainly for MNH stamps, the mounts are well worth the cost.

However, for the "seconds" "junk" and "faulty" stamps that will never be worth a dime in our lifetime but for whatever reason we still want to keep (accumulate) them, stamp hinges are still around and are more economical for those lesser quality stamps.

Here is an example of a page I am working on. The series of stamps is Scott RA52-61. I should have the RA42-51 series next week and then this page will be completed. The set catalogs at $2.50, though some are MNH. (The used one will be replaced with an MNH one next week as well).

this is great info, thanks guys I'm going to try and find a local stamp shop here in Fort Lauderdale tomorrow, so I can see this stuff in person. the web and images only do so much.
based off your experience, and suggestions I think to start I'll try precut, showguards with the split back if I can find some locally and save that shipping cost.

thanks again to all that chimed in, I read a little about cutting them but I was not clear on that till now.

now I have to do a little research and see what common sizes I need I noticed there are quite a few sizes out there!
(dang this is an expensive hobby!)

Hi

I use black Showgard mounts with the split back. For the extra small Colombia stamps I will use a Hawid open type mount. I started with Hawid and switched to Showgard. The larger stamps and/or souvenir sheets were always falling out of the mount. I believe that the Hawid mounts have a hardly noticeable 'curl' at the top of the clear mount 'cover' to help hold in the stamps. Cutting them down to size destroys that 'curl'.

Scott mounts are similar to Showgard but I feel that the Showgard mounts are a little heavier then the Scott mounts.

Also bite the bullet and buy a guillotine to cut strips. I haven't used one of the rotary cutters so I can't say how well they work. My Showgard guillotine is almost 20 years old and still is sharp and cuts cleanly.

A tip from Showgard that was given to me when the mounts were first introduced. To get the proper width, especially with black background mounts, measure the stamp perf to perf in millimeters and add 3 for the width. This will give the appearance of an even border around the stamp. Don't take a chance, cut a mount without the stamp in it. Also, wet the mount glue very lightly and without the stamp in the mount. For moistening the mount I use a Q-tip, cotton swab. I have more control that way. If the mount has to be removed at a later time it may be easier to move if slightly moistened.

Sometimes a little moisture creeps into the mount ( the reason for moistening the mount without the stamp in it ). To remove it, place a tiny bit of torn paper into the mount. The ragged paper edge will act as a blotter. Put the stamp into the mount after everything is dry.

Jerry B

Well, I found a stamp dealer store today in Fort Lauderdale FL let me tell you its jam packed with stuff, overflowing with stamp Albums, and stamps on and off paper! huge drawers with country labels with millions of baggies in each... every inch of wall and most of the floor full of stamp boxes and box lots for sale. amazing... I was overwhelmed I didn't really know what to look for as I was expecting a tiny shop with nothing.

As far as price range I cant say as I have no experience at dealers till today. however most of the box lots were out of my price range.

NEXT QUESTION

What are the Common mount sizes you all buy I didn't realize there were so many a whole wall of them...

has anyone come up with a nice mount container to keep all the sizes separate? or do I have to buy one of those screw file bins with pull out drawers?

also any opinion of Hawid mounts, he has a huge bag of them from a estate sale and was offering to make a deal, but they are older as I believe possible most are top loading with open sides which I'm not a fan of, however if the price is right...

so today I bought a multi pack of Prinz back loading mounts, 1 pack of show guard, and he threw in a pack of the hawid front load mounts to see if I might want to buy that huge bag of older mounts.

so that was my day, still cant believe how much stuff was there! looked like a bomb went off in a stamp library...

My dealer gave me this. It is measured in millimeters, of course.

Hi smauggie,

What mounts to buy depends on what you collect. If you are collecting only US then I would suggest using pre-cut sizes. If US and/or Worldwide then I would use strips and a guillotine.

If you are collecting Worldwide, then I suggest buying one each of sizes 22 to about 89. When I first started using mounts that is what I did. Over time I bought larger mounts as needed. It is pricey at first but eventually you will only buy 1 or 2 packages as you run out. One of the Showgard miscellaneous mount packages can be handy.

See if your dealer has a Hawid mount cutter (small package). If so buy one as they are not made anymore. The package contains a cutting 'knife' and a glass ruler. For larger mounts it comes in handy. It does not replace the guillotine but is an adjunct to it.
Caution: Be careful with the glass ruler. After 15 years I broke mine by accident and was just lucky that my dealer friend had one left.

As to storage. Showgard sells a 3 drawer unit that is designed to contain mounts and 8-1/2 x 11 paper. However, go to an office supply store and look for stackable plastic drawers. They also hold paper and are applicable to storing mounts and supplies. I have a couple of dozen of them but, unfortunately, they don't make my brand anymore.

If you want more info and advice you may e-mail me. Just put this thread title in the subject line so my mail filter won't trash the e-mail.

Jerry B

smauggie,

is that show guard guage scan original size? I printed it out and it printed in 2 different sizes
would the 20 line be exactly 20 mm, or slightly lower?

Edwin, it is not to scale on the screen. You will know it is to scale when the little bars match the exact length in millimeters when you measure them with your ruler.