This is the Thrift Meister's collection
of tips on stamp collecting.
* Never try to pull a stamp off an envelope--if
not torn you could still leave a portion of the stamp on the envelope
making it thinner than it should be.
* Perf--the bits sticking out between the perforations.
* Don't spend the time and trouble to soak each
stamp individually. Store them in a shoe box or similiar place till
you have a group to soak all at once.
* Carefully cut stamps off envelopes by cutting
around the stamp, but make sure not to cut so close that you cut the
perfs on the stamp.
* Separate stamps which are on colored paper--when
wet the ink in the paper might run and discolor all the stamps. Also
set aside colored cancellations for the same reason.
* Soak the stamps face up in lukewarm water. After
a few minutes the water will dissolve the glue and the stamps will float
off the envelopes.
* Self stick stamps don't separate as easily as
the one old fashion type. Expect to lose a few.
* Put stamps on paper towels or wash cloth to
dry. Expect them to wrinkle up.
* Put something heavy on stamps ( a phone book
or a dictionary works nicely) for a few days to iron them out and get
out the wrinkles.
* Soak stamps on colored paper or colored cancellations
marks in groups of similar stamps or separately.
* If stamps are dirty wash in bowl of water with
dish washing or mild liquid laundry soap. It may be necessary to change
the water and wash several times.
* Never handle stamps with your fingers--use tongs
designed to hold stamps. Even if your fingers are clean they will leave
oil deposits on the stamps which will damage them over the long run
and decrease their value. The rounded spade tong is good since they
won't puncture stamps like the pointed kind will.
* When picking an album be sure to get one with
acid-free pages.
* When starting out and trying to build your collection
in addition to asking friends to save their stamps for you try to get
a business to save them for you since they will get different size packages,
envelopes, etc and will get stamps you won't see on individual mail
most of the time.
Coin Collecting
Card Collecting
