Store Stamps In Bundles

Hello.

Today I did these 2 bundles of 100 each of the "One Penny Red".













Do you think it is a good idea? There are some cons in storing stamps in this way? Let me know what you think.

Thank You,
Stefano

No major cons as long as you don't scrunch them up, but you're missing the chance to sort them by plate numbers, which are engraved on each vertical side of the stamp. That's how these are often collected.

http://www.pennyreds.co.uk/

It makes a nicer bundle than the old school bundles, cross tying with thread.

"No major cons as long as you don't scrunch them up, but you're missing the chance to sort them by plate numbers, which are engraved on each vertical side of the stamp. That's how these are often collected.

Yes you are right. I wrote down before doing the bundle the plate numbers. I store many other stamps in bundles, not only this particular issue.

It makes a nicer bundle than the old school bundles, cross tying with thread.

Yes, I think that too. The old school bundles, with cross tying with thread I think that can in some cases ruin the stamps, cutting it or ruin the dents. With this plastic involucre I do, they have a little gap so they aren't scrunched up.

These are other bundles. Every bundle is of 100 stamps.



As you can see, almost all bundles are of calassic era.

I think it is a good way to store those calssic era stamps whose cat. value is 1$/1,5$ and under. In this way the value of each bundle is 100xtimes the value of the single stamps: so even a stamp with a cat value of 0,25$ multiplied for 100 is 25$ of value. Not so bad.

I am less sure that this storage method will cause no harm. Paper is typically best stored with the ability to 'breathe'. I am not aware of any archival recommendations that suggest to wrap or enclose paper. Nor have I ever seen any documents or paper items stored this way in an archive or library.

I would also be careful of brown paper (which is often quite acidic) wrappers around the stamps. This, in combination or the lack of air circulation, may be a setup of toning of all the stamp in the bundle. I once saw several hundreds of thousands of 'bundleware' stamps ruined because the bundles were wrapped in with acidic brown paper.

Bundleware done in the time test approach, with thread, allows air to circulate and will not trap any problems in with the stamps. But as with any storage, the key will be surrounding environmental conditions.

I recommend that you keep a very close eye on these over time. If you are planning on selling these, then I would recommend cautioning the buyers to do the same.
Don

Most of the stamps you've bundled are penny stamps at best - the 1d reds are better than that, potentially a good deal better if you have any scarcer plates. They'll also sell better if laid out on stock-pages than if tied in a bundle.

Oh, I didn't know that. Maybe if I cut the 4 corners of the 'plastic envelope', so that air can circulate, it would be better?

I use also this plastic bags to hold stamps, single and even multiple:



These are some examples:



So do you think that even with this zip plastic bags stamps are bad stored?

Thank You for your opinions.

Air tight enclosures are a double edge sword for long term storage. If the environmental conditions are poor, they might actually be beneficial by limiting the exposure. But if the air in the enclosure is poor, you end up with a greater exposure.

Ultimately I take clues from paper conservators and respected archives and libraries; they do not use sheet protectors or other type enclosures for anything but the highest value paper artifacts. When they use enclosures, they evacuate all the air, add an inert gases, and maintain a highly controlled atmosphere (i.e The Declaration Of Independence).

And of course we are talking about long term storage (measured in years and years). I often use zip lock bags when sorting bulk stamps since I know it is short term.

No matter what how your stamps are housed, the most important thing to do is control the environment. A cool, dry and stable storage environment is paramount; temperatures should be held at a constant 70°F with a relative humidity held between 30% and 50%. Storing your stamps in conditions other than this is inviting paper to become acidic/tone and gum condition (mint stamps) to be affected.
Don

Best way to store duplicates ? Use those glassines that stamp stores use. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glassine

Peter

I agree with Petert4522. Every time I've obtained stamps in bundles from collections I've bought, the stamps have been damaged.