Soaking Off Paper

Hi All,

I have some old kiloware, and also some newer stamps.
Now the newer stamps are soaked off the paper, in a bad of cold water.
But the older ones don't come off as fast as the newer stamps.


Here comes the problem:

How can I soak all my stamps properly.
So that I don't damage them, and not takes very much effort/time to soak them off the paper.

Sorry for my bad English, so I hope you'll understand my question.
And yes, I have used the search

Greetings, Rik

Hi Rik,

Soaking or floating stamps off paper can be easy or tricky. Some older or even newer, like FRAMA labels / stamps, can be damaged or have the ink run by being toolong in water.

Some new ones, very recent from the last 15 years roughly) from USA, France, Great Britain, and others perhaps, woll need Orange Citrus non-aerosol spray to help remove the paper.

But, most older ones do come off easily.

Try warm water, perhaps adding a few drops of dish detergent, dish washing soap.

Some people use a hotter water but I am afraid of colours running from that myself.


At times, with different countries and different issues, and also digfferent adhesives and gums used on the stamps by the printers, and also by the local post office in affixing the stamps to letters (say in India at times) the glues will not ever come off, or only come off after repeated soakings and then washings or rinsings in cold water to remove all traces of gum.

Let these dry and then soak again.


I myself don not use detergent except in extreme cases. Water usually is enough.

Some newer issues from Candaa have a gum that is released in water but then needs a rolling action by gentle fingers to remove completely. On USA stamps this action may damage the stamps.


Are there any certain countries you are wondering about or perhaps eras of stamps (years)?

Well, first of all, English isn't my native language, but I'll try to understand it.

I've learned that you'll keep the stamps as beautiful as possible, soaking them in just cold water.
So that is what I always try...

I had only colour differences in boiling water (+100 degrees Celsius).
From then on, I only tried it in cold water.

But I can use some dish washing soap?
And then I need to get the soap off the stamp with a "second" round in clean water?

I don't fully understand your post, but this is what I make up from it.
I hope you and all the others have some patience with me.

Many thanks,

Greetings, Rik

Rik,
Your English is a lot better than any second language I have! No need for apology.

I have just finished soaking many, many stamps. I use warm water and most work free of the paper within 5 minutes or so. Some take longer and gentle work with the tongs and my fingers.

But, a few just don't want to come off. Thankfully, they are VERY few.

Never use scalding hot water! It will almost surely damage our stamps. Use warm water and maybe a drop of soap -NO BLEACH. rinse in a tub of room temperature water and press like normal.

Thank you both for the answers.

So can I conclude, that a bath of water (at room temperature) with a drop of soap is the first step.
And the second step would be an other bath of water with only water, to wash off the soap?

Is that a good way?

I hope so, because I want to soak them off, haha.

Greetings, Rik

Your conclusion is correct, two separate water changes.

One last point, REMOVE any stamps on the corners of red or green envelopes, like Christmas card envelopes. The red or green color will come OUT of the paper and stain ALL the stamps in the water, pink or blue. It is almost impossible to soak off stamps on red or green envelopes, without damage. I usually throw them away, as the time required to soak them individually in ice water (with a little salt added, to stabilize the colors) is worth more than the stamps.

Okay, thank you for verifying my conclusion Doug!
And thanks for the tip about the colours.
I knew it was difficult for the red and green ones, that is a tricky business, haha.

Well I go soak some stamps.
Many, many thanks to all!

Greetings, Rik

Some great tips in this thread, I've been leary about Soaking because it just seems so unnatural(from other Collections, Cards, Coins, etc) to let water touch stamps. Lol

You are totally right cgcoins!
Many tips are given in this thread.
Maybe can you use them too

Greetings, Rik

Meanwhile an update:

I'm started soaking today with the soap.
I put two hands of stamps in the water and soap.
Now I am ± 20 minutes further, but there are only 5-10 stamps off, and the rest (± 25) are still in the water, soaking...

What am I doing wrong??
I hope that someone can help me, because this ain't much fun at all.

Greetings, Rik

Are any of the stamps that you're soaking self adhesives (in other words, they don't have to be licked before sticking them to the envelope?) If so, many of them will not soak off in water. You have to use something different (the Orange Citrus air freshener mentioned above).

If all these stamps are the regular "lick and stick" type (not self-adhesive), then they should eventually come off the paper in water. If they've soaked in the water for 5 minutes or so, and they don't fall off on their own, you can carefully peel away a corner of the stamp from the envelope paper. If it doesn't come easily apart, let it soak longer.

Matt

Hi Matt,

Thank you for your message.
The stamps I am soaking are not self adhesive.
It are the old lick and stick type...

They are now still in the water, but won't come off.
Should I try, with care, to pull them off the envelope paper, as you mentioned?

Greetings, Rik

Hello Rik,

Can you tell what countries and year approximately the stamps are from?

Hello Puzzler,

The stamps are from Holland, ranging from 1900 till 1950.
Hope that this clarify's some things.

Greetings, Rik

I have the optimal solution!
I now use water at roomtemperature (± 28 degrees Celsius).

They now come off one after another.

Greetings from a happy Rik