Stamps On Paper, Should I Go With It

I have a fair share of stamps on paper. Im thinking of leaving them on the paper when I put them in the book. im using dealer stock pages now.

Or should I soak them and take them off paper?

I myself don't like the idea of soaking to removing them. Would like your thoughts.

My personal preference would be to soak unless there is a real reason not to (preservation of a postmark, the stamps are self-adhesives, they are on fugitive colored paper, etc.). Stamps that are simply cut from envelopes on paper, or what is worse torn from envelopes, don't look attractive to me.

Only two reasons for not soaking: there is a cancellation tying the stamp to the piece and you want to retain it; the stamp is ancient and valuable and you are worried about damaging it.

I agree with above comments and add this thought. Some envelopes have a high acid content , and this acid may migrate to the stamp and cause damage over time.

I will go ahead and take them off What's the best way to soak/take them off?

I have the same problem with franked used stamps fixed to envelopes. Do I attempt to soak them off or cut round the stamp and fix the whole into my album

Ireland, please use the 'search' function on this page for your question. It all depends on what stamps you have.

Peter

For stamps on envelopes with fugitive colours, you can soak them separately from others, one at a time.
For self-adhesives, you can use a readily available product called Pure Citrus and spray it on the backs.
If you cut closely around a stamp you can put a few in that way, but I wouldn`t recommend it if you intend to sell them or exhibit them some day. But if you cut around them constantly, your stamp album might be twice as heavy as it needs to be one day! And do watch out that you don`t create any cut or short perfs!