Lionel, some will be damaged if you are not careful, however I usually try to uncurl them using one of the legs on my tongs (tweezers). Yes, and I use my bare fingers after I have licked the fried chicken fat off the tips.
I carefully pull the stamp over the edge in a way that imparts an opposite curve and then once done get the silly stamp into a folder, an envelope or properly mounted in an album so it stays flat.
If it is an expensive stamp you might try the technique on some cheaper stamps first just in case you have the neuropathy problems in your hands that I have in mine. But it can be done.
I find that many used stamps curl dramatically after being soaked off the scraps of paper and so I have to do this often.
I also recall reading that stamps that curl may be indicating which way the paper originally passed though the printing press, a feature that can help determine which printer used which press in the process. Specialists often find this fact intrigueing as they are interested in many sub-varieties of what seems to the naked eye to be identical stamps.
A technique that I use, is to put the stamp in a glassine envelope then slide the envelope over the edge of a desk or table the opposite direction of the curl.
Bob
A good idea, Bob especially for mint stamps that in theory could be harmed by contact with your fingers. Body oil and all that.
Fortuantely I don't think I will be here to see the damage my greasy fingers creates on the used stamps I feel, fondle and manipulate.;)
Bob has the correct answer. You do not have to place the stamp in a glassine envelope, just put it on any piece of white paper, and fold paper so it holds the stamp. Make sure edge of desk or table is square, and not rounded. Many time after using s stamp lift I would do this to make a stamp flat.
Just do not dip your fingers in chocolate syrup before holding the stamp, and if you are worried about greasy fingers, use a stamp tong, rather than a pair of pliers.
Richaard
I think I like the fried chicken technique.
Hi. I have a few mint stamps that are curled up and I was wondering if there was a way I can straighten or flatten them out without damaging them. Hope someone can help me with this. Please email me at lotreetops@msn.com
Thanks and best wishes, Lionel
re: Fixing Curled mint stamps
Lionel, some will be damaged if you are not careful, however I usually try to uncurl them using one of the legs on my tongs (tweezers). Yes, and I use my bare fingers after I have licked the fried chicken fat off the tips.
I carefully pull the stamp over the edge in a way that imparts an opposite curve and then once done get the silly stamp into a folder, an envelope or properly mounted in an album so it stays flat.
If it is an expensive stamp you might try the technique on some cheaper stamps first just in case you have the neuropathy problems in your hands that I have in mine. But it can be done.
I find that many used stamps curl dramatically after being soaked off the scraps of paper and so I have to do this often.
I also recall reading that stamps that curl may be indicating which way the paper originally passed though the printing press, a feature that can help determine which printer used which press in the process. Specialists often find this fact intrigueing as they are interested in many sub-varieties of what seems to the naked eye to be identical stamps.
re: Fixing Curled mint stamps
A technique that I use, is to put the stamp in a glassine envelope then slide the envelope over the edge of a desk or table the opposite direction of the curl.
Bob
re: Fixing Curled mint stamps
A good idea, Bob especially for mint stamps that in theory could be harmed by contact with your fingers. Body oil and all that.
Fortuantely I don't think I will be here to see the damage my greasy fingers creates on the used stamps I feel, fondle and manipulate.;)
re: Fixing Curled mint stamps
Bob has the correct answer. You do not have to place the stamp in a glassine envelope, just put it on any piece of white paper, and fold paper so it holds the stamp. Make sure edge of desk or table is square, and not rounded. Many time after using s stamp lift I would do this to make a stamp flat.
Just do not dip your fingers in chocolate syrup before holding the stamp, and if you are worried about greasy fingers, use a stamp tong, rather than a pair of pliers.
Richaard
re: Fixing Curled mint stamps
I think I like the fried chicken technique.