UV Light Usage

Hi all, I have read a few posts concerning using a UV light. What would using this UV light be applicable too? Thanks... Gary

Hello Gar, welcome to Stamp Community!

Ultra-Violet light is used in stamp collecting to show the glowing phosphorescence of the fluorescent inks that are used in stamp production now.

This glowing on stamps is otherwise commonly known as tagging, and shows up under either long wave or short wave light.


USA uses short wave, Canada uses mostly long wave now and earlier short wave. Each country is different.

Sometimes it is all over the stamp and paper, as on a lot of envelopes now, while at other imes, for example on Canadian and Great Britain stamps, the tagging is around the edges of the stamps.


I sorting the mails through machines in sortation plants, the tagging is used to allow a machine to Face a letter. This invlolves checking where the stamp(s) are located and flipping the envelope or cover around and backwards for forwards if necessary so a proper orientation can be acheived.

Then the letter / envelope can be sent on to a cancelling machine for the stamp(s) to be cancelled or obliterated so as to prevent reusing the postage for future mailings or postings.

It is illegal or unlawful in most countries to reuse already used postage stamps.

Thank you Puzzler, I much appreciate the information. Now I have to ask the wife if she will give me a few bucks to buy a light. Gary

UV is also very valuable in detecting altered and repaired stamps, for much the same reason. Most of the products used to alter or repair stamps are modern and have chemicals in them that fluoresce under UV. Since nearly all of the stamps that are repaired or altered are older and not tagged, this is a dead giveaway. Plus tagging is a always in a very specific shape and location on stamps, so even modern stamps that are altered will usually be obvious.

I found a stamp while I was checking watermarks, that was a strip across the bottom of the stamp. It wasn't visible until I put it in the ronson fluid. Thanks revcollector for that information. I'm going to BIG 5 sporting goods to get one of those UV scorpion flashlights. The wife gave me 10 bucks and told me to bring back the change. hehe

Gar, I may be too late with this, but before you buy a UV light please be advised that there are two different types of UV used.
They are short wave and long wave. Here in the US the short wave can identify "tagged" stamps. Long wave UV is used for
identifying paper types basically!

Peter

Hi Petert4522, Well at least I can go look for scorpions now.lol Its o.k. though at least I've learned quite a bit from all of you. Thanks. Gary

UV lights can also hurt your eyes.

http://www.ehs.psu.edu/radprot/ultr..._hazards.cfm


-IBFS