Philatelic Disasters

A local anecdote a dealer told me was someone had brought in an unused set of Canadian jubilees from the 1/2c to $5. In order to preserve it, they had previously had it laminated.

Not a disaster, but really dumb: Acquired a mint, original gum, lightly-hinged, well-centered 36B. Paid up for it because it was a really nice example. Tore the right side of the stamp really badly when I opened its mailing envelope. Entirely my fault. Have it in a stock book and look at it periodically as a reminder to be more careful. Sigh.

Some years ago I was examining a pair of Newfoundland #1 when the stamp slipped out of the tongs and headed for the floor. My reflexes took charge and I tried to catch the pair in mid-air. Unfortunately, I was successful and succeeded in cutting the stamps in half.

I was once cutting a mount to size and figured it would be easier to get the size just right if I put the stamp into the mount and trimmed around it. You can guess what happened. Luckily not a rare stamp, but one I liked - Spanish with a painting by Velasquez.

This surprises me, (OCD?) I always use an letter knife, to open all covers, including the most mundane Bills. I open the end, opposite the stamp.




I cut all my mounts with the stamp inside, (1000's) never had a mistake yet (touch wood) I do employ a Fiskar cutter though, not scissors.

You're right, rod222. Don't know why, but I used a sharp pocketknife instead of my letter opener. As I said, dumb.

I accompanied a friend who was to do a physical reappraisal of a corporate stamp collection, required by them every few years. It had nicely centered mint sets of Columbians, the Trans-Mississippis and more. Unfortunately, they were framed and put on display in the boardroom/meeting room, and were bleached out and wrinkled by this time. It was a 30-second job, as these were just as bad the previous visit and the previous appraisal figure could be used.

I think the worse I've ever done and I'm sure others have done it. I've soaked stamps off paper just to have one stamp on something like bright red paper. That stamp and any near it would acquire a red to pink tinge of varying degrees. Also never soak stamps cut from a padded envelope that was made from paper fillers. What a mess.

About 10 years ago I had what I thought was a genuine unused Scott #49 with a ridiculous amount of hinging; 7 or 8 hinges may be more.
I decided to soak off the hinges because there was no visible gum anywhere on the back of the stamp.
I placed the stamp in room temperature water for about 1 minute. When I removed the stamp from the water all of the hinges were easily removed. The problem was the face of the stamp was gone! Completely gone with not a trace of color or image.
Thankfully it was not an expensive stamp.

Been there, done that.

We are to be applauded, for the length we go to, to save a common postage stamp.
"Bring 'em back alive"

Beware the slobber kings!!! About 10 years ago, I had a nice used copy of St. Thomas & Prince that cost me about US $100. Was trying very gently to get a partially loose hinge remnant off. Not gently enough because as the remnant came up, it brought part of the stamp with it.

Currently have a nicely centered, original gum, copy of Macau #225, cataloging $200. Problem is that it has a half hinge remnant, firmly attached, that is slowly starting to warp the stamp. Two options: leave it as is and let the stamp become damaged. Or, soak off the remnant and devalue the stamp by losing the gum. I'll probably do the latter, but first will soak a low value of the set to see how the coated, chalky, paper reacts. Again, beware the slobber kings!

Steve - there's also the Bill Weiss "pressure" method

http://stampsmarter.com/learning/Ho...eHinges.html

I have a group of stamps which I got from the post office and they are neatly stuck down on the pages I had them in or on. This due to them being exposed to enough humidity that the adhesive stuck. Question is there a product that might enable me to release these stamps and preserve the original gum? or is my best option to leave them as is and mount them stuck down for display?

Chipshot, You might want to try this:



From the manufacturer - Use this fluid to instantly and gently lift stamps from backing paper and hinges or unstick sheets and blocks that have become stuck together or stuck to backing paper. SuperSafe Stamplift Fluid preserves as much of the original gum as possible and is perfectly safe for all stamps. SuperSafe Stamplift Fluid can also be used to separate stamps that have become stuck together

It is available from many supply dealers such as Subway and NOLA and, of course, on the internet. I have never used this myself but have read several reviews on various forums and people seem to be pleased with it overall. I'm planning on getting some myself but just haven't gotten around to it. I believe that I have seen a similar fluid from one of the European supply companies, such as Lindner or SAFE, but I can't remember which one.

Geoff: thanks for the tip. I have Stamp Smarter bookmarked a couple of times, but never thought to look there.