Perforation Tips White In Photo's. What Does This Mean?

I have notice quite a few images of vintage stamps with perforation tips whiter than the base color of the stamp. Any info would be appreciated.

regards

Hi Stamp Collector
My answer, remember is just my opinion...Others may have other ideas.

Robert

grazie Signore

Wert- it would be interesting to see if multiples or sheets of a similar vintage to the OP's example show this loss of gum. If caused by perf pins then the gum should already be missing in between stamps of a multiple. And would we expect gum to be missing all along the perf hole?

Another possible theory might be that both the paper and gum are slightly thinned or removed when the stamp edges have been folded and torn during the process of separating single stamps. Also strictly a theory...

It sometimes indicates that someone regummed the stamp and then used sandpaper/file to removed the the gum that covered the perf tips (which would clearly reveal the regumming).
Don

True Don..Something to look out for...
Here are a couple of perfs I put together..
Robert

Perforation pins do not cause white perf tips but separating the stamps will cause a bit of natural gum loss that shows up more when the gum is not white. The older the multiple when broken the more likely gum loss is. Gum ages and can dry out. I would not expect to see the white areas on the tips in most cases if a stamp was regummed unless somebody was a pro and took a lot of time and care to sand them as Don stated. In the case of the original OP's magnified image it was obviously not sanded because the perf tip fibers are still intact. If regummed, the tips might be covered in the new or redistributed gum which is why it would be sanded in the first place. If gum collects on the tip fibers from applying gum it is a tell for regumming and you would want to get rid of it.

Personally I think that both of Wert's examples are regummed. I see gum on the inside perf hole edges on both. Could be wrong given that the pics are a bit unclear.

PS: Magnification can be a good thing but like drinking alcohol it can become a problem if taken to far. The forest for the trees and all of that.

ANOTHER OPINION ------If stamps are shoved into the bottom of some of the PLASTIC mounts or Plastic glassine you could be seeing the unstable plastic reacting over time to the gum or paper ,sort of like it melting or sticking to the stamps ,I ran into this stamp sticking in mounts a few times but never exaimaned the perfs because it was cheaper stamps .

Perforation pins do not cause white perf tips but separating the stamps will cause a bit of natural gum loss that shows up more when the gum is not white. The older the multiple when broken the more likely gum loss is. Gum ages and can dry out. I would not expect to see the white areas on the tips in most cases if a stamp was regummed unless somebody was a pro and took a lot of time and care to sand them as Don stated. In the case of the original OP's magnified image it was obviously not sanded because the perf tip fibers are still intact. If regummed, the tips might be covered in the new or redistributed gum which is why it would be sanded in the first place. If gum collects on the tip fibers from applying gum it is a tell for regumming and you would want to get rid of it.

Personally I think that both of Wert's examples are regummed. I see gum on the inside perf hole edges on both. Could be wrong given that the pics are a bit unclear.

PS: Magnification can be a good thing but like drinking alcohol it can become a problem if taken to far. The forest for the trees and all of that.

This might seem like the most likely. Due to the fibers being present I dont think this was filed and not to mention the stamp is not worth much.