Asking For Your Opinions/Preferences On Mounts. (Not Hinges, Have That Covered.)

Just asking for anyone's opinion/preferences on mounts if you'd care to opine.

Not a state secret; but am working on a website oriented towards new/novice/potential collectors, so would like to know what mounts you use and why you prefer them.

Also want to add the caveat that said site is being done on my own dime, and no sales or donations will be part of the site. Simply doing it for the love of the hobby and not for any financial gain.

That said, have always used Showgard split-backs (and crystals way back in the 80's) so curious what your thoughts are with any other type/style/brand are.

Thank you again for your time and opinions.

Mounts start and stop with Hawid (top loading) for me.

I use Showgard black mounts. I use the strips and cut them to size with a Showgard guillotine.

Hawid top loaders! Safer. No spilt backs anymore for me.

Classic Paper- I am curious as to whether you mount each stamp individually or do you sometimes (or frequently) use strips for sets?

Hey shermae, each stamp gets its own mount. I feel like they each deserve it.

Scott mounts for me.

As with tweezers, one piece of useful advice for new collectors using split-back mounts is "beware". As any of us who've bought others' collections know, it's not uncommon to encounter misuse of the mounts, usually via the clumsy application of adhesive, leading to damage to the stamp through the split back.

To add to the risk factor of split back mounts mentioned by GeoffHa above, they can also damage mint stamps. If an album is either stored laying down OR is stored in a slip case or shelf which applies pressure on the pages holding the mounts, the split in the mount can create a permanent horizonal line in the gum. And like investing in good rag-based paper for album pages, this risk can outlive you and be a significant issue when family members (or others) take procession and are not familiar with the proper care of the material.
Don

Historically, I've used Scott mounts. However, for the last year(ish) I've been using the Davo self-adhesive mounts, ordered from Palo. I prefer them.

I primarily use Showgard or Scott black split-back mounts for stamps in albums.

For my US postal card collection, I use Showgard clear split-back mounts, but this is because I purchased a partial collection and the prior collector had used clear mounts, so I wanted the complete presentation to be consistent.

I use Showgard clear split-back mounts for exhibit pages, as the leading advisors on success in exhibiting all recommend against black mounts.

As a collector of only MNH, I do frequently see stamps with issues related to split-back mounts. That said, Don's comment above is new to me- I always assumed the lines, whether they have evidence of glazing or not, were from moisture intrusion during the mounting process. It never occurred to me that the lines seen on gum could occur under dry conditions.

I've become interested in using mount strips in addition to placing stamps in Vario pages. Stamps frequently tilt when in Vario pages, requiring constant readjusting. Wonder if mount strips would tend to stabilize stamps in Vario pages? Mounts that are taller than the stamps could also be used to note varieties, vs. taking up space with little bits of paper noting the variety. Does anyone have experience with this set-up using mounts?

I should have said "In my opinion" since that is just based upon 'hearsay' and casual observation on my part. It could help explain why countless numbers of people will say 'I've used split backs for decades and not seen this issue' and also explain my anecdotal experience of handling albums where I saw this issue occur.

I have a fair amount of split back mounts in some of my albums since the 1970s and not had this issue occur. I keep decent environmental conditions in general but have a bad habit of 'cheaping out' when we go out of town (or I end up hospitalized for weeks) and adjust the house thermostat.
Don

I prefer clear HAWIDS but will use Scott/Prinz split backs for larger itens, I prefer Scott/Prinz over Showgard but use both. I have been know to split splitbacks to create top loaders




I have tried to put strips of paper behind them (often with text) and did reduce tilting but not careful at aligning since it is more like a stock box..

Thanks Angore, that's exactly what I have in mind. Would have to use a small label since I wouldn't be able to write on the mount. Not sure how small they come or how difficult they may be to handle when applying to the top of a mount. Perhaps if the paper were thick enough, it could accomplish all goals by just running through a printer.

Don- I have observed the phenomenon you speak of, also by casual observation. Sellers are often surprised when I tell them there is a "mount glaze line" on the gum of all or some of the stamps. This may be simply that they don't look at stamps mounted in split backs since it's hard to look while the stamps are on the page.