This Is Why I Use Clear Mounts

Enough to give me hives.

Where is the Benadryl?

From one of the lots in the next Michael Rogers auctions...

Agreed, it looks a little ragged,
but one must contain one's apoplexy.
There has been a genuine attempt to conserve the items.
There will be no pulling of hinges off of Album pages.
It is not handsome, but still not vandalism.

What does this have to do with classic stamps ?

I prefer clear mounts as well for my printed album pages for multiple reasons, the pictured examples being one of them. For any new areas I've started over the last couple years, though, I've started using Vario pages and I have no plans on changing back.

Absolutely nothing, and additional proof I manage to screw up the category almost every single time I try to create a new post

Have to agree with that it has nothing to do with Classic Stamps, but it does show classic error made by amateur collector.

Actually, I would think 1873 would be directly in the center of the "Classic" definition...
And I use black mounts to give some highlight to the perforations in my albums and clear mounts on exhibits because the judges seem to prefer them. :)

Using black mounts seems to be something everyone screws up a little bit, and some people manage to screw up a lot. The issue with black mounts is that when a mount is not aligned really precisely, you see it very clearly. That includes how aligned the mount is in the stamp box as well as how aligned it is to the mounts to both sides of it. A mount that is a little higher or lower then nearby stamps is really noticeable.

I like the look of black mounts because the black border around the stamp highlights the colors of the stamp. A page of well cut and well mounted black mounts looks really good. But a page of black mounts with some mounts tilted, some too high or too low, is not just a compulsive person's discomfort, it also just looks bad. I prefer clear backed mounts. And in that, I'm in agreement with every single manufatcturer of stamp albums in the world, all of whom use clear mounts. I wonder why they do that?

I believe the primary reasons why album manufacturers use clear mounts are first that it allows you to see the info contained in the box that describes the stamp you are missing, stamps you have cover that info, but that's OK since you have that stamp. Secondly if they used black mounts it would greatly highlight where you have stamps missing, since in that case the box is filled in with a big hunk of black (or blue as in the case with Showgards).

If an empty black mount is a bit out of orientation, it's very (painfully) obvious. Clear mounts are much more forgiving.

I am a clear mount fan too.

A hingeless album with all empty black mounts would be an interesting sight.

(Yes, this should be in the supplies discussion section).

I have had really nice Scott albums that were quite useable but no one wanted them because they were filled with empty black mounts. I think empty black mounts drastically hurt the resale value of a collection.

Black mounts often show what was taken from the album when the remainder was sold!

Call me old fashioned, or maybe just old, but I still use hinges and mount my stamps meticulously. And all that was said about mounts, both black and clear, is true of hinges, as well, from being able to see what is beneath a stamp on an album page, to sloppiness, and even what was removed from a collection if hinge remnants are, or even are not, left behind.

As far as mounts go, I occasionally use them on MNH material by using a hinge to hold them in place. But I look for mint hinged, and only buy never hinged when at bargain prices.

Heheh, I hinge my mounts, so I can move them t a different page or straighten them at will. :)

I like black mounts because they show off the perforations and centering well. The colors also "pop" against the black.