Will These Stamps Come Off?

Today I got a package containing the literal shoebox full of mostly off-paper stamps that I bought. Hey, the price was right.

Right on top were some old Guatemalan stamps, older than I realized until I looked them up. Three of Guatemala's first four issues (1871) are there. I thought, what are they doing in a cheap shoebox full of stamps? And why was the album page they're attached to cut out around them and thrown in the box? Why not take them off the page? The same goes for a set of four 1878 issues.

Well... they're really stuck hard to the page. Since the middle stamp of the 1871 issues was already damaged, I went ahead and used more force to peel it off. The "hinge" on the back was very thick. I picked off multiple layers with tweezers, but the rest isn't budging. All seven stamps are attached to album paper this way. I'm not sure why someone would do this to these poor stamps.

Here's the back with what's left of the hinge shaped sticky part:


The other six stamps are in much better condition, but they're all attached to the page the same way. Should I try to soak them off? Use some other method? Or let it be and just put them in an album as is, old album paper behind them and all? I imagine this won't be the last time I see something like it.

1. Scan is too poor to comment.
2. A lot of very early stamps, were "stuck down" that is any kind of mucilage they could find (elmers glue etc)
3. Early collectors had no idea of husbandry, how to take care of stamps,
let's face it you were showing similar signs



That's a great way to create "thins" on your stamps.

Be gentle, try soaking one stamp in cold water for 10 minutes,
if the back does not separate, then it is a possible "stuck down"
there is nothing you can do, but mount as is.

Be aware a lot of these were forged.




In that case, yes, you will certainly meet more similar stamps.
But that's OK, one has to collect within one's limits.

"You cannot make a silk purse from a Sow's ear" Circa year 1500

Thanks, I'll give soaking a try. Like I said, I wasn't worried about damaging the one as it was already in poor condition, but the others look okay.

I never knew forgeries were so abundant. A quick google turned up a hit here for early Guatemalan stamp forgeries: http://stampforgeries.com/forged-st...f-guatemala/

Good photos, though I wish they had more explanations of how to tell the forgeries from the genuine stamps.

In the same lot, I found some Russia Turkey Office overprints that immediately made me suspicious. They're just too crisp. Between that and where I found them, forgery seems possible or even likely.

And why wouldn't you try to soak them off in the first place? Cut around the stamps on the page paper and soak the stamps. Use cool or cold water and wait until the "hinges" come loose with light stirring. This is assuming they are old makeshift hinges made from gummed paper labels, Those have a thick surface coating that (purposely?) takes time for water to soak around from the sides and not through the paper.

If there's a modern sticky label on top, this won't work. You will need to use Orange Cleaner or somesuch to melt the glue there. Then soak to get the paper residue off.

Crisp is OK, some were not used and saved in collections.
I find it best not to assume, ...investigate.




The first (in my opinion) sign that a stamp is questionable, just look at the value tablet.
Numerals have troubled forgers since time began, they just cannot get
the figures correct, there may be exceptions.

If you have a questionable, scan two issues of the stamp at 600 dpi
Crop each to the outline of the design, (cut off the perforations)

Then Toggle between the two, all will be revealed.

If you have Scott #1 try toggling (as described) to my Number 1

Already noted in SCF, the International Society of Guatemala Collectors now has their key work available as a free download:
https://www.guatemalastamps.com/
It has details on detecting all the early forgeries.

Marvelous link, Thanks HB.