Reversing Oxidation Of Mint Orange US Stamps

I have several mint orange U.S. stamps that have oxidation (379, 429, 468, etc.). I have read that a 3% hydrogen peroxide bath will return the stamp to its original color. Since my stamps are mint, that is not an option for obvious reasons. Does anyone have any recommendations to reverse the oxidation? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

yeah, A q-tip dipped in Hydrogen Peroxide and a gentle hand. Dab it off gently and it should work for you. Best of luck!

Technically...

You are not reversing the process. This is a common misunderstanding. Sulfur has reacted with the surface of the ink, creating a very thin surface layer of "blackened" ink. As far as I know, the "blackened" surface ink CANNOT be converted back to its ORIGINAL chemical compound without introducing other significant problems.

In the H2O2 treatment, you are simply converting the top "blackened" layer into a "whitish" layer. The original surface ink color is still gone. But because the "whitish" layer is so thin, it appears transparent to the unaided eye. What you are actually seeing is the underlying uncontaminated original ink. I've left out the actual chemical formulas for simplicity.

It's for this reason that I've always considered this process an alteration. You are merely "restoring" the appearance of the stamp by altering the damaged surface layer into an "invisible" damaged surface layer. Although it is a technicality, there is no question that this is an alteration of the stamp, as it is NOT the same as the original stamp. The only question is whether this is an acceptable alteration. Since I don't make the rules, I leave that up to individual collectors to decide.

I recommend that you document any chemical alterations you do so that there are not "misunderstandings" with any buyer in the future.

Enjoy your stamps, whatever they may look like!

k

And remember to cancel the peroxide process by cleaning the stamp with distilled water