The Power Of Peroxide...

Did some tests the other day on oxidized U.S. R15c, R6c, R30c, and R135.

Common hydrogen peroxide solution that you can buy from any pharmacy for under a buck, applied via Q-tip, and then a rinse in water to remove the peroxide.

I tried a relative wide variety of stamps with varying states of oxidation. If the oxidation has gone too far, the peroxide won't fully bring the stamp back, but on stamps that are "just starting to turn" it has wonderful restorative effects.

Below is a stamp that shows the before and after states. I only applied the peroxide to the bottom half of the stamp.

Wow that's amazing! I do this myself but still amazed by t he before vs. after pictures.

I recently came across an 1893 Columbian (U. S. #235) which was mint although it was missing most of the gum. A bad case of fauxing had reduced most of the value to the point where it was available for a really negligible price. I assumed that the gum had been removed by an ill fated attempt to remove the fauxing. Since it had a remnant of a hinge and some degree of pain old dirt, I couldn't conceive of any other way the gum had been removed. I decided to get it and try Revenuecollector's peroxide method to see whether or not I could salvage the stamp.

After about an hour's soak in peroxide, a very light rub with a Q-Tip, followed by a double wash in plain water, I now have an excellent copy of the 235 with no hinge remnant, no more dirt, and *wait for it* no visible evidence of fauxing at all. I hoped to remove only some of the fauxing, and perhaps stop any further progress. As far as I can see, the process removed ALL of the fauxing, and left me with a very nice stamp...all for about 3 bucks.

Now, if this rascal only had some gum...

Thanks for reminding me Rev!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_peroxide

If I remember correctly a former lady friend used it to bleach her hair. Read the link as the hight test is used in rocketry. Off into another dimension your stamps go

Great outcome, now all you need to do is list it up on ebay as a freak printing error for $200.00.

Oh Dear Me.......

Will the peroxide dissolve or disturb the gum on mint stamps?

Don

YES!! It's 97% water. Mint stamps can be done by putting them on a little ledge over a small bowl with some peroxide in it and then covering it for a while, the fumes will work.

I'm glad that we can laugh
Tom