Problem - Honey Stains On Stamps

I'm sure many collectors will be interested to learn about methods for removing honey stains from old stamps. Am I right?

No.

It can be done, but is usually more expensive than the stamp.


https://sflac.net/portfolio-view/ta...ain-removal/

If anything is done to remove the stains on these stamps, they should always be documented as being restored/altered.

Every DIY attempt that I have seen (and experimented with myself) has not been successful, but some would say that they have made some 'improvement'. I agree with alub that professional restoration is incredibly costly, but that is because quality work for tape stain removal is a time suck.
Don

Tape stains. Good luck with those. If you can remove without damaging the stamp, the whole of stamp collecting is interested.

The link below the tells you how difficult this can be. The quote is from the article linked.




https://sflac.net/paper-conservatio...ain-removal/

I heard honey hinges were used in early philately, as sellers advertised that they would keep the glue intact when the stamps were affixed.Later the stains appeared on these stamps.Many good stamps was lost for collections. On my pictures are very cheap stamps with honey stains , but you can find rarities with such stains from honey hinges. You are right that removing the stain from cheap stamps is not worth the cost

I have a recomendation of stain removing but never used it:
The use of soda for removing of stain.
Soda has a mild cleansing effect, but you will have to wait 3-5 days to get the desired result. You will also need additional consumables - napkins made of thick white fabric.

Cleaning algorithm:

Put one napkin under the stamp;
Pour soda on the stain;
Cover with a second napkin;
Place a heavy object on the napkin, such as a thick book.
After two days, sweep the soda and evaluate the quality of cleaning. If it does not suit you, then the procedure can be repeated 2-3 more times. Gradually, soda absorbs all the fat and there will be no trace of contamination.

Question: Why the assumption that honey is involved?

honey-based old hinges glue

I started experiment right now for upper stamp row of my picture ,I have put them in soda under heavy press.Result will be after 4 days.I'll show it.

Are you referring to baking soda?

Wouldn't recommend at all, have fun with your science experiment, please post pics in a few days.

I am using a baking soda.

Note that the active ingredient in baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a base. Can also react with other paper contents.

From Don's earlier post:



Earlier this year, I contacted a restoration professional with the request for an estimate to have tape stains removed (as best she could) from a 150 year old document that was badly stained.



The preliminary estimate was for $750, but I was warned that because of the difficulty with dealing with "Scotch" tape type stains, particularly when there were no remains of the original tape (information that might help the restorer select the correct agent to reduce the stain), I should not be surprised to see the final costs double.

The item remains in my collection unrestored.
Mike