US Postage Due Sheets Stuck Together

This particular topic has come up several times and each time it's pretty much the same answer, soak'em apart. But that's not the question this time.

My question, is there an over sized drying book available? I've done some googling and came up empty handed. Thought I'd ask the forum before pinging the individual stamp supply resellers. I'm looking for a drying book that's larger then 8 1/2 x 11. The sheets are 9 x 10 1/4.

I'm kinda hoping someone has dealt with this in the past and has a failsafe solution they would be willing to share.

Thanks all.

My old office blotter used to take A3 blotting paper, which should work.

I would use plain white non-embossed paper towels.

Thanks all, appreciate to response. I shy away from paper towel when it comes to unused stamps and soaking. I have spent many hours trying to get paper towel remnants from the back of stamps. =)

Oh, you can buy blotting paper? Go figure. Thanks.

Having tried several drying techniques over the years, my current (and likely permanent) drying solution is using artist sketch books. I have two like this, available at most art supply stores. This one is 9x12, and they come larger too. High quality smooth paper without printing. Opens flat. I place stamps every 4-5 pages then weight it for a while. A full sheet just fits.

Nice! Thank you, sir!

Did you consider trying to freeze them first?

Moyock13:
Just be sure you've removed ALL the gum before putting on uncoated paper.

pat

I'm a little skeptical about freezing these sheets. My main concern is moisture collected after thawing.

I ordered some blotter paper, I'm going to go the soaking route and see how that works out. I do have some sheets that were ripped in half after usage... that's the way I received them. Might try the freezing routine on them.

If after freezing the frozen sheets are placed into a sealed zip-lock type bag and then allowed to slowly return to room temperature there should be no problem. As the air min the sealed bag warms, it will hold more moisture in the air further drying the sheets without allowing warm air to condense on the cold stamps as warming.

Thanks Parcelpostguy, I might give that a try.

Sorry for the novice question, but it's because I'm a novice.

I was given a few stuck together sheets and had the same question, with a follow on question. once these sheets are soaked, are they considered mint no gum? Trying to figure out how to note it in my inventory.

Going Postal,
That is how I would list them

Freezing the stuck sheets provided partial success. Several sheets are free, but several sheets are still stuck. I did order some blotter paper so one of my weekend goals is to soak and separate the remaining stuck sheets.

Thanks all for the advise.

There are no real rules on it, but personally, I consider mint to be MNH, something post-office fresh, as issued. Anything with gum disturbances, etc., I would classify as unused. It never went through the postal system and has not been used for the mail but it is still not as issued. Used, of course, has been through the system and fulfilled the function the stamp was created for and CTO, that's a stamp that was never actually intended for postal use, it was cancelled at, or near the time that it was created, to dump on the collector market.

It really doesn't matter how you call things, so long as you are consistent and clear in your definitions.

Thanks for the responses. I think unused makes a lot of sense.