The Critical Transition from Drying to Sorting
Once your soaked postage stamps have dried completely overnight, they enter a critical phase of the preservation workflow. Freshly dried stamps are highly susceptible to creasing, tearing, and skin oil contamination if they are not handled systematically. Establishing a methodical sorting routine ensures that your philatelic material remains in pristine condition as you transition it from the drying station to its permanent home.
During the drying phase, placing stamps between paper towels under a heavy book helps prevent curling, but the resulting dry paper is exceptionally delicate. Before you begin sorting, ensure that every single stamp is entirely dry to the touch. Handling stamps that retain even a trace of moisture can lead to accidental tearing or surface scuffing, which permanently diminishes their value.
Establishing a Safe Handling Environment
A safe sorting process begins with a clean, flat, and well-lit workspace. Even after thoroughly washing your hands, natural skin oils persist and can transfer to dry paper, causing gradual discoloration. To prevent this invisible damage, always use specialized stamp tongs to handle your dry stamps. These tools resemble tweezers but feature smooth, flat gripping surfaces designed specifically to grasp fragile paper without puncturing or crimping the edges.
It is vital to distinguish between dry and wet handling rules. While tongs are indispensable for dry stamps, you should never use tongs on wet or damp stamps, as wet paper fibers are highly vulnerable to tearing under the concentrated pressure of metal tips. If a stamp is not yet completely dry, allow it to finish drying naturally before attempting to handle or sort it with your tools.
Methodical Sorting by Country and Service Type
Once your dry stamps are safely on your workspace, you can begin the sorting process by grouping them into broad categories. Many collectors choose to sort their stamps first by country of origin or by specific thematic topics. When sorting by country, you may encounter stamps that lack a printed country name. Great Britain is the only nation permitted to omit its name on postage stamps, substituting it with an image of the ruling monarch, a tradition dating back to the 1840 Penny Black.
Alternatively, you can organize your collection by the specific service the stamp was designed to perform. This includes separating standard postage from airmail stamps, special delivery stamps, postage due, parcel post, or revenue stamps. You can use StampSnap to scan these varieties, helping you establish a likely identification and quickly determine the correct category for each specimen before physically moving them into sorted groups.
Evaluating and Selecting the Best Duplicates
As you sort through your dry stamps, you will inevitably encounter duplicate copies of the same issue. This is the ideal time to evaluate the physical quality of each specimen to select the best representative for your primary collection. Examine each duplicate carefully under a clear magnifying glass, looking for optimal centering of the design within the margins and a light, unobtrusive cancellation mark that does not obscure key details.
During this evaluation, identify and set aside any badly damaged stamps, which should generally be discarded unless they are highly valuable or difficult to replace. Keep your high-quality duplicates safely separated from your main collection; these can be stored in designated glassine envelopes and saved for future trading with other collectors.
Temporary Storage in Glassine Envelopes
Before you commit to mounting your sorted stamps into a permanent album, it is best practice to store them temporarily in glassine envelopes. Glassine is a thin, semi-translucent paper that is resistant to air, water, and grease, making it an exceptional protective barrier for loose stamps. Storing your sorted groups in labeled glassine envelopes keeps them organized and safe from dust and physical friction while you plan your final album layouts.
Using glassine envelopes also prevents the stamps from sliding around or rubbing against one another, which can cause perforation wear. You can easily write category names, country names, or service types directly on the outside of the glassine envelope before placing the stamps inside, ensuring you never write on a surface directly supporting a stamp.
Preparing for the Final Album or Stock Book
The final step in the sorting and preservation workflow is transferring your organized stamps from temporary glassine storage into a permanent album or stock book. Stock books with built-in plastic or paper pockets offer an excellent, highly flexible option for organizing stamps without permanently adhering them. If you choose a traditional stamp album, always use peelable hinges or clear plastic mounts to secure your stamps to the pages.
Never use household tape or glue to secure stamps, as these adhesives contain harsh chemicals that will permanently stain the paper and drastically reduce the stamp's value. Utilizing StampSnap during this final phase allows you to maintain a digital collection record of your newly mounted stamps, ensuring your inventory is safely documented as your collection grows.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use regular tweezers to sort my dry stamps?
No. Regular household tweezers often have serrated tips or sharp edges that can easily puncture, scratch, or crimp fragile stamp paper. Always use specialized stamp tongs with smooth, flat gripping surfaces to handle dry stamps safely.
How do I identify a stamp that does not have a country name printed on it?
If a stamp has no country name, it is likely from Great Britain. Great Britain is the only country permitted to omit its name on postage stamps, using an image of the ruling monarch instead. You can also use online country identifiers to help determine the origin of unfamiliar designs.
Is it safe to use tongs on a wet stamp during the sorting process?
No. You should never use tongs on wet or damp stamps. Wet paper fibers are highly delicate and prone to tearing under the concentrated pressure of metal tongs. Always allow your stamps to dry completely before handling them with tongs.
What should I do with damaged duplicate stamps?
Badly damaged stamps should generally be discarded to keep your collection in excellent condition, unless the stamp is exceptionally rare or difficult to replace. High-quality duplicates with good centering and light cancels should be kept in glassine envelopes for trading.