Black Backing Paper For Self Adhesive Stamps??

I like showing off my stamps against a black background - for most stamps it makes them look great.

BUT

Mint self adhesive stamps are a pain. They come on white or cream backing paper, which just spoils the look if you mount them on black. If you cut the backing paper close to the stamp (a) you risk cutting the stamp (b) it'll be hard to get the stamp peeled off to demonstrate that it's MNH.

SO

I would love to be able to remove the stamps from their backing paper, and put them on some black backing paper

BUT

I have no idea where I can get hold of any, assuming that it exists

SO

does anyone out there know where to get hold of some?

(I know it USED to be made, because about 25 years or so ago I had some coloured labels on black backing paper.)

HELP!

Most interesting question. I do not know of any. (yet)

Another question is can a self-adhesive stamp be removed and then applied to new backing paper and still stay there without curling up around the edges or something similar so that it is not secure there?

Is a stamp that has been removed from its original backing paper going to be considered to be deficient in the future because it is no longer Mint Never Peeled?

I don't know the answer. (And if you're collecting only for your own pleasure and not for any possible resale value, who cares?) I don't think we yet know the formats for collecting our current stamps that are going to end up being desirable twenty years from now.

My best guess is that contemporaneous postal usages will be elusive, and most mint or unused examples will be topping out around face value.

CJD:

I agree with your concerns. I believe it is already generally accepted that a MINT self-adhesive is one that still has its original backing paper.

KirkS

Same with me. I don't peel self-adhesive stamps. I put them in black mounts with their backing paper. Anyway I would not buy a collection with self-adhesive peeled and stick on black backing paper. It the same as someone who would lick his regular mint stamps and stick them in his album.

You could try putting a black mat around the stamp, something like they use in picture frames but smaller.

Get some Bestine. Place a few drops on the back of the paper and wait a few seconds. Take your stamp tongs and slide it under the stamp to get it loose from the paper. Lay the stamp to the side with the glue up and let it sit for a few minutes. The Bestine will evaporate and leave just sticky gum like it was before being put on the envelope. Then you can just stick it to what ever you want or you can use a little more bestine and remove the gum off of the back. I have been taking my S/A stamps off like this and have had no problems getting even the toughest to soak off.

While this doesn't directly answer your question, the summary provided in this article is pertinent to the subject at hand. Bottom line is that the "jury is still out" as to what the long-term storage preferences for self-adhesive stamps are to be, so it comes down to what works for you and makes you happy.

http://www.linns.com/howto/refreshe...rcourse.aspx

No one even seems to know for sure what these self-adhesive stamps are going to look like in 25 or 50 years and/or whether or not the the self-adhesive backings are going to last or disintegrate or even discolor the stamps over time.

Frankly, I am of the opinion, as alluded to earlier in this string (and even in the article link), that most modern self-adhesives will never be worth much beyond face value (if that), so it does not seem worthwhile to spend big money or go to extreme measures to collect single self-adhesive stamps in any non-standard form. In fact, I would even argue that mounting single self-adhesives with stamp hinges can do no harm, as only the backing paper and not the stamp itself is being affected by the hinge.

And so the "argument" on the best collecting method continues to go on...

Sounds interesting. I have pages of self adhesives stamps as well. I leave the backing paper on and just put them in a binder for blocks. If you peel the stamps off and stick them on something else I don't think it qualifies as mint anymore.

Fine for you - but I collect for fun, not for the value, and I just don't like the look of a S/A stamp on a cream/buff backing paper on a black stock sheet. I buy very few self adhesive stamps, but sometimes get them in collections I've bought. I'd prefer not to remove the gum, but want to put them on something from which they are easily removed (so that in future someone else could put them back on the "right" backing paper if they really wanted to).

I still think there MUST be some black self adhesive backing paper out there somewhere!

I am not sure that I have got the idea properly of what you would like to do with self adhesive mint stamps. My issue, not yours David.

First I would check if the black backing paper bleeds if soaked in water.
Next I would look for a plastic black backing for the stamps and again I would see what happens to the stamp when removed.
The cutting edge of stamping. It is very interesting. John

My idea is to stick them to black backing paper identical in function to cream or white backing paper - ie covered with a non-stick surface so the stamps could easily be removed (otherwise they'd DEFINITELY not be mint). That way I'd also see the perforations nicely against the black back. If I was feeling very organised I'd then put the original backing paper loose behind this black backing in my stock sheet leaf strips.

There did use to be black backing paper like this years ago, as I bought some coloured labels on black. But I can't track it down nowadays.

Please keep me in touch.
Your issue David is also stopping me from collecting mint Australian International Post stamps. John

Good to know someone else has the same problem as me!

I see what you are talking about. I was thinking about used stamps on paper. Good luck finding what you need.

Thanks for the replies.

If anyone sees any sort of label on black backing paper, I'd be very grateful if you could get me the name of the manufacturer and the item name, so I can contact them and see if they can supply me.