Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
My focus is used stamps so I will begin there. My stamp work area always contains a small cup with water & small brushes. A simple dab of water on virtually all stamps , a little patience; and a set of tongs to remove the moistened hinges/paper works charms. Note, there are a limited number of stamps with inks that are water soluble which must be treated with greater care. In those cases care must be given not to saturate the stamp but to merely moisten the offending hinge or paper. In either case I seldom have need for so-called 'cleaner' solutions to remove unwanted material. I use them only when I run into apparent glues which are not water soluble.
When I work on my collection (updating or taking from available volumes) I find I can fill a small bowl with hinge and paper remainders in an hour or so of work. It is amazing how much comes from my own collection when I re-organize areas. As I have been collecting for years I constantly re-organize and fill small bowls with paper on a regular basis.
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I also like to clean the stamps I am working on, at least to the point of removing hinges. However, the method used depends on the stamp. I won't soak say a Swiss Struble, but I might remove a hinge by careful work (Q Tip, burnishing etc.).
Further, I won't soak a stamp that likely has been repaired. I'd rather have a repaired rarity than no rarity and soaking (or even Q-Tipping) might damage the repair. Again, what comes to mind recently were some old Swiss stamps. For a while, the repaired stamps might be placeholders until I can afford a better copy. I recently replaced just such a stamp.
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Thank you both for the post.
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I recently posted a pet issue about items offered which contain hinge remainders and/or adhered paper. I felt these should be cleaned before offering to others for sale or trade. I have endured too many hidden flaws or ID issues on items after receipt and cleaning myself. I wonder how some people can ID watermarks with paper adhering to entire back of stamps- but it happens often. (If it is that spot in the album it must be so appears to be the rule of thumb.
My focus is used stamps so I will begin there. My stamp work area always contains a small cup with water & small brushes. A simple dab of water on virtually all stamps , a little patience; and a set of tongs to remove the moistened hinges/paper works charms. Note, there are a limited number of stamps with inks that are water soluble which must be treated with greater care. In those cases care must be given not to saturate the stamp but to merely moisten the offending hinge or paper. In either case I seldom have need for so-called 'cleaner' solutions to remove unwanted material. I use them only when I run into apparent glues which are not water soluble.
When I work on my collection (updating or taking from available volumes) I find I can fill a small bowl with hinge and paper remainders in an hour or so of work. It is amazing how much comes from my own collection when I re-organize areas. As I have been collecting for years I constantly re-organize and fill small bowls with paper on a regular basis.
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re: Cleaning Stamps
I also like to clean the stamps I am working on, at least to the point of removing hinges. However, the method used depends on the stamp. I won't soak say a Swiss Struble, but I might remove a hinge by careful work (Q Tip, burnishing etc.).
Further, I won't soak a stamp that likely has been repaired. I'd rather have a repaired rarity than no rarity and soaking (or even Q-Tipping) might damage the repair. Again, what comes to mind recently were some old Swiss stamps. For a while, the repaired stamps might be placeholders until I can afford a better copy. I recently replaced just such a stamp.
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