Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I was just sorting some used GB machins and I have multiple copies of the same stamp.
A fair few of the stamps have some residual gum from where they were removed from paper using something like "Stamplift" ( not by me I hasten to add ),some are completely clean and some have pencil mark / notations on the reverse.
I also must admit that in 60 years of collecting I have never bought an individual used stamp so I am not sure what is acceptable to a used stamp collector?
Also while I am thinking about it if the paper is a little "wrinkly" from the washing process is that a no no!
Best wishes,
Brian.
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I think everyone has their own standards about what is acceptable. Personally I don't get too fussed about a pencil notation on the back of a stamp. I will sometime soak a used stamp that has other residue on the back to clean it up.
For me most important things I check for are - blemishes, creases, thins, pulled/missing perfs, and presence of a reasonably light cancel. I don't use spacefillers. That way I know that if I've mounted a stamp in my collection it is sound, and I can spend my time/money chasing other stamps.
Given two acceptable (i.e. sound) used copies I will pick the one that has a better combination of centring and cancel.
Eric
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I forgot to mention - re wrinkly stamps.
Those I wouldn't include in my collection as is. However, I might take a crack at soaking and pressing them to bring them up to an acceptable appearance.
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My world-wide collection contains items from up to 50 years ago. I collect used (unused can be held as a place holder until I get a good used item). As I go through stamps for needs or upgrades I do examine the quality of what I have (driven by a lot of re-posting and organizing of sets). This results in many items with adhesions which I will attack and clean. The primary culprit here is multiple layers of hinge remainders. I do keep damaged items as place holders, but all stamps I review are cleaned and remounted. And, that is what I do with new acquisitions. But pencil marks do not fret me. One of my big bugbears is a dealer who does not clear used stamps of adhesions or hinge remainders. I find too high a percentage of damaged items in those cases.
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I have no issues with pencil marks on back of stamps. I do not even mention this as a fault if I am selling stamps.
Main issues with used stamps can be thins (most often a result of one trying to peel off hinges), creases, missing perforations or this one:
Transfer of envelope paint to the stamp, or other stains or discolorations. It is up to anyone's discretion what is acceptable to be added to one's collection. It depends on how rare the stamp is as well.
I would use your thread to ask if anyone knows of ways to clean up envelope paint transfers like in the above example. The paint was unstable and transferred to the stamp, but getting it off the stamp is a different matter.
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If I find used stamps with residual gum, hinge remnants, remains of envelope paper etc., I first check whether the printing ink may run in water. If it doesn't, I simply wash the stamps in warm (not hot!) water to remove the gunk, dry and press them between blotting paper. This also helps to detect faults, and it often works wonders with the general appearance from the front, too, in particular with older stamps. Stamps with water-sensitive ink can be saved with some skill if you just let them float on top of the bowl. Usual caveats apply for self-adhesives or older stamps with gum containing animal glue. But remember in any case, cleaning stamps is work! Don't expect the stamp dealers you are selling to or buying from to do it for you, it would drive buying prices down and selling prices up.
Some wrinkly stamps may have been washed in water that was too hot. Modern stamps are often printed on paper that is polymer ("plastic") coated, and some of these polymers shrink when heated. Another soak won't help any more.
As far as I know, there is no way to get rid of ink or dye from envelopes that has transferred to the backs of the stamps. If it has not stained the front of an otherwise undamaged stamp, I accept this as kind of a slightly lower grade, at least better than just a placeholder or as a case of lower priority when I look for upgrades/replacements. Pencil marks can be removed with a good quality eraser. Don't just use any old thing that's been left over from your school days ;-), get a new one.
Martin
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Something that has not yet been mentioned in connection with used stamps is foxing - i.e. brown spots that appear on improperly stored stamps. I believe this is a type of mold that, if left untreated, will continue to get worse. I have read that you might be able to reduce/eliminate foxing with a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide, but I have never tried this. Does anyone else have any experience in this area?
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I believe there was a discussion about foxing a few months ago. At any rate, this usually goes all the way through the paper, and does not only affect the back of the stamps. I've been told that it can be stopped, but not removed in an alkaline bath (some baking soda in water), since the mold thrives in an acidic environment. Peroxide may also bleach the printing inks and the dye in the paper (if present). A professional restoration effort may only be justified for very valuable items.
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Foxing, eh?
This'll keep you busy for awhile ...
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=12994
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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Hello,
I was just sorting some used GB machins and I have multiple copies of the same stamp.
A fair few of the stamps have some residual gum from where they were removed from paper using something like "Stamplift" ( not by me I hasten to add ),some are completely clean and some have pencil mark / notations on the reverse.
I also must admit that in 60 years of collecting I have never bought an individual used stamp so I am not sure what is acceptable to a used stamp collector?
Also while I am thinking about it if the paper is a little "wrinkly" from the washing process is that a no no!
Best wishes,
Brian.
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05:36:11pm
Approvals
re: The backs of used stamps....
I think everyone has their own standards about what is acceptable. Personally I don't get too fussed about a pencil notation on the back of a stamp. I will sometime soak a used stamp that has other residue on the back to clean it up.
For me most important things I check for are - blemishes, creases, thins, pulled/missing perfs, and presence of a reasonably light cancel. I don't use spacefillers. That way I know that if I've mounted a stamp in my collection it is sound, and I can spend my time/money chasing other stamps.
Given two acceptable (i.e. sound) used copies I will pick the one that has a better combination of centring and cancel.
Eric
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05:37:31pm
Approvals
re: The backs of used stamps....
I forgot to mention - re wrinkly stamps.
Those I wouldn't include in my collection as is. However, I might take a crack at soaking and pressing them to bring them up to an acceptable appearance.
Login to Like
this post
re: The backs of used stamps....
My world-wide collection contains items from up to 50 years ago. I collect used (unused can be held as a place holder until I get a good used item). As I go through stamps for needs or upgrades I do examine the quality of what I have (driven by a lot of re-posting and organizing of sets). This results in many items with adhesions which I will attack and clean. The primary culprit here is multiple layers of hinge remainders. I do keep damaged items as place holders, but all stamps I review are cleaned and remounted. And, that is what I do with new acquisitions. But pencil marks do not fret me. One of my big bugbears is a dealer who does not clear used stamps of adhesions or hinge remainders. I find too high a percentage of damaged items in those cases.
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Approvals
re: The backs of used stamps....
I have no issues with pencil marks on back of stamps. I do not even mention this as a fault if I am selling stamps.
Main issues with used stamps can be thins (most often a result of one trying to peel off hinges), creases, missing perforations or this one:
Transfer of envelope paint to the stamp, or other stains or discolorations. It is up to anyone's discretion what is acceptable to be added to one's collection. It depends on how rare the stamp is as well.
I would use your thread to ask if anyone knows of ways to clean up envelope paint transfers like in the above example. The paint was unstable and transferred to the stamp, but getting it off the stamp is a different matter.
Login to Like
this post
re: The backs of used stamps....
If I find used stamps with residual gum, hinge remnants, remains of envelope paper etc., I first check whether the printing ink may run in water. If it doesn't, I simply wash the stamps in warm (not hot!) water to remove the gunk, dry and press them between blotting paper. This also helps to detect faults, and it often works wonders with the general appearance from the front, too, in particular with older stamps. Stamps with water-sensitive ink can be saved with some skill if you just let them float on top of the bowl. Usual caveats apply for self-adhesives or older stamps with gum containing animal glue. But remember in any case, cleaning stamps is work! Don't expect the stamp dealers you are selling to or buying from to do it for you, it would drive buying prices down and selling prices up.
Some wrinkly stamps may have been washed in water that was too hot. Modern stamps are often printed on paper that is polymer ("plastic") coated, and some of these polymers shrink when heated. Another soak won't help any more.
As far as I know, there is no way to get rid of ink or dye from envelopes that has transferred to the backs of the stamps. If it has not stained the front of an otherwise undamaged stamp, I accept this as kind of a slightly lower grade, at least better than just a placeholder or as a case of lower priority when I look for upgrades/replacements. Pencil marks can be removed with a good quality eraser. Don't just use any old thing that's been left over from your school days ;-), get a new one.
Martin
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07:03:16am
Approvals
re: The backs of used stamps....
Something that has not yet been mentioned in connection with used stamps is foxing - i.e. brown spots that appear on improperly stored stamps. I believe this is a type of mold that, if left untreated, will continue to get worse. I have read that you might be able to reduce/eliminate foxing with a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide, but I have never tried this. Does anyone else have any experience in this area?
Login to Like
this post
re: The backs of used stamps....
I believe there was a discussion about foxing a few months ago. At any rate, this usually goes all the way through the paper, and does not only affect the back of the stamps. I've been told that it can be stopped, but not removed in an alkaline bath (some baking soda in water), since the mold thrives in an acidic environment. Peroxide may also bleach the printing inks and the dye in the paper (if present). A professional restoration effort may only be justified for very valuable items.
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re: The backs of used stamps....
Foxing, eh?
This'll keep you busy for awhile ...
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=12994
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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