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Is There Anything I Can Do To Save These Stamps?

 
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
34 Posts
Posted 04/26/2021   2:50 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this topic Add Cumer Canitez to your friends list Get a Link to this Message
I have got some of these as pictured, they seem to be in a bad state, normally they are fresh and mint but this is now not the case, they have stuck to each other, if I pull a little more further it will be torn apart if I just soak them will they get harmed/ruined etc. thanks


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Edited by Cumer Canitez - 04/26/2021 4:15 pm

Bedrock Of The Community
12552 Posts
Posted 04/26/2021   3:21 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add rogdcam to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
What is the problem?
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
713 Posts
Posted 04/26/2021   4:17 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add wkusau to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
I believe that they are stuck together. The quick answer is no, there is nothing that will save them as mint. However, you can try
1. a sweat box - it will soften the gum and make it possible to save the the stamps as disturbed gum in some cases.
2. Put them in the freezer - this must have worked for someone but does not work very often
3. throw them in a bucket of water and soak them apart.

Use the search function above to find other SCF threads with more detailed answers about these options.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
34 Posts
Posted 04/26/2021   4:17 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Cumer Canitez to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Sorry, I had to edit some more details to make it more understable, they stuck to eachother
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
4276 Posts
Posted 04/26/2021   5:27 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Parcelpostguy to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
First, do not store mint sheet files flat. Store them on the edge with the spine vertical to avoid pressure on the gum side of the stamps. Store in a non-humid area. At times such stamps may not stick to the glassine but will to other stamps; thus avoid no glassine between stamp panes and blocks. If the mint sheet files need to be flat, don't stack them and down place other items of weight on top.

These stamps, as shown, without gum or with disturbed gum are not really collected by most collectors. Thus I suggested removing the individual stamps which are not stuck and saving those if you wish. For the balance use a sweat box (high humidity enclosed area to then allow the gum to soften to allow separation without tearing. Or just pitch each group of stuck stamps into water, soak, separate, dry flat, buy a glue stick and use for postage. The sweat box normally leaves enough gum to avoid the need for a glue stick.

It is sad to see what happen but be assured that you are not the first or only one of use who learn this lessen the hard way. You have my sympathy.
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United States
6661 Posts
Posted 04/27/2021   2:44 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add stallzer to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Luckily the value for those stamps is only face value basically. I'd replace them and toss the stuck together ones. Selling a plate block of 4 or 6 you might get a dollar, with no gum even less.
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United States
361 Posts
Posted 04/27/2021   5:33 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add oldboldandbrash to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Toss? Why? Just soak them, pat dry, and apply glue to the back to use as postage. Or simply give away any ones with disturbed gum since they're such small value and essentially not worth anything
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United Kingdom
8578 Posts
Posted 04/27/2021   5:50 pm  Show Profile Check GeoffHa's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add GeoffHa to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
US stamps don't have much use as postage for someone in the UK.
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United States
4276 Posts
Posted 04/27/2021   6:29 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Parcelpostguy to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
US stamps don't have much use as postage for someone in the UK


They can be swapped with a collector in the US for UK mint postage. Or donated to an organization which handles US material such as The Stamps for the Wounded. https://www.stampsforthewounded.org/


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Bedrock Of The Community
12552 Posts
Posted 04/27/2021   7:16 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add rogdcam to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Decoupage my friend. Decoupage.
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