What Is The Best Way To Remove "Stuck" Stamps From Albums?

Hi!

I won an auction for a really nice 1939 loose leaf Scotts Jr International album. The story is (and I tend to believe it) is the original owner began the collection right before WWII, and installed a number of stamps via hinges, and put others in the book loosely to be hinged later.

Well, maybe the collector went off to war, but in any case it appears no one has messed with this since. There are no signs of activity like remnants or what have you.

The problem is, several of the "loose" mint stamps got enough humidity to eventually cause them to stick to the pages. Some I can get up with careful tong work, but others need more effort.

I would love to remove them without damaging the album, as it is definitely worthy of ebay at some point. Thankfully this is the looseleaf version of the Junior album, so at least I can work on the pages separately.

What suggestions do you have to remove the stamps without messing up the album?

THANK YOU !!

You can try using a small artists paintbrush and water on the face of each stamp, after a while the water will soak through and loosen the stamp. This will cause the least damage to the album page but it is time consuming and requires patience so as to not damage the stamps.

Try putting the sheets in the freezer for about 6-10 minuets and then carefully bend the page (don't crease) until the stamp falls off or is loosened. This is a tried and true method for Mint stamps stuck together. Also don't use tongs or any other tools on the stamps or the pages. The stamps will become brittle. They must become brittle in order for this method to work. Let me know how this works for you. It might take a couple freezer rounds in order for them to become loosened.
When they are brittle you will hear the crackling sound when you flex the page.

I have never had success with the freezer method for some reason.

revcollector I have had great success with the freezer method and mint stamps. I once salvaged about a thousand stamps for a lady friend.

YUP I agree try the "Freezer Method" and of course if they aren't of great value there is always a good warm soak in H2o. Best wishes!