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Problems With Self-Adhesive Stamps |
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 22 May 2009 14:32 |
Gum & Stamps: Part II
Our last post got us thinking about some of the problems stamp collectors encounter with self-adhesive stamps. These little nightmares (for stamp collectors, stamp users love them) can wreak havoc in a stamp collection.
We've already posted about the difficulty many stamp collectors have when they try to soak used self-adhesive stamps, so we won't go into that again right now. But do you remember the first self-adhesive stamps issued by the United States? If they were kept on their backing paper (instead of being used in the mail) their gum migrated right through the stamps, onto their face.
That's not good. And who knows what will happen with all the much more recent self-adhesive stamps that are being issued by countries all over the world. For them, it's much too soon to tell whether their gum will move through the stamp paper and to the face of the stamps or off to the edges of the backing paper. But the only way to prevent it is, once again, keeping your stamps in a cool, dry place. And even that might not work with self-adhesive stamps. So once again, is it time to consider collecting only used stamps? |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 22 May 2009 14:36 )
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Legendary Stamp Collectors - Freddie Mercury |
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 22 May 2009 10:05 |
Legendary Stamp Collectors - Freddie Mercury (of all people!)
Who would ever have guessed that the late Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the famous British rock group Queen, was a stamp collector?
His interest in philately began when he was still a young boy in India, long before he changed his name from Farrokh Bulsara to Freddie Mercury. Freddie, whose parents were both Indian, was born in Zanzibar. His father, who worked in the British Colonial Office, collected British Commonwealth stamps and inspired his son to follow in his stamp collecting footsteps.
Rather than trying to acquire valuable stamps, Freddie chose each of the stamps in his collection based on their design and color - in other words, based on whether they were pleasant to the eye. He carefully placed them in his stamp album in beautiful arrangements. By the time of his death in 1991, his stamp collection was substantial although not of great value in and of itself. After his death his father sold his own and Freddie's stamp collections to raise money for an AIDS charity, the Mercury Phoenix Trust.
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 22 May 2009 10:40 |
Gum and Stamps: Part I
Problems with Gum Toning:
Some stamp collectors have been encountering problems with toning of the gum on some of their mint stamps. Toning is a condition where the gum darkens or becomes discolored and is usually caused by excess heat or humidity, or by acid paper. The stamps of some countries have always been a little prone to gum toning, which is sometimes called tropicalization. Those countries include Italy, France and the French Colonies, Portuguese Colonies, and several African countries. Many of the stamps will tropical gum (toned gum) are from the period between World War I and World War II, and as the stamps from that period age over time, the problem may affect more and more of them.
Reports from stamp collectors that are experiencing gum toning seem to indicate that the problem mostly occurs with stamp collections that have been stored undisturbed (i.e., left alone) for long periods of time in hot and/or humid locations. The toning may be the result of excess or long-term heat and humidity, from the stamps being printed (possibly) on acid paper, or a combination of both factors.
The moral of the story? Make sure your stamps, especially your mint stamps, are always kept in a cool, dry place. And if you collect stamps from the countries and time period where toning is becoming a problem, consider collecting only used stamps. |
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Written by Diane
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Friday, 22 May 2009 05:21 |
Acid-Free Paper in Stamp Album Pages
Acid-free paper used for stamp album pages. It's something no one in "the good old days" ever concerned themselves with, or even thought about. But most, if not all, commercial stamp album publishers emphasize the necessity of the acid-free paper they use.
Is acid-free paper really needed in stamp albums? Like many things in life, it all depends. It doesn't really matter for most stamp collections unless they're stored in hot, humid locations with very little air circulation. The grandchildren who inherit your stamp collection may notice some darkening on the edges of the pages if you use acid paper, but you'll be long gone before anything bad happens, as long as your collection is properly stored in an appropriate location.
Although damage from acid paper is possible if you store your stamp collection in a hot and humid attic or for long periods of time in a tropical climate without air conditioning, proper storage can usually prevent it. Store your stamp albums vertically (upright), not laying on their side. This allows them to "breathe," with air circulating among the pages. Don't keep your collection anywhere that's hot and humid, or you'll be taking a chance. |
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