Advice On Soaking Old Stamps?

I have been stripping stamps from an old album today (a Stanley Gibbons Century Album circa 1906) and many (most) of the stamps have multiple layers of hinges, paper and other detritus on the back. So far I have just been pulling British Commonwealth stamps and I need to know whether or not it is safe to soak them to remove all the gunk. I know some early British stamps have fugitive ink which can run or fade if soaked but I don't know which ones.

Can someone provide guidance? Most of the stamps are used btw, don't know what I will do about the few mint ones.

Hi Anghus,

If you could tell us which countries you have and load up a few photos/scans we can let you know which ones not to soak

The greens and purples/violets of the Victoria to George V head definitives are particularly fugitive. Aniline colors (strong colors with sort of a glow as they may have already been affected by damp) particularly in the pinkish to reddish orange range, are fugitive.

You can try floating those face up on water surface until hinges or backing paper start to release, then dry by keeping the faces free of any dampness.

Otherwise soak in cool to cold water and only soak long enough so the crud floats off.