Thinking Of Switching From Hinge To Mounts

Ok. I'm out of touch here, but I REALLY need to get up to speed.

I really only collect MNH stamps so hinges are not in my vocabulary!

So NOW for the BIG question:

I'm back and want to buy stamps! But I used Crystal Mounts (from the 1970's). In fact, I still have some of them and my Harris albums are filled with them.

Can I still buy something like Crystal Mounts? or do I have to go back to my World Citation Album and sacrifice all the worthless World stamps I put in there over 25 years ago.

Prince Afa,
Crystal Mounts have been known to absolutely destroy mint stamps by causing the gum to glaze. If you still have stamps in them, I would highly suggest that you get them out as soon as possible...

-Allen

I think the Crystal Mounts react to the U.S. yellow gum, as I have many Canadian stamps with Crystal Mounts over 20 years old and they are fine.

Now I only hinge used stamps, previously hinged stamps and doors.

That might be the case... I don't think I've ever seen anyone qualify the problem in that way. So, let's say that if you have any US stamps in these, get them out. Otherwise, check them and make sure they aren't causing problems.

-Allen

Good warning Allen. I just checked my old Gilbert and Ellice islands and Tuvalu and they are fine. Some, however, may be Showguard for these two countries, it is hard to tell. I used both back then.

I've only come across these occasionally when buying collections. Getting the stamps out of them is a feat of mechanical physics IMHO.

Thanks for the heads-up on Crystal Mounts.

It kind of ticks me off. As a teenager, a pretty signaficant amount of my stamp collecting budget went into thse mounts. I don't know if there was an alternative at the time - I grew up in the rural midwest and it seems I bought all my supplies at the local dime Store and they only had hinges and Crystal Mounts. It was a little before the Internet :)

I have picked up a few pages with stamps in mounts that I have not seen before. These mounts completely encase the stamp with the clear plastic wrapping around the black backing on all four sides. Are these the dreaded Crystal Mounts I have been reading about??

Here's another thread about Crystal Mounts. The photos should help.

https://goscf.com/t/10299

Brian

If you're collecting US, Mystic now has a Hingeless Heirloom album. Volumes 1,2 and 3 are available for purchase. It looks lie each volume will cost $70. Volume 1 can be found here.

http://www.mysticstamp.com/viewProd...sp?sku=DS126

Hi

It does depend on whther you are collecting US only or US and foreign. If US only, then I would stock up on the pre-cut packages.
For foreign, strips are the way to go and how many of each depends on the country, or countries, you collect. For example, for Latin America you will probably use a lot of 31mm and 40mm or 41mm strips.

I have been using Showgard since they came on the market and now I have at least one package of every size they produce. It sounds expensive but over 20+ years it is not all that bad. At one time or another I have used at least 2 strips or mount of every size.

Jerry B

Pre-cut are great for single stamps. I don't think they make pre-cut for se-tenants.