I'm breaking down a collection of Austria and some of the stamps need to be soaked due to heavy hinging and adhering to the album page. Query - does soaking affect the layer of varnish on these issues? Does it remove, soften or lessen it in any way?
I did a google search and read several posts on the topic, but none of them mentioned any experience with soaking numerous copies. One site noted soaked is ok - but before I start immersing these, I'd like to talk to someone who has done so and not damaged the stamps.
They really do need a soak because they have such heavy hinge remnants that the stamp has curled a bit around the hinge if you know what I mean. It is tough to get them to press flat with that bulky bulge.
As to identifying the varnish, the best method I've found is tilting the stamp at various angle to my bright full spectrum lamp. The varnish is shiny and pops up at an angle - some much more than others. Some are barely detectable.
I know some collectors are bored silly by nitpicky flyspecky stuff like this but to me I'm like a kid in a candy shop hunting for the varieties.
1 Member likes this post. Login to Like.
"Just one more small collection, hun, really! LoL "
re: Austria 1899-1907 issues with Varnish Bars - soaking and identifying
Agree with Michael - I've soaked hundreds with no problems with t he varnish bars. They naturally curl - with or without hinges. When dry you need to store them on stocksheets - leave them on the counter for 10 minutes and they will curl.
re: Austria 1899-1907 issues with Varnish Bars - soaking and identifying
Thanks for the reassurance. I'll soak away. I don't usually leave stamps in the water for longer than 10-15 minutes - just until the gum softens and the paper starts to float off.
I'm curious about the "leaving on the counter?" Not sure what you mean - I use drying books and dry them pressed flat within. I never have problems with soaked stamps curling except for a few that curl while still in the water. The stamps that I've seen that have curling not associated with the hinges appears to be caused by too much gum residue left after soaking, but it could be the paper is just prone to this problem perhaps?
OK Daniel Webster (teasing!), I didn't use the term flyspecking - I said 'flyspecky'. I was referring to identifying differences that are not FACE different such as perfing, watermarking and looking for things like varnish bars. Yup, I know that flyspecking usually refers to looking for tiny plate varieties but I couldn't think of a term that fit that definition thus my calling it "nitpicky, flyspecky." Maybe we need to come up with a term for doing that type of philatelic identifying. Any suggestions? Philatelating? Whew that's a mouthful. Someone must have a better term. 'Identifying' just doesn't quite fit - I mean that could refer to figuring out the country and issue. I'm talking about sorting out a bunch of face-similar issues.
I think I'll start a new thread and drum up ideas!
Login to Like this post
"Just one more small collection, hun, really! LoL "
re: Austria 1899-1907 issues with Varnish Bars - soaking and identifying
"leaving on the counter" - once you take them out of the drying book and they are exposed to air some may start to curl on you - there appear to be at least a couple of different papers that were used. One type is very prone to curling and you want to get it on a stocksheet before it "spindles". Just keep your eye on them - you may not have much of a problem as Florida is a lot more humid than a house heated with forced air in upstate NY,
re: Austria 1899-1907 issues with Varnish Bars - soaking and identifying
As regards the Austria definitives- I have done extensive soaking with no problem to varnish. The curling cited is a common effect, especially on thinner laid paper issues. Once the soaking is done let the perforation checks begin.
"Technical" collector is what my comrades called my 'fly specking'. To me it is the heart of classical philately.
