The Golden Rule of Stamp Preservation
When organizing a stamp collection, the most important rule is to protect the physical integrity of your stamps. Many beginning collectors make the mistake of using common household items to secure their stamps to paper. However, standard household adhesives like tape and glue, as well as sticky-page photo albums, cause permanent chemical and physical damage. To keep your stamps in excellent condition and preserve their value, you must avoid these everyday items and use dedicated philatelic supplies instead.
Why Tape and Glue Destroy Stamp Value
Using standard household tape or glue to secure stamps to an album page is one of the fastest ways to destroy their value. These adhesives form a permanent bond with the delicate paper fibers of the stamp. If you or a future collector ever try to remove a stamp that has been taped or glued down, the paper will almost certainly tear or suffer a severe thinning on the back. Additionally, the chemicals in household glues and tapes break down over time, leaving dark, oily stains and discoloration that ruin the visual appeal of the design.
The Hidden Danger of Sticky Photo Albums
It can be tempting to store your stamps in a standard photo album, especially those with magnetic or sticky self-adhesive pages. However, these sticky pages are highly destructive to postage stamps. The adhesive used on photo album pages is formulated for heavy photographic paper, not the fragile paper used for stamps. Over time, the adhesive will transfer to the stamp, making it impossible to remove without causing catastrophic tears. If you choose to use a photo album, it must feature completely acid-free paper without any pre-applied sticky substances.
Safe Alternatives: Stamp Hinges and Mounts
To display your stamps safely, you should always use professional philatelic tools such as stamp hinges or stamp mounts. Stamp hinges are small, thin, folded pieces of translucent paper or plastic with a special peelable gum on one side. When lightly moistened, they secure the stamp to the page while allowing you to safely peel them off later. Stamp mounts are clear plastic sleeves that hold the stamp securely without any adhesive touching the stamp itself. Both options are widely available from local stamp dealers and ensure your stamps remain undamaged.
Safe Handling: Distinguishing Dry and Wet Stamps
Proper handling is just as important as proper mounting. While stamp tongs are excellent for handling dry stamps to prevent skin oil damage, you must never use tongs on wet stamps. If you have recently soaked stamps to remove them from envelope paper, they will be incredibly soft and fragile. Handling wet paper with metal tongs can easily puncture or tear the stamp. Instead, allow your soaked stamps to dry completely overnight between paper towels under a heavy book to prevent curling. Once they are fully dry, you can safely handle them with tongs.
Organizing and Storing Your Collection Safely
Before mounting your stamps, it is best to sort them systematically by country, topic, or postal service type, such as airmail or special delivery. While you are sorting your stamps and deciding which ones to mount, store them safely in glassine envelopes. Glassine is a glazed, semi-translucent paper that protects stamps from dust and moisture. Using StampSnap can help you quickly identify your stamps and keep a digital record of your collection during this sorting phase, ensuring you know exactly what you have before you begin mounting.
Selecting the Best Copies for Your Album
When preparing to mount your stamps, always select the best available copy of each stamp for your album. Look for copies that are well-centered and lightly canceled, and set aside heavily damaged or heavily canceled duplicates. You can store these duplicates in glassine envelopes or stock books for future trading. Keeping a digital inventory with StampSnap allows you to track your duplicates easily without repeatedly handling the physical stamps, minimizing the risk of accidental tears or oil transfer from your hands.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use standard photo albums to store my stamp collection?
You can use a photo album only if it features acid-free paper and does not have sticky or self-adhesive pages. Sticky pages will permanently damage your stamps. Dedicated stamp albums or stock books with plastic or paper pockets are highly recommended instead.
How do stamp hinges work to protect my stamps?
Stamp hinges are small, thin, folded pieces of translucent paper or plastic with a special peelable gum on one side. When lightly moistened, they secure the stamp to the album page but can be peeled off later without tearing the stamp or damaging the page.
Is it safe to use stamp tongs on wet stamps?
No. Wet stamps are highly fragile and easily damaged. You should never use tongs on wet stamps. Instead, allow the stamps to dry completely overnight between paper towels before handling them with tongs or mounting them.
What should I do with duplicate stamps that I do not want to mount?
You can store duplicate stamps safely in glassine envelopes or stock books. Keeping duplicates organized in glassine envelopes allows you to save them for trading with other collectors without risking damage.