'ungummed' 'Unused' Full Sheet Of 1990 Stamps: Why?

First time poster, new forum user, on and off collector since childhood.

I acquired a 60's stamp album at a local auction in which the collector had inserted between the pages a full sheet of stamps (1990 state bird series), ungummed, with the plate number 22222. It stuck out like a sore thumb to me, there being no other modern stamps after the 60's in the album, much less a full unused sheet of them.

I do not have detailed knowledge of stamp collecting, so I reviewed some posts about ungummed stamps, and they all seem to relate to early stamps, or engage in 'debates' about preferred collecting habits, noting those of early philatelists to remove gum to preserve stamps, and, moreover, that for a used/cancelled stamp, gum doesn't really usually matter. Nor do I have the expertise to determine if the gum was removed, which would be easy to do. But the overall circumstances just seem very odd to me for a full sheet of modern stamps purchased fresh from the USPS in the 90's to then have the gum removed by a collector, who presumably would want them to be in 'mint' fresh from the USPS condition (i.e., with gum?) So, why?

Thoughts why someone would remove the gum from an entire page of modern stamps? Dare I suggest "error" - a near impossibilty by that time in USPS history?

Would collectors of the 90's (with availablity of plastics and the like) go to the trouble of bathing a full sheet of stamps to keep them from sticking to their collection pages? someone's habit? Is a 22222 plate number of any significance?

In short, is this odd or not?

Thanks.

The state birds & flowers stamps were issued with dull gum. Your sheet probably only appears to not be gummed.
Just noticed the 1990 date that you mention. Since the plate number is correct for the state birds, I'll assume you've made an error. These stamps were issued in 1982. There are two different perforation gauges ... 10.5x11.25 and 11.25x11. Neither is scarce although the latter has a slightly higher catalogue value.
If you examine the back side of these stamps under a bright light with a magnifier, you might be able to see the gum striations. Comparing it to the back of a known used stamp should help.

I do agree with JLLebbert on the gum. Back in the days the BEP used a gum that is very hard if not impossible to see.
By the way, welcome to the forum Hawnno


Peter

First, wow. I did not expect a response so quickly. Thank you Peter and JLLebbert.

Next, I see how valuable this forum can be. Never heard of dull gum, and sorry about the wrong year of issue. I need to have high standards to keep up with this forum.

Finally, good thing I didn't lick the sheet before I asked. ;)

thanks again.

Funny that you mention this, I have this exact same sheet with no gum...but I can tell you why. When I started collecting, friends and family who heard about it would give me this and that. An aunt gave me that sheet in a manila file folder that was left in a garage in Oklahoma. It was completely stuck to the folder. Being a broke kid who was desperate for material, I soaked it off in one of my mom's big cookie sheets. I still have it and know that it is really only good for postage, but it is a reminder of those early days when I got the bug.