Stamp Removal For 21st Century US Stamps

Remember, the first PSA stamps had a water-soluble primer between the adhesive and the paper. That would solve the problem. Let's ask Trump, Clinton and the Libertarian candidates when they get nominated, where they stand on water-soluble primer.

My way, too! In fact, if you read the preface to the Scott Stamp Catalog they confirm that the "value" of a modern PSA used stamp is the same whether it removed from its backing paper or if the collector chooses to collect the stamp with the backing paper.

My theory is why risk damage to a stamp by trying to remove it from its backing paper if there is no monetary difference in which way to collect it (with or without backing paper).

Now that third party printers are making stamps for the USPS, part of their specification is to deter dishonest people from re-using stamps, so the harder they make it for the stamp to be separated from the backing paper, the better the USPS likes it -- this was not intended to be a collector issue but rather to thwart those who would choose to cheat the system by re-using stamps.

I read an article a long while ago that suggested that US stamp printers have now developed an adhesive that will stick harder to the envelope the longer it remains there. In other words, if you absolutely must collect stamps without backing paper you will have better success in removing the stamp(s) from the envelope sooner rather than later.

Don't mean to repeat myself, but I just viewed 16 widely differing ways to "remove" self-adhesives on YouTube.

I would NOT recommend many of them because of flamability or toxicity issues. But there's some entertainment to be had out there in wow-land.

I'm totally in agreement with wt1.

Peter

I believe the strategy of maintaining self-adhesive materials on stamps is seriously flawed. I've never seen any "self stick" that didn't stabilize over time by first liquifying, and then crystalizing in the adjacent paper.

I'm sure I won't be around to see it, but the collectors of both "mint" and used (still on paper) self-adhesive stamps will be in for a big disappointment a few years down the road.

On the bright side, those few stamps with the gum removed will still be in good condition. I'm referring to U.S. stamps, and most other countries where the stamps cannot be soaked off.

Truth be known that my US collection stops before the self adhesives begin. Then there's the computerized stamps and shipping labels and, well, life is tooooooo short.

bookbndrbob,

That's scary and I hope you're wrong. But something tells me that you are not wrong. (Help!)

Jack Kelley

The habit of a lifetime being what it is, I have been setting aside my incoming PSA (Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive) stamps.

Having reviewed many posts about the varied laborious removal methods, I decided that the best way to save these for someone else some day was to trim the paper down to a fine margin, and be done with it.

Then I read the guidelines at a donation site (or two), and I now understand that they want a half-inch margin of paper all around the stamp, to make for safer removal by someone else some day.

Then I read (here & elsewhere) that some people are (against my better judgement) collecting those atrocious shpritzy postmarks and - in for a penny, in for a pound - if I am already saving a well-margined stamp, I might as well carefully cut & save the whole traditional 2x4" corner for someone else some day.

Of course, those dimensions do not always suffice, so sometimes I get an irregularly larger piece, which contains a stamp that I do not want, and a shritzy postmark that I do not want to look at, all for someone else some day who - and this would be the hoped-for good news - does not share my taste!

Ever slipping down the slippery slope, the only way to save myself the trouble of carefully cutting the corners of covers I do not want - to save stamps that I do not want - that are defaced in a way that I do not want to know from - is to save the entires that I did not want.

And, so, I am filling shoeboxes with entires.

Q/ Would this be a good time to scream?

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Just remember to stack the boxes along an exterior wall to provide additional insulation during the winter.

...lol...actually I think it better to use fireplaces over wall insulating if heating becomes an issue. Someone, some day might thank you...or not.


Waazwi - IMHO
Your humble opinion may differ. Do not make more than two humble opinions a day. If your humble opinion always differs from everyone else's, please see your doctor. Results may vary.

I typically leave the stamp on paper and cut the paper about 1/2" around the stamp doesn't take up much more space and reduces the time element for trying to remove and until I retire I do not have the time; too many other things to do yet.

I remove the stamps from their backing for my collection of used stamps. First, it don't think there is much question that in a decade or two the glue will degrade the paper of the stamp. (I plan on still being round then). Second, they look so much nicer in my black mounts with the "perorations" visible.

The collector nature in me could easily fill up a house if I don't keep it in check. I just don't have room to keep every envelope that comes in the mail. I don't think my wife would respond positively to a wall of boxes of used envelopes. So the collection is limited to the albums.

Ha! You just think you're going to have some time when you retire! Between all the relatives and everyone else that wants you to do something since you are "off", there is almost no time for stamps.

Peter

I'm busier in retirement than when I was in the work force

If the gloom-and-doomers are correct about the adhesive degrading stamps over time, and I fear they are, FDC collectors are totally out of luck. Additionally a century from now the most valuable US stamps may be the few used examples from circa 2000 that someone had tediously removed from paper.