Start Of Self Adhesive Stamps ???

I remember those Wacky Packages, too! In fact, I had quite a collection of them (circa 1973, the 1st and 2nd series). As a kid, I stuck them on toys and what not, as I never thought about them becoming a collectible, but sure enough they are collectibles today, and with different details, backs, borders, etc., they can actually be as complex to collect as certain stamps and there is a cult following for them, too.

For those who remember these things, you can checkout the link below for a trip back to yesteryear:

http://www.wackypackages.org/stickers/1st_series/

(My favorites were Liptorn (Lipton) Soup, Fink (Wink) from Canada Wet (Canada Dry), and Poopsie (Pepsi).)

Anyway, back to the subject of US Self Adhesive Postage Stamps, here's my copy of Scott #1551 (Weathervane Christmas Precancel). Although it is a bit yellowed, this example is not quite as bad as some I've seen, although the centering is atrocious:



Even the US Postal Service admitted that stamp was a failure ... but it did pave the way (good or bad) for the current round of self adhesive stamps we all use today.

Wacky Packages 1973 no wonder I never heard of them. I was in college then and building a house.

I did read the thread. Jeez, it's gotten stuffy in here.

Was it the gum that caused the weathervane stamp to yellow? Because I have one that is just as yellow if not more. For this stamp issue what do you think is the best way to conserve it?

Yes. It was a non-water soluable adhesive typical of what old self adhesive address labels used to do when attached to an envelope. It would yellow over time and could not be removed from an envelope without damaging the stamp. It was deemed a failure by the USPS. This is the very reason why the next self adhesive US stamp didn't come on the market until a few years later when they addressed some of these problems.

These Linn's Stamp News articles may be dated, but they really tell the story quite well:

http://www.linns.com/howto/refreshe...rcourse.aspx

http://www.linns.com/howto/refreshe...rcourse.aspx

To add to my previous post, this quote was taken right off the USPS website. I have provided the link below for those interested:




http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/po...ostcards.htm

well those sheets of the weathervqne are better than mine by far...mine are really yellowed nice addition there.

Terry,

In 1963, The King of Tonga had a requirement for a set of stamps embossed on gold foil and De La Rue recommended Walsall for the job. They were printed on water-activated paper using highly technical skills that Walsall Lithographic had already perfected for non-stamp use.

Am I saying that the Tonga Gold coins were NOT self-adhesive? Absolutely I am. 100%. My Dummy Stamps article clearly states that they were produced with DAVAC gum, an invisible water-activated gum that was developed especially for that issue by Samuel Jones for the reasons that I wrote about in my article.

The article in the Philatelic Database, presumably http://www.philatelicdatabase.com/p...ps-of-tonga/ discusses many later issues and as I do not own these, be aware that I am not commenting on the hearts issue, etc just the coin series about which you first wrote.

In February 1964, Walsall issued a First Day Postcard for their Sierra Leone stamps which clearly states on the card reverse that that series comprised the first ever self-adhesive stamps. Also, if you own the Gold Coins, as I do, try to peel off the backing paper to reveal the self-adhesive gumming - you'll be there a very long time because, understandably, there is no backing paper. When licked, as I have just done this morning with a spare copy, the back of the Gold Coins will adhere to an envelope, as with any other water-activated stamp.

As mentioned in other posts, the information contained within stamp catalogues (even the mighty SG) must never be taken as gospel, for there are many, many mistakes contained within all of them and the fact that others then continue to repeat those errors in their own writing does not make it a truth.

GLENN

My USA Weather-vane Christmas stamps show no signs of have self-destructed in the past 40 years and are pristine, but this is due to one reason only; the dealer who sold me the blocks that I possess had removed the self-adhesive gumming at that time with (probably) lighter fluid, selling me loose stamps with separate backing paper! He was adamant that the adhesive would perish and took evasive action before it was a problem and he was proved correct, of course. Mind you, they are not easy to display!

GLENN

Hi Glenn,

Yes, It is that Philatelic database that refers to the Gold Coin issue as the first self adhesive issue and clearly states 1963. But your research tells a different, more complete story. And where Stanley Gibbons states they were "embossed on gold foil, paper backed", a re-reading of this could be taken as the gold foil being stuck permanently to the paper backing and whatever adhesive used was then applied to this paper. It is the beginning of the second paragraph in the Philatelic Database that implies that Tonga's gold coin issue of 1963 was the first self adhesive stamp issue. It would seem, now, from your more complete information, that both Stanley Gibbons and the Philatelic Database need to amend and clarify their somewhat misleading descriptions.

Clear communication is the key,
Terry

(Edit for typo. TC)

To all you who are in fear of self-adhesives, I recently examined some mint examples from Sierra Leone from 1975 and they were neither falling off their backing nor permanently stuck down to their backing nor stained.

As for US issues, apart from some light staning on some 2431, and issues of sticking down on some ATM panes, I have seen no issues on any other US self-adhesives.

For some reason, the Sierra Leone stamps are indeed free of whatever 'nasties' were in the USA's first type of gumming and as eyeonwall states are not in any way suffering.

The release by Sierra Leone was widely heralded by television, press and radio at the time as a breakthrough in stamp production. It certainly was and although Walsall is largely credited it was quite some collaboration, as the partners involved with the project reveal:

Printing and die cutting: Walsall Lithographic Co Ltd, Walsall.
Self-adhesive paper: Samuel Jones & Co Ltd., London EC4.
Rag content paper: St Cuthbert's Paper Mills, Wells.
Lithographic inks: Ault & Wiborg Ltd, Birmingham.
Engraving inks: Mander Kidd Ltd., Wolverhampton.
Silicone release lacquer: Midland Silicones Ltd.

GLENN