| Before placing stamps in their collections, stamp | | | | sufficient to remove any remaining gum residue. (Note |
| collectors generally remove the stamps from | | | | that on certain older stamp issues the partially |
| envelopes by soaking them in water to dissolve the | | | | dissolved gum will remain attached to the stamp and |
| gum. This technique is also useful for treating stamps | | | | must be removed by gently rubbing between the |
| that have hinge remnants still attached, stamps that | | | | thumb and finger - a direct and unfortunate |
| have become stuck in old albums, and stamps that | | | | contradiction to the above instruction to use blunt |
| have become stuck to other stamps. Soaking stamps | | | | tipped tongs!) |
| is not difficult and requires little in the way of special | | | | Drying and Pressing: Collectors have come up with a |
| equipment. However, caution, patience, and correct | | | | seemingly infinite variety of methods and tools for |
| methods are necessary to avoid damaging stamps in | | | | drying and pressing stamps after soaking. The basic |
| the process. | | | | idea behind all of them is to pre-dry the stamps in the |
| Preparing the Stamps: Before soaking stamps, it is | | | | open air, move them for a final dry in some type of |
| best to remove as much of the excess paper as is | | | | light press to avoid curling, and then move the stamps |
| practical. Typically collectors trim the envelope paper | | | | to a heavier press get them nice and crisp before |
| to within about an eighth of an inch around the stamp. | | | | mounting in your album. |
| Careful trimming speeds up the soaking process, limits | | | | Personally, I keep a supply of blotter paper and |
| the debris floating in the soak water, and also limits the | | | | non-stick plastic dividers which come together as a |
| amount of dirt, ink, and other contaminants that might | | | | refill kit for a commonly available stamp press. After |
| come in contact with the stamps. After trimming, | | | | removing stamps from their final rinse and gently |
| stamps should be sorted into two groups separating | | | | shaking off the excess water I set them face down |
| out potential troublemakers. Colored envelopes, air mail | | | | on an older piece of blotter to absorb some of the |
| envelopes, hand cancels, ink from ink jet printers, and | | | | excess moisture and let them sit until they are nearly |
| ink from pens can all stain stamps. | | | | dry. I then move the stamps to a fresh (but not |
| Soaking and Rinsing: Stamps should be soaked in | | | | necessarily brand new) sheet of blotter, again face |
| lukewarm water that is comfortable to the touch. I | | | | down, and set one of the non-stick dividers on top. |
| recommend soaking using two medium sized glass or | | | | Note that the non-stick dividers are going on the |
| ceramic mixing bowls. The first bowl is used for | | | | formerly gummed side of the stamp so that if any |
| soaking the stamps and the second is used to give | | | | gum residue remains the stamp will not become |
| them a final rinse. You should only soak a few stamps | | | | re-stuck. When sorting a number of stamps I may |
| at a time (typically between 10 and 20) and change | | | | wind up using several sheets of blotter paper making a |
| the water frequently. You will want to make sure the | | | | stack which |
| stamps are completely submerged and you might also | | | | c. I then place a book on top of the stack to hold |
| agitate the water gently with a finger. However, you | | | | things in place and leave the stamps overnight. The |
| should avoid too much handling of the stamps while | | | | last step in this process is to arrange the stamps on |
| they are in the water. Depending on the gum used in | | | | pieces of plain typing paper and place them under a |
| the stamp's manufacture it will take anywhere from | | | | stack of books for several days as a final press. |
| few minutes to half an hour or more for the stamp to | | | | As noted the equipment used for the drying and |
| float free of the paper. During this time you must resist | | | | pressing phase varies among collectors. Many people |
| the (very strong) temptation to help the process along | | | | choose not to bother with blotter paper and use |
| - pulling and tugging on wet stamps in an attempt to | | | | newspaper or old phonebook pages in their place. |
| peel them from the paper will often result in damage. | | | | Good options for non-stick dividers include gallon-size |
| Stamp damage will also be reduced if you use a nice | | | | freezer bags and plastic sheet protectors. Also, most |
| pair of blunt nosed stamp tongs instead of bare fingers | | | | stamp dealers carry drying books in which the pages |
| when handling the wet stamps. Once the stamps have | | | | alternate between blotter and non-stick. These books |
| floated free from the paper, a quick rinse should be | | | | are not very expensive and last quite a long time. |