Bws2-caring-for-your-stamps

Caring For your Stamps the Right Way

Caring for stamps is essential for all stamp collectors. Although stamps can be quite fragile since they are essentially only made of paper, ink and glue, it does not require much money to protect this investment.

Caring for stamps requires only a bit of work, diligence and money to preserve these small artworks. Taking the time to do so will help any stamp collector’s collection last a lifetime and longer.

1. Store stamps in the right place – A collection should be kept in a place that is not to hot, too cold, too moist or too dry as extreme conditions will greatly affect the condition of the stamps. Avoid keeping the collection in the attic where it can be hot and dry. At the same time, the basement is also a poor choice as the area can get wet and cold. The ideal place to keep stamps inside the house would be at the ground or upper floor where the temperature is regulated. Used stamps are relatively more tolerant of temperature changes but mint condition stamps should be handled delicately.

2. Use Good Quality Materials – There are numerous materials available for stamp collectors to help them preserve their stamps. However stamp collectors should be careful when buying any type of material as some may contain a high acid content that would destroy the stamp. Archival-quality mylar is also a good option for storing stamps compared to sticky photo albums that will instantly ruin the stamps.

3. Keep Stamp Albums in an Upright Position – The best way to store stamp albums is in the upright position. Avoid laying down stamp albums on top of one another to avoid pressing down the stamps, which may cause them to stick together.

4. Do not Stick Stamp directly to the Album – By no means should a stamp be permanently attached to the page of the stamp album. The ideal way to store a stamp in an album is to use mounts or hinges. Never use glue or sticky tape as well as solvents regardless of the manufacturer’s promise of safety.

5. Do not touch stamps directly – Always use a pair of tongs when handling stamps to avoid soiling the paper. Keep in mind that even clean hands leave a certain amount of natural oils and salt that can destroy a stamp.

6. Not all Stamps can be saved – Bear in mind that there is a stamp that cannot be saved no matter what a stamp collector does. In this situation, it is best to remove the problem stamp rather than contaminate the rest of the collection.