The Damage That Sticky Do To Stamps

Hi to all

Below is a good example of what damage sticky tape does to stamps.
I am sorting through a world collection and unfortunately these two stamps were stuck to an old album page with sticky tape.
Not only has it removed the colour from these stamps, but it has left a large translucent brown stain on the corners.
What is even worse is that the stamps were mint stamps.
Regards
Horamakhet



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The pigment is still, there, you just can't see it because of the grease stain. Hydrochloric acid Hydrogen Peroxide will remove the stain rather well, but it may also remove the ink the stamp was printed on.

Hi smauggie

Thanks for that, do I need to dilute the acid?
Horamakhet

Have you tried soaking them in BESTINE available in Art Supply stores. It does not harm most stamps and does not damage the gum. I once bought a collecting with all of the stamps mounted with Curad white waterproof tape; the kind you use to keep gauze over a wound.

I soaked the stamps in the BESTINE and the tape came off in about 5 minutes of soaking with no residue remaining on the stamps.

Bestine is a rubber cement solvent and thinner.

Hi Timm

Never heard of it, but will definitely check out the art supply shop;
Thanks for that
Horamakhet

Hydrochloric acid? I can only think that a concentration of acid strong enough to remove the stain would remove everything else including the paper! HCl is nothing to play with.

I thought one thing and said another, I apologize. Rohumpy is quite right to question my earlier statement. What I meant to say was hydrogen peroxide. -

Good thing I am not a chemist or I would be shamed for life for that mixup.

You can add alum to hot water to remove stains. Immerse the stamp into this solution and delicately rub the stain with a cotton swab. Rinse in clear water, blot and press. You will of course loose the stamp adhesive.