Mint Stamps Stuck Together

Kathey don't you know if it's on the internet it has to be true. Who told me that? The internet why of course.

spade tipped tongs would work great!

Hi TinMan,
Silly me! Of course it's true...

Thanks for the info on separating stamps. I have a lot of work ahead of me, I'll try the freezer first on a few. Trial by error. My container full of household items was dropped and received some water damage. Stamps were in container. Most survived and reading your suggestions I may be able to salvage a few more.

The cartel would just soak them and then regum.

I had several sheets of precanceled Czechoslovakian stamps stock together and used this method. I don't recommend it to anyone. It destroyed my stamps.

In my experience, freezing has worked about 10-15% of the time for me; it certainly is not a panacea. And even when it works, it typically leaves the stamp(s) with 'disturbed gum'. As such and if they are common stamps soaking them probably the best recommendation. Rare stamp(s) may justify an expert conservator.

But as with any public type feedback, you should always proceed carefully and with a small sample size.
Don

Ditto.
I find I used to hesitate, looking at beautiful mint stamps, some just hanging by a tiny piece of gum, all globbed together.
It would tease you, just to try and pull one off the other, and yes, off it would come, nicely attached to a tiny bit of the face of the stamp below.

Now, I don't wait a second for this regard, it's straight into a bowl of cold water. Into the drying sandwich, and out they come, flat as a halibut, and in all their glory, just without the mucilage.

"Bring 'em back alive"