How To Safely Remove Stamps From Old Album

I have an Ambassador album which I've had since I was a kid - for close to 60 years. Sadly it spent many years stored in a damp attic. The stamps were originally inserted using gummed hinges. When the album dried out most of the stamps were stuck to the pages. I'd like to rescue the stamps. What's the best way to remove these stamps without damaging them further? When I was a kid I'd just soak them in tap water to remove them from envelopes and dry them on a piece of paper towel - is that what I need to do now? If so do I need to used distilled water? If not ....

That is the process for used stamps. It should both release the stamp from the album page paper and remove the old hinge as well.

Likely the same is need for any mint stamps but that will cause gum loss. If there are mint stamps with higher values, you would want to try a sweat-box as that method can leave the most gum behind.

A Desert Magic II Drying Book is also helpful to prevent curling when drying. Or any other press method you may try. Just make sure the stamps are free of any residual gum if you use any kind of ordinary paper. The drying book has a special release paper on one side to prevent sticking.
pat

vyengr,

Some things haven't changed in 60 years! Soaking in water is still the best way to remove stamps from paper.

A search on this site will give you some good techniques.

If IF there wasn't too much moisture or pressure on the album and the stamps aren't tightly adhered to the paper, you may *SOMETIMES* be able to get the stamps off the paper by gently putting your stamp tongs under the stamp and lifting. Don't use force. If it flicks off, good. Using pressure will damage the stamp or damage the perforations.

Good luck!

Dan

Welcome vyengr
More information on soaking stamps here https://stampsmarter.org/learning/H...kStamps.html
Don

Thanks, everyone. This will keep me occupied for several weeks at least.

It may be several weeks of labour, or several weeks of enjoyment.
How may you treat it?

Good question. At first I thought a blend: mostly labour up front and mostly enjoyment as I near the end. But upon reflection I think it will be mostly nostalgic enjoyment. I haven't visited many of those stamps in half century so it will be like meeting up with old friends and remembering when and where I first met them. Then I guess the next question will be what to do with those old friends once I free them from captivity.

I love your referring to these stamps as "old friends." I have a bunch of old friends I've been reacquainting myself with lately, too.

Thanks for this.