How To Fix The Bends?

Does anyone have a suggestion as to how one may remove the warping or bending in stamps like the one shown below, without (obviously) damaging the stamp?

Jim

Place stamp in a decompression chamber for several hours?

But seriously, once the paper fibers have been stretched in one direction I am not sure they can be 'rebounded' or reclaim the actual original shape.

Obviously you could wet the stamp and straighten it back out but this would only be stretching the fibers in the opposite direction. In other words, doing more physical stress on the fibers. I would leave it as is and assume it was originally wrapped around a bottle?
Don

I am reluctant to say this, but sometimes you can flatten bent paper. My reluctance stems from the knowledge that if you haven't done this before, you can do a lot of damage.

Ironing/pressing a bend can sometimes eliminate it. With a severe bend, where the paper fibers are strongly affected, but not broken/creased this probably will not work.

You must use a paper (I prefer 30 lb. hot press stock) barrier on the face of the stamp, and you absolutely must use a firm, completely smooth and flat base (I use book board scraps) to do this on. Any particle on the stamp, barrier paper, or base will, of course, transfer a dimple onto the stamp. Any gum or other substance on the stamp must be removed before doing this. If you are going to try this, practice on items you wouldn't mind losing, until you get the technique perfected.

Would a soak in warm water for a few hours or overnight allow the paper fiber to unbend? After another day in a drying book, it should be flat.

Thank you for the comments, but I guess I'm not understanding?

The stamp isn't curled and doesn't need to be flattened or pressed or ironed on the x and y axis.

I'd like to "flatten" it by holding it perpendicular to a flat surface, and pushing down along the thin edge of the paper.

But I don't see a way of doing that. I have tried soaking it, but all I get then is a moist, bent stamp.

Jim

Hi all, maybe I've lived a lucky life as a stamp collector, been collecting over 60 years now, have seen many things related to stamps, but never seen or even heard of this one?

Has any of the older stamp collectors even encountered this?

Jim, no offense but think I'd have to see this one in person before I would believe it.

Stampmaster

The longer the piece of paper, the more likely you are to see this behavior, which is why you don't see it on most stamps. I have seen this on checks and other documents. No clue what causes it... no clue how to fix it either.

Nuts.

Thought you would know:






Jim