How To Get Curled Stamps Straight?

Hi all,

Maybe belongs this thread in the Kiloware-subforum, but because it is a general question about stamps I put it here.
Please move it if the mods think that it belongs in Kiloware.

All right, there we go.

I had yesterday a discussion with a stamp friend about stamps that curl up after soaking them from the envelope.
I think everybody here knows what I mean.

He said that you cannot get the stamps back in (straight, flat) shape again.
But I don't know so I believed it.
But is that true?
And what does it do to the value of the "curled" stamp, 'cause they don't get flat anymore.

If this is all true, I can throw a lot of stamps away...

But if it isn't true, with what method can I get my curled up stamps flat?

Thanks and greets,

Ricky93

Stamps which have been soaked will just return to normal, given time. When they are fresh soaked and dried they tend to be crisp, inflexible and springy. Leave them in a packet or stockbook for a couple of days and revisit.

Remember, just about every used stamp which is not on paper has been soaked, and most are fine. There's no special method to it - they just go back to their soft, floppy state naturally.

Hi Ricky,

I usually have success when I take the curled stamps, wash them in warm water (as if soaking them for the first time) then blot them dry and put them between the two halves of a sheet of plain white paper.

I then stick the folded paper in a book and put some more books (or a heavy object) on top and keep them there to dry. Best done overnight or at least ten hours if possible.

The dry, FLAT stamps should no longer be curled!

--Jim

When they come out of the second rinse,
Lay FACE DOWN on your freezer bag, run the shovel nosed tongs (or a spoon) down the length of the stamp. Repeat as necessary.
You are teasing the paper weave.
Continue until stamp will lay reasonably flat, the turn over on the freezer bag
into the "sandwich" 1 week, it will come out flat as a Halibut, no curling.

It's common practice.

I have never used a drying book or any such thing. I simply lay the wet stamps on a clean tea towel (special one for stamps only! don't want chip fat getting anywhere near the stamps) and leave them for half an hour, or an hour, until they feel bone dry.

I just re-soak and re-press. Works for me.

Jack Kelley

Thanks guys for all the answers.
I did not tried the solutions yet but I will do that later.

Thanks again,

Ricky93

What do you do with curling gummed stamps, like mint and CTOs?

http://stampsmarter.com/learning/Ho...Curling.html
Don

This is slightly off topic-
I had read it somewhere that some Australia Kangaroo stamps watermark can be found out by placing it on the palm and then the curl according to the type of watermark?

To remove the curl from a stamp, I place the stamp in a glassine envelope and carefully run it over the edge of my desk. One or two gentle passes usually does the trick.

Robert