With the increased use of Steiner pages and other computer-generated homemade album pages, I'd like to gauge the community's use of page protectors for these kinds of pages. I have even seen page protectors made to fit Scott album pages. Do you use page protectors for your pages? If so, any certain brand, features to look for? Thoughts (either positive or negative) about using page protectors for stamp albums/collections?
Some real benefits I see, for example, if you are building a large worldwide (or other large collection) using Steiner pages (or homemade pages), this would allow you to print your Steiner pages on both sides of the page in order to save binder/shelf space (but will the extra bulk of the page protectors cancel out that savings? Don't know.). Also the stamps are very well-protected, especially if the majority of your stamps are hinged. No worries about the holes tearing, which is so common with traditional hole-punched pages.
Another benefit that may not be initially obvious is that you don't have to worry about damage to the stamps or pages when letting your spouse, kids, or other non-collectors look at your collection!
I have made three albums using Stiener pages using 67# acid free paper from Staples. I also have a specialty commercial album for my Bermuda collection that was originally designed and sold by Battle Green Stamps out of Lexington, Mass.
I have never used interleaf pages. I do use Scott mounts, however. The mounts have always provided more than sufficient protection for my stamps, so I've never seen the need.
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 25 Nov 2015 01:52:25am
re: Use of page protectors
I use glassine interleaves for the first few or all of the 19th century pages of most countries. I see no use to use page protectors as they make it hard to add stamps and add a lot of bulk to the albums with added expense. I never use pages printed on both sides, if you do you are not going to save much in space (thickness of albums) when combined with interleaves which are a necessity with double sided pages.
The only times I use page protectors is when I have several covers for a country. I then mount them on both sides of the pages using page protectors which helps to keep them in place.
