Taking Stamps Off The Paper?

Hi everyone,

I have been accumulating ( I probably wouldn't use the word collecting) Stamp for a long time now and have got quite a few. None of them are rare or particularly valuable ( at least monetarily) they have just been picked up from placed I have lived, or others have lived or visited. all have been used.
So my question Is, I am looking to do something with them, just for my personal memories and such and wondered how do I get them off the paper? If at all?

I imagine there might be a few opinions on the topic, but I am just looking to keep them inn a book for my own memories, not for any value or such.

Thanks In advance.
A

You will get many answers here about soaking but I will answer one other area. If they are still on envelopes, save the entire envelope. It is more valuable that way. If the stamp is only on a small piece of paper, do not soak it off if there is a clear cancellation that extends onto the paper. Also more valuable maybe - but certainly better for memories.

OK well we now have 2 types when it comes to removing, the older soakable stamps and the newer self stick stamps and there has been topics on how to remove both.
If I get older letters I would leave as a whole cover. If the cover is not worth saving as a whole then I decide if I like the cancel and if so I cut the whole corner.
I get a lot that are out of time frame such as you buy something on ebay and the sell ships with stamps you want to save but there is nothing historical about the cover. Soaking or removal of newer self sticks you have to decide if its worth the time and effort to remove them. if so do it and if not just store on paper.
What I try to remember is older stuff you cant turn it back into a cover if you remove it and we who have them are in charge of their care for the next generation

examples below would they be better intact with the (2) oversized envelopes and (1) on paper w/cancelation? or removed

Personally, and I'm no expert, I wouldn't soak any of those stamps off but keep the envelopes intact as they have a lot more interest that way than as removed. That Chicago Motor Club envelope is really cool looking!

Depends on what you are trying to do ... "just for my personal memories and such and wondered how do I get them off the paper? If at all?" You don't provide enough info as to your intended use to allow a good clear answer to your question ... we are just guessing.

If this is a scrapbook exercise then I would not even bother to take them off the paper.

Maybe the stamp and its associated cancel are more meaningful than just the stamp itself; or as others have mentioned... the whole envelop or wrapper might be more useful than the specific stamp.

Are you writing a personal history and going to use the stamps as illustrations? Just clip around the stamp (stamp and cancel) and mount in the appropriate dialogue space.

Thank you for the advice,both of you have given me a better insight of what to do.

I think the Chicago Motor Club envelop looks cool too!! the other is from Zenith Radio Corporation. I would keep it intact also. both of these envelops came from my Grandfather to my Mom now to me.

They were completely filled with regular size stamped envelopes and postcards from all over the world ranging from 1916 - 1978 Never opened from the day my Grandfather closed it last 1979 until now. They do have history to me. I did not remove the stamps from the postcards and envelopes.

I did have a large number of stamps on small pieces paper cut from the envelope's with cancellations that I removed by soaking in water via best seeming instructions from the internet I'm glad I didn't do these.

I have never seen large envelope covers before,so I did not know if they should be saved or not,or,if they would seem awkward on display. I learned what matters is how I feel about them, and how I would like to present them. I just did not want to ruin something that should not

In this case I should not. Thank you again