Solution To Wearing Glasses & Magnifying Stamps

Hi Everyone,
I have a problem seeing my stamps close up and wondered what others have done.

I wear glasses that a progressive lenses. So the lense looks like one piece of glass but are bi focal, but you can't see the line between the bi and regular...

Anyway, even the close up bi focal part that I look through at the bottom of the lense isn't strong enough for me to see the stamps close up.

So I have to remove my glasses all the time to see the stamps clearly. I have tried (and it works sort of) wearing my glasses, and then putting reading glasses on over the bottom part of my glasses but they move a lot and was looking for a solution.

If I take off my glasses I can see fine close up, but then I can't glance up at the TV. Now that's a big problem, ha ha!

My husband used to put together those plastic models and he had at one time, some funky looking glasses that were magnified that he wore but I don't know how I could wear them and my glasses at the same time?

Anyway, how does everyone comfortably look at their stamps close up? With a magnifying glass?

Thank you,
SueStamps

Me as a child ...




Just kidding... I don't wear prescription glasses, but I've reached the age where I need those dime-store magnifying glasses for close-up print.

For reading, I wear the 1x power; but I also bought a pair of 4x -- when I'm working on my stamps, I park them on the tip of my nose so I can look over them for normal, and through them to see details on my stamps. 4x is pretty good.

I've tried several magnifying glasses, including one of those that looks like a big glass paperweight -- it works pretty well.

And lastly, if you want to get into flyspecking, scan the stamp with your scanner's highest resolution and you'll be able to see everything. It's an extra step, but better than any magnifying glass.

KirkS

I also wear multifocals, and I have exactly the same problem. I regularly pull my glasses off to look more closely, and then, for a really close-up look, I put my glasses back on and use the scanner, as KirkS suggests. I don't try to combine watching TV with stamps, though. Too distracting.

Exactly what I do! As an added bonus, I then have a digital copy of the stamp to refer to later on. Here's one example I just did the other day to verify the microprint which confirmed that it is the 4186 4evR (APU) Coil:



And if I still can't see it, I can always do a close up of a specific section of the stamp, like this:

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
I forgot to mention I meant to say that when I am sorting my stamps I have this problem.

I pick up a stamp, look at it, look for if it is a surcharge, look for signs that it is / might be an airmail stamp, or if I should put it in a theme, like flowers, ships, etc and then put it in this rigged up file of envelopes I have....

So I was looking for some quick fix of way to be able to see the TV AND sort stamps at the same time, ha!

Scanning is a great idea, after I read the messages here, I was thinking, I have a camera and when I take a close up photo of a stamp, it brings up the still image so that could be a way to look at them quickly maybe.

Thank you all, such a great place to be!
SueStamps

I have reading glasses (I didn't like bifocals) but I still find I have to take my glasses off to get a good close look at my stamps. For real close I have a Peak (brand) 10X Magnification loupe, like a printer would use.
The hi rez scan thing is good too. I've often found when I've scanned stuff to show off here, I see things I missed with the naked eye.

I am definitely going to have to start scanning....
For the individual views, I do find taking a close up with my camera works well.

I just love taking photos of them, and then I store them on my laptop and sometimes I just go through them one by one.

I will have to buy some of those pages that I see people have their stamps in, I think they are called mount pages?

I keep my stamps inside 20 pocket coin binder pages. I can see the front and backside this way. But I want to switch or start using the proper pages.... Which leads to another question of what are the best to buy.

Anyway, here is a photo of them:
http://www.scparadise.com/servlet/t...inder/Detail

Thank you,
SueStamps

What pages to use? I use Vario for the stamps that will not go into my usual album.

Try to stay away for the clear PVC pages, as they have an oil-like film in the pockets. This will ruin your stamps.

Sue.. I actually use a head band thingy I bought.. works great and it has a light(very bright)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UCODIA
Amazon.com

I also bought this
Which I think everyone should have one.... they are AWESOME!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002V10862

SueStamps,

I bought a clamp-on 12 watt flourescent lamp with 3x magnifying lens for the same reason (except the "watch TV" part).

Being able to magnify and illuminate at the same time makes it much easier on the eyes.

It also makes reading the small print in the Scott catalog alot easier!

I bought my lamp at Staples for around $20.

Steve

Hi clintd,
Thank you for letting me know what kind of sheets you use. I looked on ebay, and found Vario sheets.

I figured out that the 8S and 5S stands for how many horzontal pockets there are. Is there a variety pack of different "S" sheets? If not, I will buy small lots with few sheets of each to figure out which ones I like. I guess they have different number of "S" depending on the size of stamps or mini sheets etc.

I found some that are $99.95 plus $9.95 shipping for 200, 5S, is that an average price?

I will buy some of the 8S too.
Thank you so much, I am excited to order some now. Oh, I forgot to mention, I did not know about the pvc sheets, so I did a little research and found that the coin pocket sheets I buy, are pvc free. Whew, LOL.. I am glad you told me.
SueStamps

Hi stampvirgin,
Thank you so much for the links. I am going to buy both, LOLOL..
I am so excited!
I think the head gear will work great, I like that it swivels.

Hi Steve (tomiseksj),
Doesn't sound expensive at all. I will take a trip to a few stores and see what I can find. I like to have many options available and find sometimes I switch back and forth a lot so I will have a bunch of new fun toys, lamps, magnifiers to play with!

Thanks again,
SueStamps

TV and Stamping ?

I often go looking for my spectacles
that are sitting on my nose.

This was me recently........

I wear specs and use an old (1960's) Waltex model 7518 magnifying glass and I also use a 30X loupe that my wife bought me. (wanna talk about flyspecking-lol)