C1 - Oxidized - Go Or No-Go?

Folks

I am offered this C1 for $20. Its a MNH single.

Problem is it seems to be heavily oxidized...

Do you think a peroxide treatment might work on it?

Is it worth trying that for $20?

These were great threads but pictures are lost.

https://goscf.com/t/33597&whichpage...ms=oxidation

https://goscf.com/t/39040&SearchTerms=oxidation

If I didn't have a VF C1, I'd try it. That's a sharp stamp. Pretty good centering, crisp perfs, what's not to like?

Keep in mind, I like the odd stuff, so my opinion is suspect. And if I sold it, I would feel obliged to mention what I did.

Your hesitation answers your own question.

But it would be fun.




If $20 is one of the break points where you are leaving a comfort zone, then hold out for a nice example. If $20 is within the play-money zone, try it.




And if you do it, show us, please.

Here's one of the pics from my original thread on that. I can't even view the others although they are still there :(

Thanks to everyone.

It is not the $20 that matter. I didn't want to mess up a good stamp by doing something weird.

Hesitation is because I already have a nice C1 but that has a couple of pulled perfs... So thinking of a substitution here ...

Why not just wait for one with nice striking color and centering?

I am concerned about the damage to the gum.
Peroxide is not lighter fluid.

I personally would feel very confident in using peroxide. I have done this with many dozens of oxidized stamps with great results. There is a non-contact method to doing this. It's much slower but moisture never touches the stamp so in most cases it should be safer than applying the peroxide directly. That said, I have ruined 2 stamps with the non-contact method where the gum liquefied due to the humidity.

Revealing what I've done is not an issue; the salvaged stamps are all in my collection and I view my efforts as restoration on old collectible objects I own. This practice is extremely common with art, furniture, automobiles, rugs, jewelry, mechanical devices (e.g. Coke machines, pinball machines, juke boxes, clocks) and many other collectibles categories.

I must say though that I consider regumming to be fraudulent unless revealed to the buyer. If I bought a stamp that has had environmental damage (e.g. oxidation) successfully removed without damage to the stamp, I'd be fine with it but would rather not know.

The following should be safe for most water-soluble gums, e.g. dextrin:

1) Mix one part peroxide solution with nine parts denatured alcohol.
2) Soak stamp as needed to remove sulfuretting from printing.
3) Rinse the stamp with undiluted alcohol.

As long as the alcohol content is over say 80%, it behaves as an organic solvent and does not dissolve the gum.

Personally, I agree with stallzer and decided to pass...

I might have rushed onto it, if I haven't got one already. Since, I got one already, this $20 goes into the Zepp fund !