Quick Question About Mng Stamps

First of all, inherited collection trying to liquidate at some point. One of the books has thousands of stamps, 1910-1930 mostly blocks of four or lined pairs, mint, all hinged. The majority of the stamps are stuck to the page because of storage in humid environment no AC. Luckily most of the stamps have minimal value so no great loss. My question concerns some lined pairs that may be of the Carmine Lake variety. Should I float these off of the page or should I try to offer them in "as is" condition to assure the buyer that they are truly MNG as advertised? I know opinions differ on this subject but just trying to get a 2022 opinion on the matter. Thanks in advance. JoJo P.S. The vertical pair is not damage to the stamp.

JoJo, not sure what you mean by MNG in this context. MNG means "mint, no gum" which is what you would probably get if you were to soak the stamps off paper but not what you would intend if you offered them "as is" on paper.

I had read an earlier post which I cannot locate that some responders offered the view that they suspected MNG stamps often were actually "used" stamps which had somehow escaped being cancelled. Not being a collector or buyer puts me at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to wondering what Philatelic experts would prefer. Please excuse my broad use of the term MNG. Thanks for the reply!

JoJo - They are in no way carmine lake. I would leave them in-situ. Their value will be the same either way and you will save yourself some work. Not trying to be mean but realistic when I say that these stamps with no gum have minimal value.

Thanks! Without a frame of reference, ie: a "real" carmine lake" , I can only go on my naked eye that a stamp is 10 times darker than other types of the same stamp in the book. I know this isn't a good method, its just the only one I have right now. At least your assessment saves me some work and some wondering. Thanks again!

That's certainly one way a stamp can become "mint no gum." To a great degree, it doesn't really matter whether the stamp escaped being cancelled, or had the unfortunate fate of becoming stuck to some kind of paper before being used, or was mint (unused) but hinged, or something else. In every case, two things are true: 1) the stamp wasn't cancelled (thus mint), and 2) the stamp no longer has gum (as a result of soaking).