| Here are tips for the amateur postage stamp collector | | | | enough room for the stamps to float not to stick to |
| on soaking the stamps: | | | | each other. Avoid soaking too many stamps all at one |
| 1. Before soaking your stamp, separate stamps that | | | | time. |
| are on any colored paper, stamps having colored | | | | 4. Leave the stamps to float until such time that the |
| cancellations, particularly those with purple or red ink, | | | | adhesive dissolves so that the stamps easily slides off |
| stamps of very dark in color, stamps that are on poor | | | | the piece of paper. Paper can rip easily so handle the |
| paper quality, or those with unidentified inks that could | | | | stamp carefully and just allow the water to work on it. |
| liquefy in the basin of water and can stain other | | | | 5. Rinse off gently the stamps back in fresh clean |
| stamps. Any "unusual" stamps should be separated | | | | water to so that all the adhesive is taken off. |
| and handled one by one. | | | | 6. Position the stamps in a manner that they are not |
| 2. Trim the paper of the envelope that surrounds | | | | touching each other on top of paper towels to dry, or |
| stamp, being extra careful as not to scratch or slice | | | | old newspapers. |
| the edges of the stamp. | | | | 7. Leave the stamps to dry. When they should curl |
| 3. When soaking the stamp, take a shallow container | | | | afterwards, place them in another dry piece of paper |
| with lukewarm water and float in the stamps having | | | | and place a heavy book on them. |
| the pictures side facing you. Make certain that there is | | | | |