Stamp Collecting Advice

Hey all I am an avid coin collector and am just curious about stamps I don't know if I will ever seriously collect them. I may casually though so I was wondering what do I need to know?

How do you keep a stamp in great condition? Are the stamps on any envelope worth keeping? Also what do you do with them on the envelope do you try cutting them out? Or are stamps mostly just worth something when you haven't peeled them off their original piece yet? When it comes to albums it almost seems like some of the ones I've seen at least from Lighthouse that you were meant to peel them and use the sticky side to place them in the album. I'm not sure if I got this right but it looked interesting.

Any and all information would be really helpful because the hobby does interest me!

Daniel,
My best advice is to see if there are any stamp clubs in your area and attend a meeting. You of course may always ask questions here.
As a cover collector I would never remove the stamps from an envelope. I did enough of that in my youth. To me the story and the history is in the full cover. There are plenty of loose stamps at real bargain prices to pick up if you want to work on filling an album.
Never stick stamps down directly. That will destroy any value they have. Use mounts or stamp hinges. I don't use stamp hinges anymore. I use mounts. Mounts can get pricy.
I use Scott's National Albums for my US. That is mainly because it is what I started with over 40 years ago. Today there are so many options. For most of my country collection I print my own pages with Steiners software. If you Google stamp album pages I'm sure you can find him. He used to have some free examples. He is 30 or 40 bucks for his software on CD and you can get updates from him.
One thing that I find very different with stamps vs. coins is there are less rules. With coins it's seems everything is driven by grade. I'm not saying collect poor quality crap stamps. People collect Mint No Hinge, Mint, Used and Stamps on Cover, etc.. All are acceptable forms and no one will shun you because your stamps are not grade 65 or higher.

Daniel,



I think removing stamps from envelopes is perfectly fine unless the envelope has some historical significance. The advice not to remove stamps generally is given for those that are, say, 50 years old or so. Generally, envelopes mailed in the last three decades or so probably have no collector interest beyond the stamp (with some exceptions, of course). How else would stamp collectors build collections of used stamps for mounting in an album? Ultimately it is your decision on what to do with your material.

It is very important that you NEVER try to peel stamps off an envelope. This likely will cause thinning of the stamp paper, rendering them valueless. The three main classifications of damage to stamps are creases, thins, and tears. Cut around the stamps, and soak the cut off portion of the envelope with the stamps on it in lukewarm water until they fall off. Then they need to be gently patted with a napkin or paper towel then pressed in a book between sheets of wax paper. There are also stamp drying books you can buy if you want to go that route. Modern self-adhesive stamps may take longer to soak off, and they may have stubborn gum residue.

Enjoy

Good advice so far. Depends on what you want to collect. The US? Worldwide Stamps? If you just want to collect casually, you could buy a beginner illustrated album (around $20-$30) that should be fine for someone who just wants to dabble a bit. Another option would be a stock book, which doesn't require mounts or hinges and you can arrange the stamps any way you'd like. Common used stamps (both US and worldwide) are readily available in packets for a penny to a nickel per stamp. You could just buy a few assortments to see if anything appeals to you. It's really a hobby where you can get started pretty easily and inexpensively.

1st, welcome to the forum, I hope you enjoy this hobby as much as you have your others. Stamps are like coins, condition is everything.

Modern stamps are nearly all self-adhesives and a pain to soak off the cover so, be patient. I would suggest leaving stamps on cover until you learn what you have. You can always go back and soak them off. A common stamp will always be a common stamp. Don't mix different colored paper with white as they are likely to bleed i.e. red Christmas covers.

Some modern stamps are indeed worth more on cover than off. It depends on the stamp value, plate number (if there is one) and/or usage. Any auxiliary markings on cover can be a bonus as well.

The library has a copy of several stamp catalog, a good place to start. You can usually purchase a used copy of "Scott's Specialized" from ebay for a few buck though it won't have the more recent issues.

The best suggestion I could make is to find a club or another collector in your area to answer your questions. Every collector may have a different opinion, it all boils down to what do you want to do with your collection. Build your collection your way.

Art

Some good tips, artlaunier!

Another great place to find info is the American Philatelic Society web site at www.stamps.org there are also some free US album pages to download to help you get started. The articles are timeless.
Enjoy

Thank you for all the advice everyone!

As for newer stamps (read self adhesives), I prefer not to even try and soak them. I just cut square them and put them in the album. this way the stamp can be mounted in an album with a mount or a hinge depending on preference, plus it saves a lot of time and frustration due to the mostly unsakability of newer gums (the adhesive on the stamp). Also bear in mind, that soking does not lend well to some of the newer designs like holograms/foils, and the like. Of note, the US X-plane issues. don't soak these. the design will deteriorate/break down even IF the adhesive will soak off which in my few tries, does not.

As to PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive)or self adhesive stamps.
For one of our club meetings I did a demonstration on using different chemicals to remove a PSA from it's envelope backing. We tested WD-40, Acetone, non-acetone polish remover, paint thinner, Ronsonal lighter fluid and Pure citrus air freshener. The results were fascinating. Keeping in mind that this test was done back in November of 2013. The result were such; while WD-40 did soften the adhesive in order to remove the stamp and eventually remove the adhesive it stained the stamp with the oil base of that chemical and has not changed to this day, hence destroying the stamp permanently. Acetone was the fastest at removing the stamp but also removed the image from the stamp. The non-acetone based polish remover was effective after a short wait, and did not damage the stamp beyond the pink hue from the chemical, so also a fail. The paint thinner did work but left a similar stain that the WD-40 left. Which leaves the only two good options I have in the household chemical selection. The lighter fluid, while flammable, is tried and true for old and new. The Pure Citrus air freshener does work like a charm and smells much better than the lighter fluid. Neither the lighter fluid nor the Pure Citrus left any damage to the stamp what so ever.
I find myself staying with the lighter fluid, not only because it is tried and proven, but it doubles as a water mark fluid and by volume is much cheaper than its fresher smelling competitor.