Self Adhesive Singles

Exactly what is the procedure for removing a single self-adhesive stamp from a sheet, booklet, or souvenir sheet while keeping the backing intact and not hanging outside the perforations? I understand there are some press sheets and die cast sheets where the perforations go through the backing making it easy to separate individual stamps. When I buy a single stamp (self-adhesive)from a dealer how do they manage to provide a stamp that doesn't look like it was just cut out with scissors?

For coil self-adhesives, I just fold the liner from the backside approximately where the die cuts would be and Xacto it. It leaves the die cut perfs hanging over the liner a little. It's easy since it's a coil and liner alignment is easy.

For self adhesives with die cuts on 4 sides -- dunno...do you take the time to Xacto 4 sides if you're a dealer?
I don't know, but I've seen obviously hand torn and scissor cut ones that look so bad that I'd rather buy a new example.

When taking a modern self-adhesive single from a pane, I do leave about 2-3 mm of paper all the way around. I trim it long and straighten the cuts out with a stamp mount guillotine.

But that wouldn't work if intending to split all the stamps into singles/blocks for sale.

If you wanted it even with, or at the interior edge of the perf, I'd do as Gwanghoops suggested and fold the paper back and cut it with an Xacto or razor blade. The only problem I have with leaving the perf's hanging in the wind would be their tendancy to get stuck on anything, if they do, the gum on the perf's will be disturbed at best and you're no longer mint all over.

As a side note, I almost wish the backing paper was black.

That's my thinking anyways...

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I purchase the U.S Stamp Yearbooks (what used to be called the mint commemorative sets), one of the reasons being that it has singles, so I don't have to buy the whole sheet if I don't want it.

I've wondered how the postal service separates all the singles for these sets, sometimes the perforations appear to be perfectly cut around, with the backing still on the adhesive side. It looks like they may have a machine that cuts the stamps out of the pane.

I've not been too happy with my attempts to either cut exactly at the perf tips, or to peel back the perforated edge, cut the backing to separate the stamps, and lay the perforated edge back down.

What I've been doing is using for postage the stamps around the single, block, or strip I want in "collectable condition" Then I can make nice straight cuts around the edges leaving a consistent boarder just beyond the perforations.

"sometimes the perforations appear to be perfectly cut around, with the backing still on the adhesive side. It looks like they may have a machine that cuts the stamps out of the pane"

For some US issues they partially cut the backing paper in the same shapes as the stamps and then it is fairly easy to separate them the rest of the way.

Canada offers completely cut out stamps in their quartely and annual sets.

jconey, can you recommend some stamp mount guillotines? I searched on DuckDuckGo after reading your comment, which led me to iHobb, but their product photos are ridiculously blurry and their descriptions full of typos (is "aluminuml" a new alloy?)

As far as I can tell, "stamp mount guillotines" look like the Swingline paper cutter I own. It's a straight line paper cutter that you pull down to cut. What differentiates a stamp mount guillotine? When I read your comment, I envisioned something shaped to cut perfectly around perforations, a squiggly blade type thing. Does that exist?

Thanks.

I don't know how stamp mount guillotines diifer from paper cutters - perhaps they're the same but manufactured by stamp companies. I have a Hagner version, and others are made by Lighthouse, Prinz etc.

They call them die-cut stamps. The postal supply of stamps uses Dies to cut the stamp paper only and not cut through the backing paper. The Philatelic Canadian die cut singles are made the same except the cutter is set to go clean through the paper, similar to a cookie cutter. The US year album singles are probably made the same way.

To obtain singles from a complete booklet it is best to use the stamps around the one you want. And cut the paper close around it. Many dealers are probably doing the same or affixing singles to any backing paper from used ones and cutting leaving a small border.

It was noted by myself that at least one catalogue noted that the values stated for mint self adhesive stamps, are for ones on original backing paper only and not lifted or differing from original backing paper.

Very helpful comments. Thanks

" The Philatelic Canadian die cut singles are made the same except the cutter is set to go clean through the paper, similar to a cookie cutter. The US year album singles are probably made the same way."

Sadly not true for the US.

Letterpress: Sorry I was off the board for a week or more working extra hours trying to wrap up one of several projects at work and just saw your question.

The one I use is a Showgard. Although it's a bit small with a capacity of only 3-5/8 inches or so. This one has seen a lot of use and I have had it for close to 30 years. It's showing it's age and the blade is getting a little dull. You can remove the blade and sharpen/replace it but I've never done it. I might give it a try.

I have heard many good comments about using a Fiskars paper cutter. I'm thinking about buying on as it would make larger items easier to cut mounts for.