How To Soak Problem Stamps

I've been doing this for 50-ish years and still have a problem soaking some stamps. Right now, I am soaking some common Austrian stamps from the 1890's to about 1920. I use nice clean water in a large bowl - I like to really let them swim (LOTS of water). Most of them come out just fine and those end up between pages of a telephone book to press/dry for a day or two. I see this from certain eras/countries all the time, but now it is Austria. Maybe half from that era come out of the water feeling slimy/gummy on the back. I know from experience that they will simply stick hard to whatever I lay them on to dry. I try rubbing them between my fingers under running water - lots of work. I have tried soaking them longer... and longer.... and longer (like 5 days!) and they still come out gummy. I have tried boiling water. I have tried freezing water. I have tried lightly soapy water. The gum appears to be PARTLY water soluble - it is definitely soft and gooey, not hard like it was before soaking, but it is not completely dissolving in water, no matter what method I use.

For those of you that know what I am talking about, what do you do?

I've had perfect results with Citrus Magic. Big caveat: no idea if it will affect paper, ink, etc years from now, and while there are no adverse effects that I've noticed, I wouldn't do this with anything high-value.

I generally don't collect much modern, but will keep some commemoratives that catch my eye now and again, and I find that the briefest of sprays to the backing paper will cause the stamp to lift.

The gooey stuff is still on the stamp. I put the stamp face down on a clean, flat surface, and carefully use a rigid straight edge (a metal credit card works perfectly) and apply gentle, consistent pressure to lightly scrape it off.

The citrus oils evaporate and the stamp is left in great shape. The citrus odor dissipates after awhile.

Again - I want to reiterate - no idea if this is safe long-term. It could very well be (and if you asked me to judge whether lighter fluid would be safe, I'd say no, but apparently it's fine?).

But it does work like a charm!

I think xavierstripe is talking about the modern self stick stamps, not he Austrian turn of the 19th-20th century issues. I've never had luck without the gentle rubbing of the stamp to migrate the partially dissolved gum off the back. It's not that it's not water soluble, it's just that without the addition of some agitation the dissolved gum stays where it is. Perhaps an ultrasonic cleaner would do better?

Agree.

I use a sharp paring knife, with the stamp on the meaty part of the base of my thumb, and gently lift / scrape the yellow gunk off.

Some early commonwealth larger format stamps as well.
Esp the KGV Jubilee stamps of the Malay States.

I have found that Pure Citrus sometimes removes cancellations.

Jack Kelley

I don't try and remove tacky gum. This won't suit everyone's needs but...

I attach the tacky stamp to a piece of clean white paper or a transparency (eg the clear 'flap' you get on the front of some stockcards). Cut neatly around it and hey-ho. Stamp is secure and looks OK. In fact, you could argue it looks more OK than having no backing at all, since it better resembles what it is - a self-adhesive.

I find that most stamps with lickable gum have a slight stickiness left so I dry them in a drying book where alternate leaves are of a none stick material. I have also dried stamps on a bath towel, they don't stick but tend to curl as they dry. I have no experience of the Austrian or Australian issues in particular.

I would try using clear, running water for the soak.

I do this outside and let the water run off into the flower garden as not to waste water. I setup my soak pan (large aluminum roasting pan) with a trickle of water coming into it from a hose. I tilt the pan at a slight angle and then form a small crease at the opposite end to let the water drain. Under this pan I use a spare piece of gutter to direct the water into the garden and it also serves as a 'catch' for any stamp that might try to escape. I do not sit and watch but rather let it run for a period of time. I do not run a lot of water through this, it is a slow flow. A bit like putting the stamps into a small brook, the water is constantly being circulated and refreshed.

Obviously this is a lot of setup so I only do this a few times a year and when I have very large amounts (1000s) of stamps to soak.
Don

Same as Rod. I try to scrape some excess gum with a knife or something. I also put the stamps face up on the sheet of plastic in my pressing book. This way they do get stuck. I usually use sheet protectors and cardstock to press/dry my stamps.

Danko,
you can put them FACE DOWN on a freezer bag, they never stick, ever.