has anyone a safe and secure process for removing pressure sensitive stamps from their paper backing without damage - I mean without the back of the stamp still having a sticky residue - to collect these new issues it does not seem a solution to trim them with the paper intact - which inflate your album by 2 or 3 times because of the paper residue - thanks in advance for any good answer !! sorry about the "unclear" request - I am talking about used stamps - understandable if you are collecting mint pressure sensitive they must be left intact - the way issued - the P.O. - which I am retired from has not show any attempt to come to the aid of USED stamp collectors - for that matter stamp collectors in general - where, by the way, they (P.O.) derive income !! thanks again
They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin 20 Sep 2015 11:22:07pm
re: removing pressure sensitive stamps
CLICK HERE to read an article from the American Philatelist (APS journal) of October 2010 on this very subject.
Hope this helps. I have never used it because I do not collect used self adhesive stamps.
Bobby
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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"
They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin 21 Sep 2015 12:24:40am
re: removing pressure sensitive stamps
Isn't that akin to removing the gum from a water activated stamp? Isn't that a little drastic?
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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"
Scott states that values for MNH self-adhesive stamps are for those with the stamp and original backing paper undisturbed. If you remove the stamp from the backing paper, then you might as well use it for postage. It will have no other value.
30+ year member APS; member of ATA, ISWSC, ATA, PSS, MSS, PMCC, FDCS 22 Sep 2015 01:22:29am
re: removing pressure sensitive stamps
My solution has been to cut the Gordian knot... I just don't collect these self-adhesives in mint condition... if I did I guess I would buy a few extra in block form and use the outer rim stamps for postage leaving the backing paper... then cut my "mint" stamp out leaving a rim of backing paper about 2 mm on each side and place in a mount.
I collect a few used by using Ronsonol lighter fluid to peel the stamp off the paper and rub away the sticky residue... sometimes I just trim the stamp leaving a little of the envelope around all four edges of the stamp... about 2 mms.
Not much of a problem for me because I cut my collecting off prior to the self-adhesive era for the most part although I plan on obtaining the peanuts Christmas issue in October... may look for other Peanuts character stamps for a fun sideline topic... not too many have been issued worldwide to date so completion probably won't be much of an issue.
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy.. 23 Sep 2015 07:26:27am
re: removing pressure sensitive stamps
We have discussed this before and I'd give you a link but when I entered "self stick' in the search box in the tool bar at the top of this discussion it provided links to eight or ten discussions. Be sure to set the filter to keyword and you will learn more bout removing self sticks than you ever wanted to know.
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