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General Philatelic/Gen. Discussion : It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

 

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Patches
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Liz

17 Nov 2011
02:46:42pm
http://www.rpsc.org/video/soakaps.pdf

This article was originally published in the American Philatelist/October 2010.

I have been told by one collector that this product 'Pure Citrus', especially the lemon scent, works great on Great Britain self-adhesive stamps (including security machins), but be prepared for your house to smell like lemons.

All you need is one small glas jar (like a spice bottle with a tight fitting lid), an eyedropper, baby powder and a can of Pure Citrus. DO NOT use plastic containers or a plastic eyedropper - The plastic will disolve!

My personal problem is finding the product to test it, but that is just one disadvantage of living on an island where there is no Walmart or Canadian Tire stores.

Liz
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guyv

17 Nov 2011
03:42:22pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

It work great also on US and Canadian stamps.

Use it only with self adhesive stamps. On the video, they talked about bestine but if the smell of the lemon doesn't bother you, it's cheaper. I use tong to remove from paper.

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Patches
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Liz

17 Nov 2011
11:50:35pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Scan of Stamps After Removal from Paper. FANTASTIC!!!Image Not Found


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Bobstamp
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18 Nov 2011
12:10:11am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

I just can't ignore Liz's comments about Nilodor. I was teaching in a country school in central British Columbia in the late 1980s. The principal and I shared the teaching responsibilities for the school's Grade 6/7 class. One of our Grade 6 students had, shall we say, a problem with personal hygiene. He stank! The principal one day came up with a solution, which actually did work, sorta: He put several drops of Nilodor on the boy's chair just before the class came in from recess! And some people say that teachers don't earn their pay!

Bob

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Logistical1
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18 Nov 2011
12:01:52pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

I have read several articles on the web about removing self adhesives from paper many mentioning various chemical products. My concern is the long term consequences of these products on stamps and the long term impact the remaining adhesive will have on the stamps in the rest of my collection?


I have taken an alternate approach to collecting self adhesives. I affix a mint self adhesive stamp onto acid free paper and mount it in a seperate album dedicated to shelf adhesive stamps. This eliminates the possible long term effects of chemical reations and protects the rest of my collection from possible damage, however this solution does not address how to get used stamps off the paper in the first place. I figure in 30 years if some of the solutions prove to be safe who ever inherits my collection can soak them off.

Unless someone with an enviromental engineering degree with access to enviromental chambers studied this, getting an answer now rather then 30 years later is problematic. I suspect the adhesives will naturally degrade or dry out after a few decades. This would be an interesting study for a university or APS to undertake.

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Patches
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Liz

18 Nov 2011
12:02:32pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

For those living in Canada 'Pure Citrus Lemon' is available in cities that have a Canadian Tire store. This product comes in a 7 oz. container and the cost is $4.39 plus taxes.

If I were a stamp dealer in a store I'd have this product and a copy of the article on display.

Liz

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Bobstamp
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18 Nov 2011
12:49:06pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Two or three years ago my stamp club, the BC Philatelic Society, invited a paper conservator from the Vancouver Archives to speak to us about the care and storage of philatelic items. Her message was this: Paper degrades over time, no matter what you do or don't do to it. Paper can be treated and stored in ways that will preserve it for decades or perhaps centuries, but such treatment and storage is too expensive for the average collector, and requires the collectibles to be stored in a way that makes them virtually inaccessible, i.e. in dark, temperature- and humidity-controlled environments, protected by inert plastic sleeves which allow air circulation and archival-grade paper folders, boxes, etc. Clearly, this is impractical for collectors like us.

I think that the best we can do is handle our material carefully with clean hands (the jury is out on cotton gloves, which can damage paper), use tongs when possible, and use archival products for storage. Such practices, at least, will ensure that most of our collections will be of use to at least the next two or three generations. And we also have to accept that some modern stamps and covers, both old one and a great many new ones, were doomed to early destruction when they were manufactured.

I recently saw a stamp less 1800s cover from an Indian state that had been addressed with ink that was highly acidic; every letter in the address had been eaten away, leaving only the outline. And there are two German airmail stamps (C57-58) and one semi-postal souvenir sheet (B68) that were issued with gum that had small quantities of sulphuric acid in it. This fact is noted in the Scott Classic catalogue under the listing for B68. Many, perhaps most extant copies have suffered significant damage. If you have mint, gummed copies, you would be wise to soak the gum off. Here's an image of a cover franked with both airmail stamps, plus another that didn't have acidic gum.

Image Not Found

A note about the pesky self-adhesive stamps: I don't have a problem with using anything that works to get the adhesive off. By and large the stamps are common as dirt, and if dipping them in volatile, possibly destructive chemicals is what it takes to enjoy them, then so be it. It personally doesn't bother me since I rarely buy modern stamps for anything but postage.

Bob


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22 Nov 2011
11:11:41am

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re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

You mean there are Canadian stamps that won't soak off in water? Bummer.

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23 Nov 2011
08:18:58pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

I find Canadian Club with a few ice cubes works great on Canadain self adhesives. 2 or 3 drinks later and I forget all about the pesky stamps.

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KG5
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04 Dec 2011
01:18:12am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

With Australia, very recent self adhesives they are still made with water based gum and after much experimenting have mastered them if that is possible. The real problem is the stamps themselves are becoming very thin.
Today I tried to take some 1972-73 Tonga stamps off paper and it turned into my first and hopefully my last experience with oil based gum. Got them off paper no problem with lighter fluid but the sticky residue that is left behind takes me about 5 to 10 minutes to remove. Now I know what all you people are truly talking about. Oh Dear Me!

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Liz

04 Dec 2011
02:17:54am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

So far with all my experimenting this past 2 weeks, I have found 'Pure Citrus Lemon' air freshener and baby powder by far the best product to use to remove self-adhesive stamps from paper. I spray the 'pure citrus lemon' into a small glass jar (with a lid to save remaining liquid without it evaporating), use a glass eye dropper to place one drop of liquid on the backing paper with the stamp facing down, wait 2-4 seconds, remove the stamp from the backing paper and then take a small make-up brush to brush a very little baby powder that I put in a small glass dish on the back of the stamp. I hold the stamp face down over the dish of powder so any excess powder falls back into the dish. I dispose of the backing paper in a sealed empty container so the smell of lemon does not make my stamping room smell like squeezed lemons.

The self-adhesive stamps come off the paper with no problem. There is just a very, very slight stickiness to the back of the stamp. By brushing the baby powder on the back of the stamp this stickiness totally disappears and leaves the stamp perfectly smooth in appearance. I don't have any idea what the baby powder does, but only a very slight brushing of the powder is required.

So far I have successfuly removed from paper;
- Great Britain small recent Xmas stamps and other S/A commemoratives that I know will not soak in water.
- recent S/A USA air mail and other S/A commemoratives that I know will not soak in water without cracking, peeling or are just stubborn and won't come off the paper.
- Australian S/A issues, especially some of the International Post S/A booklet issues that will not soak in water.

Carl, I have not found a Canadian self-adhesive stamp that cannot be removed from the paper when soaked in water.

I do not recommend Nilodor(too smelly) or Lighter Fluid.

Liz


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KG5
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04 Dec 2011
03:14:02am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

I do have some recent Christmas self adhesives international post stamps but have not yet tried to remove them from paper. But I am double soaking them. 1st soak for 30mins and then totally dry them out and then soak them again for 15 mins and no longer than 20 mins. At 15 mins I remove the stamps from water. I have about 80% of them that work for me.

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The past is a foreign country, they do things different there.

05 Dec 2011
02:40:25pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, PATCHES, YOUR NARRATION OF STAMP REMOVAL TRIGGERED MEMORIES OF MY PARENTAL DIAPER-CHANGING DUTIES (FOUR - COUNT 'EM - BABY BOTTOMS). THE SMELL OF TALCUM POWDER MUST BE FAMILIAR TO EVERY PARENT. THANKS FOR THE MEMORY TRIP.

JOHN DERRY

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KG5
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06 Jan 2012
05:23:08am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Hi Liz.
I have just finished taking 5,000 to 6,000 Australian International Post stamps off paper.I need to have a soaking fix every 2nd month or so I love it so much. Most floated off paper but I have taken all the self adhesive stamps off paper as well, with water only. I double soak the stamps and it is a precise science. Last time I got 80%, this time I got 90% off paper with no damage and no gum on the back of the stamp at all.

Australia has not as yet used oil based gum on their stamps. The biggest problem is the paper thickness. That is what makes it a precise science.

Another stamps off paper link.

http://youtu.be/nWMcVYgIZjM

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Liz

06 Jan 2012
05:50:58am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

John - May I send my stamps to you to soak off the paper? I absolutely DETEST soaking stamps, even the ones that just float off the paper!

I had a friend who liked soaking stamps and for a couple of years I'd package up on paper stamps, postage, glassines, envelopes and ship a package to her. She kept 10% of the stamps (her choice) and returned the rest to me. What a fabulous treat that was for me. Her career now takes up most of her time, so I've lost a 'stamp soaker' but not a friend.

If I soaked 5,000 to 6,000 stamps at once I'd need Michael's full bottle of Canadian Club and a bottle of aspirin for the next morning.

Image Not Found





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KG5
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06 Jan 2012
06:19:49am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Liz I can relate to your green monster. lol

My work background is strong in bricklaying, stonework, oil rigs and oyster growing and as with stamps it gives me a chance to think outside the square.It is a special time for me and it solves many a problem or points to a new direction in life at times. A learnt thing but it has been good to me.
The other half I was as a muilty disciplined horticulturist and looked after too many people.

Stamps, not as yet talk back!

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cdj1122
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..

06 Jan 2012
09:34:26am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

" ... it gives me a chance to think outside the square. ..."

Same here, John. There have been many nights when I have sat up and soaked hundreds of Machins or Wildings just for the relaxation. Also other bulk lots of definitives as well as WW mixtures. Once I cleaned and sorted several pounds of "Prefectures" for a dealer friend so he could sell them at a stamp show.
For me it puts the problems of the world aside and the physical manipulation is good therapy.
Liz, if I were closer to Salt Island, I'd volunteer to do the soaking. I can understand that it might be a pain to some people, but I find it a way to pass the night.

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KG5
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17 Feb 2012
10:19:52pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Hi Liz.

I am now able to remove any self adhesive stamp off paper that I have with 100% success.

But the talcum powder has a scent on the stamp without being able to feel the powder or feel the glue the powder is covering up or neutralizing.

I have some very hard to get high value Australia international post self adhesive stamps that will sell very well at a good price but the smell is stopping me from touching these stamps at the minute. If I soak the smell off the stamp a very slight tackiness comes back to the stamp.

Do you or anyone else know the name of a scentless talcum powder if such a thing exists?

Something I am going to try if I ever get time is to soak the S&A stamp in water 1st then dry and use an oil base (for me lighter fluid) remover and see what happens.

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Liz

17 Feb 2012
10:49:33pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

I think Corn Starch could be used in place of baby powder. Corn Starch is an ingredient in baby powder. I believe they do sell scentless baby & talcum powders. Do you think that perhaps it is the scent of the citrus that you smell?

Liz

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michael78651

17 Feb 2012
11:48:52pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

I would avoid corn starch. It's organic. It could interact with the paper over time.

Look for a hypo-alergenic talcum powder. It should be odorless. Ask a pharmacist for help.

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KG5
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18 Feb 2012
02:04:23am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Thanks Liz & Michael. :)

It is so nice to be able to ask a stamping question in my isolated living place and get great answers to cutting edge issues in stamping.

Always Happy Stamping. John.

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George
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24 Feb 2012
09:51:50pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

i have had a lot of experience soaking australian s/a stamps. (note: experience doesn't always imply success...) i find that australia post s/a stamps from around 2010 onwards soak easily in water.

up to around 2007 or so they mostly came off but i would have about 10% ruined in the process. factors such as envelope thickness and colour of the stamp affect the rate of success (darker means less success).

in the intervening period, many stamps were very difficult to remove, with maybe 30% ruined. did they change the adhesive? i don't know the reason, but a few issues in that period (2008 xmas and 2009 desserts) i found impossible i.e. nearly 100% failure rate, so i keep them on piece now.

but at least the current ones soak off quite readily. i hope they keep it that way. the only issue is that often the adhesive sticks to the stamp rather than the envelope, but at least you can peel it off if you're careful.

i believe that australia post does design s/a stamps with a chemical layer between the paper of the stamp and the adhesive so that the stamp is meant to soak off. the reason some other countries' stamps don't soak off is because the postal authority doesn't bother to make their stamps collector-friendly in that way.

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KG5
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25 Feb 2012
12:06:39am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

With Aussie stamps I double soak and totally dry the stamps out in between soaking . The stamps must come out of the water after 15mins of soaking the 2nd time. This process attacks the two different gum layers.

The thickness of the paper is the biggest problem and a close 2nd is soaking for to long before attempting to remove the stamp.

That is Aussie stamps in a nut shell from me.

Always Happy Stamping. KG5

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25 Feb 2012
12:23:55am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

The biggest soaking issue for me is the hard to get international post self adhesive stamps. Some of these stamps I have only found two or three of them after sorting nearly 3kgs over the past 3 years and I do not want the 20% that are destroyed being these hard to get ones. This kiloware is very expensive and a lot of people want to win these lots. So for me to loose even one stamp hurts me because they sell very well and for a good price. If I can get my loses down the more I can bid on these high value mixes. Not many people would have these stamps in the numbers and the variety I have. Many people contact me to say thanks they have been looking for these stamps for years. Definitely one of my best sellers. I have just listed singularly a complete set of these stamps accept for 6 or so but for the next listing it will be short of another different 6 or so. Most of the hard to gets sell for over twice face value.

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oliver_black

05 Mar 2012
05:14:37pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Why soak the near unsoakable? Why risk higher yield loss? Why does a stamp collector need to now become a junior chemist? I mean what is really so terrible about trimming a used self stick close to its perfs and mounting it that way. If post office technology has thrown a curve ball, why not just adapt? What if some Master of the Philatelic Universe spokesperson said, "Henceforth, it shall be proper, authorized, and acceptably purist to retain part of the cover on which a used so-called self-stick postage stamp made its trip, if said cover is neatly trimmed parallel to 1 mm of the stamp's perfs or sides."

I guess, in the final analysis, it is a matter of personal choice.

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michael78651

05 Mar 2012
10:13:26pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Bravo, Oliver!! I have been saying the exact same thing for a number of years. It doesn't make sense to me either.

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05 Mar 2012
10:24:57pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Yes, BRAVO Oliver!!

I as well have been saying - and doing - the same thing for a while now....since the advent of regularly issued U.S. self-adhesives.

"...oh, but your album will bulge!"
"...but it will look messy!"
"...but you should save it on cover - NEVER remove the stamp!"

....and so on and so forth.....


Say what you will, say what you want;

WE COLLECT HOW WE WANT TO....plain and simple.

If I want to trim, it's the right way.
If I want to soak, its the right way.
If I save the cover, its the right way.


TO EACH HIS OWN


Wanna know something? I do ALL those and more!!!

**SHOCK! HORROR!!**



It comes down to however YOU want to collect stamps...plain and simple.







Randy







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Tim
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05 Mar 2012
10:38:56pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

@Oliver_black
I generally agree with you, as do the other guys. One exception that comes to mind is if you need to know the water mark inorder to be able to catalog the stamp. Then I believe it is worth the trouble. But generally I'm like Randy and love the fact that there isn't any rights and wrongs in this hobby. A new collector doesn't need to worry if he/she is making a mistake, it is just what you want to do.

Tim.

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michael78651

05 Mar 2012
10:40:32pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

The self-adhesives don't have watermarks.

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Bobstamp
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06 Mar 2012
01:48:18am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Do any modern stamps have watermarks? I assume that a few must have, but it's something I've never thought about since I don't pay a lot of attention to anything younger than me! Well, there are some young things I pay attention to! I'm not dead yet!

Bob

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michael78651

06 Mar 2012
12:52:57pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Yep, watermarks are still out there on new stuff.

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NJW7

13 Mar 2012
06:59:49pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

@Patches--I just fell in love with you. I bought a can of Pure Citrus today (here in California it can be found in any grocery store), gave a quick squirt to the back of the stamp on paper, and--presto. That stuff is pretty concentrated, so the house is about to smell like an orange grove, but I can't wait to finally take these off paper. Thanks for the tip.

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Liz

13 Mar 2012
07:10:42pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

NJW7 - I found spraying a bit into a covered glass jar and using an eyedropper stops the over spray and doesn't make your house smell like citrus.

Liz

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rgnpcs
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14 Mar 2012
01:31:33am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Been using Pure Citrus for about a year now, but hate that orange smell. Don't they make this product in any other odor?

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Liz

14 Mar 2012
01:50:43am
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Lemon Citrus is also available.

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d1stamper
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24 Feb 2014
10:12:45am

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re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

How do you know which stamps of Great Britain can not be soaked off paper with water?

Doug

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DavidG
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APS member since 2004

24 Feb 2014
07:40:49pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Stampaholic:

Canadian self-adhesive stamps soak-off in warm water.

Use your finger to remove the rubbery residue whilst the stamps is in the waterbowl. No need to use the chemicals.

David

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25 Feb 2014
12:01:06pm
re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

" ... How do you know which stamps of Great Britain can not be soaked off paper with water? ..."

Look at the perforation's teeth. If they are ragged from being torn apart they are probably water soluble.
If they are simulated by a die cutting process they are almost guaranteed to be stickies and not water soluble.
With the Machins there are several different die cuttings. Two look like an undulating "SINE" wave with the curve and spacing between peaks slightly different. The third looks similar but the peaks are capped (trimmed )much like one might expect at the top of a castles walls.

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Patches

Liz
17 Nov 2011
02:46:42pm

http://www.rpsc.org/video/soakaps.pdf

This article was originally published in the American Philatelist/October 2010.

I have been told by one collector that this product 'Pure Citrus', especially the lemon scent, works great on Great Britain self-adhesive stamps (including security machins), but be prepared for your house to smell like lemons.

All you need is one small glas jar (like a spice bottle with a tight fitting lid), an eyedropper, baby powder and a can of Pure Citrus. DO NOT use plastic containers or a plastic eyedropper - The plastic will disolve!

My personal problem is finding the product to test it, but that is just one disadvantage of living on an island where there is no Walmart or Canadian Tire stores.

Liz

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guyv

17 Nov 2011
03:42:22pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

It work great also on US and Canadian stamps.

Use it only with self adhesive stamps. On the video, they talked about bestine but if the smell of the lemon doesn't bother you, it's cheaper. I use tong to remove from paper.

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Liz
17 Nov 2011
11:50:35pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Scan of Stamps After Removal from Paper. FANTASTIC!!!Image Not Found


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Bobstamp

18 Nov 2011
12:10:11am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

I just can't ignore Liz's comments about Nilodor. I was teaching in a country school in central British Columbia in the late 1980s. The principal and I shared the teaching responsibilities for the school's Grade 6/7 class. One of our Grade 6 students had, shall we say, a problem with personal hygiene. He stank! The principal one day came up with a solution, which actually did work, sorta: He put several drops of Nilodor on the boy's chair just before the class came in from recess! And some people say that teachers don't earn their pay!

Bob

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Logistical1

18 Nov 2011
12:01:52pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

I have read several articles on the web about removing self adhesives from paper many mentioning various chemical products. My concern is the long term consequences of these products on stamps and the long term impact the remaining adhesive will have on the stamps in the rest of my collection?


I have taken an alternate approach to collecting self adhesives. I affix a mint self adhesive stamp onto acid free paper and mount it in a seperate album dedicated to shelf adhesive stamps. This eliminates the possible long term effects of chemical reations and protects the rest of my collection from possible damage, however this solution does not address how to get used stamps off the paper in the first place. I figure in 30 years if some of the solutions prove to be safe who ever inherits my collection can soak them off.

Unless someone with an enviromental engineering degree with access to enviromental chambers studied this, getting an answer now rather then 30 years later is problematic. I suspect the adhesives will naturally degrade or dry out after a few decades. This would be an interesting study for a university or APS to undertake.

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Liz
18 Nov 2011
12:02:32pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

For those living in Canada 'Pure Citrus Lemon' is available in cities that have a Canadian Tire store. This product comes in a 7 oz. container and the cost is $4.39 plus taxes.

If I were a stamp dealer in a store I'd have this product and a copy of the article on display.

Liz

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Bobstamp

18 Nov 2011
12:49:06pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Two or three years ago my stamp club, the BC Philatelic Society, invited a paper conservator from the Vancouver Archives to speak to us about the care and storage of philatelic items. Her message was this: Paper degrades over time, no matter what you do or don't do to it. Paper can be treated and stored in ways that will preserve it for decades or perhaps centuries, but such treatment and storage is too expensive for the average collector, and requires the collectibles to be stored in a way that makes them virtually inaccessible, i.e. in dark, temperature- and humidity-controlled environments, protected by inert plastic sleeves which allow air circulation and archival-grade paper folders, boxes, etc. Clearly, this is impractical for collectors like us.

I think that the best we can do is handle our material carefully with clean hands (the jury is out on cotton gloves, which can damage paper), use tongs when possible, and use archival products for storage. Such practices, at least, will ensure that most of our collections will be of use to at least the next two or three generations. And we also have to accept that some modern stamps and covers, both old one and a great many new ones, were doomed to early destruction when they were manufactured.

I recently saw a stamp less 1800s cover from an Indian state that had been addressed with ink that was highly acidic; every letter in the address had been eaten away, leaving only the outline. And there are two German airmail stamps (C57-58) and one semi-postal souvenir sheet (B68) that were issued with gum that had small quantities of sulphuric acid in it. This fact is noted in the Scott Classic catalogue under the listing for B68. Many, perhaps most extant copies have suffered significant damage. If you have mint, gummed copies, you would be wise to soak the gum off. Here's an image of a cover franked with both airmail stamps, plus another that didn't have acidic gum.

Image Not Found

A note about the pesky self-adhesive stamps: I don't have a problem with using anything that works to get the adhesive off. By and large the stamps are common as dirt, and if dipping them in volatile, possibly destructive chemicals is what it takes to enjoy them, then so be it. It personally doesn't bother me since I rarely buy modern stamps for anything but postage.

Bob


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Stampaholic

22 Nov 2011
11:11:41am

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re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

You mean there are Canadian stamps that won't soak off in water? Bummer.

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Logistical1

23 Nov 2011
08:18:58pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

I find Canadian Club with a few ice cubes works great on Canadain self adhesives. 2 or 3 drinks later and I forget all about the pesky stamps.

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KG5

04 Dec 2011
01:18:12am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

With Australia, very recent self adhesives they are still made with water based gum and after much experimenting have mastered them if that is possible. The real problem is the stamps themselves are becoming very thin.
Today I tried to take some 1972-73 Tonga stamps off paper and it turned into my first and hopefully my last experience with oil based gum. Got them off paper no problem with lighter fluid but the sticky residue that is left behind takes me about 5 to 10 minutes to remove. Now I know what all you people are truly talking about. Oh Dear Me!

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Liz
04 Dec 2011
02:17:54am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

So far with all my experimenting this past 2 weeks, I have found 'Pure Citrus Lemon' air freshener and baby powder by far the best product to use to remove self-adhesive stamps from paper. I spray the 'pure citrus lemon' into a small glass jar (with a lid to save remaining liquid without it evaporating), use a glass eye dropper to place one drop of liquid on the backing paper with the stamp facing down, wait 2-4 seconds, remove the stamp from the backing paper and then take a small make-up brush to brush a very little baby powder that I put in a small glass dish on the back of the stamp. I hold the stamp face down over the dish of powder so any excess powder falls back into the dish. I dispose of the backing paper in a sealed empty container so the smell of lemon does not make my stamping room smell like squeezed lemons.

The self-adhesive stamps come off the paper with no problem. There is just a very, very slight stickiness to the back of the stamp. By brushing the baby powder on the back of the stamp this stickiness totally disappears and leaves the stamp perfectly smooth in appearance. I don't have any idea what the baby powder does, but only a very slight brushing of the powder is required.

So far I have successfuly removed from paper;
- Great Britain small recent Xmas stamps and other S/A commemoratives that I know will not soak in water.
- recent S/A USA air mail and other S/A commemoratives that I know will not soak in water without cracking, peeling or are just stubborn and won't come off the paper.
- Australian S/A issues, especially some of the International Post S/A booklet issues that will not soak in water.

Carl, I have not found a Canadian self-adhesive stamp that cannot be removed from the paper when soaked in water.

I do not recommend Nilodor(too smelly) or Lighter Fluid.

Liz


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KG5

04 Dec 2011
03:14:02am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

I do have some recent Christmas self adhesives international post stamps but have not yet tried to remove them from paper. But I am double soaking them. 1st soak for 30mins and then totally dry them out and then soak them again for 15 mins and no longer than 20 mins. At 15 mins I remove the stamps from water. I have about 80% of them that work for me.

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05 Dec 2011
02:40:25pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, PATCHES, YOUR NARRATION OF STAMP REMOVAL TRIGGERED MEMORIES OF MY PARENTAL DIAPER-CHANGING DUTIES (FOUR - COUNT 'EM - BABY BOTTOMS). THE SMELL OF TALCUM POWDER MUST BE FAMILIAR TO EVERY PARENT. THANKS FOR THE MEMORY TRIP.

JOHN DERRY

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KG5

06 Jan 2012
05:23:08am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Hi Liz.
I have just finished taking 5,000 to 6,000 Australian International Post stamps off paper.I need to have a soaking fix every 2nd month or so I love it so much. Most floated off paper but I have taken all the self adhesive stamps off paper as well, with water only. I double soak the stamps and it is a precise science. Last time I got 80%, this time I got 90% off paper with no damage and no gum on the back of the stamp at all.

Australia has not as yet used oil based gum on their stamps. The biggest problem is the paper thickness. That is what makes it a precise science.

Another stamps off paper link.

http://youtu.be/nWMcVYgIZjM

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Liz
06 Jan 2012
05:50:58am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

John - May I send my stamps to you to soak off the paper? I absolutely DETEST soaking stamps, even the ones that just float off the paper!

I had a friend who liked soaking stamps and for a couple of years I'd package up on paper stamps, postage, glassines, envelopes and ship a package to her. She kept 10% of the stamps (her choice) and returned the rest to me. What a fabulous treat that was for me. Her career now takes up most of her time, so I've lost a 'stamp soaker' but not a friend.

If I soaked 5,000 to 6,000 stamps at once I'd need Michael's full bottle of Canadian Club and a bottle of aspirin for the next morning.

Image Not Found





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KG5

06 Jan 2012
06:19:49am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Liz I can relate to your green monster. lol

My work background is strong in bricklaying, stonework, oil rigs and oyster growing and as with stamps it gives me a chance to think outside the square.It is a special time for me and it solves many a problem or points to a new direction in life at times. A learnt thing but it has been good to me.
The other half I was as a muilty disciplined horticulturist and looked after too many people.

Stamps, not as yet talk back!

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06 Jan 2012
09:34:26am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

" ... it gives me a chance to think outside the square. ..."

Same here, John. There have been many nights when I have sat up and soaked hundreds of Machins or Wildings just for the relaxation. Also other bulk lots of definitives as well as WW mixtures. Once I cleaned and sorted several pounds of "Prefectures" for a dealer friend so he could sell them at a stamp show.
For me it puts the problems of the world aside and the physical manipulation is good therapy.
Liz, if I were closer to Salt Island, I'd volunteer to do the soaking. I can understand that it might be a pain to some people, but I find it a way to pass the night.

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KG5

17 Feb 2012
10:19:52pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Hi Liz.

I am now able to remove any self adhesive stamp off paper that I have with 100% success.

But the talcum powder has a scent on the stamp without being able to feel the powder or feel the glue the powder is covering up or neutralizing.

I have some very hard to get high value Australia international post self adhesive stamps that will sell very well at a good price but the smell is stopping me from touching these stamps at the minute. If I soak the smell off the stamp a very slight tackiness comes back to the stamp.

Do you or anyone else know the name of a scentless talcum powder if such a thing exists?

Something I am going to try if I ever get time is to soak the S&A stamp in water 1st then dry and use an oil base (for me lighter fluid) remover and see what happens.

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Liz
17 Feb 2012
10:49:33pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

I think Corn Starch could be used in place of baby powder. Corn Starch is an ingredient in baby powder. I believe they do sell scentless baby & talcum powders. Do you think that perhaps it is the scent of the citrus that you smell?

Liz

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michael78651

17 Feb 2012
11:48:52pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

I would avoid corn starch. It's organic. It could interact with the paper over time.

Look for a hypo-alergenic talcum powder. It should be odorless. Ask a pharmacist for help.

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KG5

18 Feb 2012
02:04:23am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Thanks Liz & Michael. :)

It is so nice to be able to ask a stamping question in my isolated living place and get great answers to cutting edge issues in stamping.

Always Happy Stamping. John.

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George

24 Feb 2012
09:51:50pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

i have had a lot of experience soaking australian s/a stamps. (note: experience doesn't always imply success...) i find that australia post s/a stamps from around 2010 onwards soak easily in water.

up to around 2007 or so they mostly came off but i would have about 10% ruined in the process. factors such as envelope thickness and colour of the stamp affect the rate of success (darker means less success).

in the intervening period, many stamps were very difficult to remove, with maybe 30% ruined. did they change the adhesive? i don't know the reason, but a few issues in that period (2008 xmas and 2009 desserts) i found impossible i.e. nearly 100% failure rate, so i keep them on piece now.

but at least the current ones soak off quite readily. i hope they keep it that way. the only issue is that often the adhesive sticks to the stamp rather than the envelope, but at least you can peel it off if you're careful.

i believe that australia post does design s/a stamps with a chemical layer between the paper of the stamp and the adhesive so that the stamp is meant to soak off. the reason some other countries' stamps don't soak off is because the postal authority doesn't bother to make their stamps collector-friendly in that way.

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KG5

25 Feb 2012
12:06:39am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

With Aussie stamps I double soak and totally dry the stamps out in between soaking . The stamps must come out of the water after 15mins of soaking the 2nd time. This process attacks the two different gum layers.

The thickness of the paper is the biggest problem and a close 2nd is soaking for to long before attempting to remove the stamp.

That is Aussie stamps in a nut shell from me.

Always Happy Stamping. KG5

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KG5

25 Feb 2012
12:23:55am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

The biggest soaking issue for me is the hard to get international post self adhesive stamps. Some of these stamps I have only found two or three of them after sorting nearly 3kgs over the past 3 years and I do not want the 20% that are destroyed being these hard to get ones. This kiloware is very expensive and a lot of people want to win these lots. So for me to loose even one stamp hurts me because they sell very well and for a good price. If I can get my loses down the more I can bid on these high value mixes. Not many people would have these stamps in the numbers and the variety I have. Many people contact me to say thanks they have been looking for these stamps for years. Definitely one of my best sellers. I have just listed singularly a complete set of these stamps accept for 6 or so but for the next listing it will be short of another different 6 or so. Most of the hard to gets sell for over twice face value.

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oliver_black

05 Mar 2012
05:14:37pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Why soak the near unsoakable? Why risk higher yield loss? Why does a stamp collector need to now become a junior chemist? I mean what is really so terrible about trimming a used self stick close to its perfs and mounting it that way. If post office technology has thrown a curve ball, why not just adapt? What if some Master of the Philatelic Universe spokesperson said, "Henceforth, it shall be proper, authorized, and acceptably purist to retain part of the cover on which a used so-called self-stick postage stamp made its trip, if said cover is neatly trimmed parallel to 1 mm of the stamp's perfs or sides."

I guess, in the final analysis, it is a matter of personal choice.

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michael78651

05 Mar 2012
10:13:26pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Bravo, Oliver!! I have been saying the exact same thing for a number of years. It doesn't make sense to me either.

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musicman

APS #213005
05 Mar 2012
10:24:57pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Yes, BRAVO Oliver!!

I as well have been saying - and doing - the same thing for a while now....since the advent of regularly issued U.S. self-adhesives.

"...oh, but your album will bulge!"
"...but it will look messy!"
"...but you should save it on cover - NEVER remove the stamp!"

....and so on and so forth.....


Say what you will, say what you want;

WE COLLECT HOW WE WANT TO....plain and simple.

If I want to trim, it's the right way.
If I want to soak, its the right way.
If I save the cover, its the right way.


TO EACH HIS OWN


Wanna know something? I do ALL those and more!!!

**SHOCK! HORROR!!**



It comes down to however YOU want to collect stamps...plain and simple.







Randy







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Tim
Collector, Webmaster
05 Mar 2012
10:38:56pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

@Oliver_black
I generally agree with you, as do the other guys. One exception that comes to mind is if you need to know the water mark inorder to be able to catalog the stamp. Then I believe it is worth the trouble. But generally I'm like Randy and love the fact that there isn't any rights and wrongs in this hobby. A new collector doesn't need to worry if he/she is making a mistake, it is just what you want to do.

Tim.

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michael78651

05 Mar 2012
10:40:32pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

The self-adhesives don't have watermarks.

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Bobstamp

06 Mar 2012
01:48:18am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Do any modern stamps have watermarks? I assume that a few must have, but it's something I've never thought about since I don't pay a lot of attention to anything younger than me! Well, there are some young things I pay attention to! I'm not dead yet!

Bob

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michael78651

06 Mar 2012
12:52:57pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Yep, watermarks are still out there on new stuff.

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NJW7

13 Mar 2012
06:59:49pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

@Patches--I just fell in love with you. I bought a can of Pure Citrus today (here in California it can be found in any grocery store), gave a quick squirt to the back of the stamp on paper, and--presto. That stuff is pretty concentrated, so the house is about to smell like an orange grove, but I can't wait to finally take these off paper. Thanks for the tip.

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Liz
13 Mar 2012
07:10:42pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

NJW7 - I found spraying a bit into a covered glass jar and using an eyedropper stops the over spray and doesn't make your house smell like citrus.

Liz

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rgnpcs

14 Mar 2012
01:31:33am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Been using Pure Citrus for about a year now, but hate that orange smell. Don't they make this product in any other odor?

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Patches

Liz
14 Mar 2012
01:50:43am

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Lemon Citrus is also available.

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d1stamper

24 Feb 2014
10:12:45am

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re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

How do you know which stamps of Great Britain can not be soaked off paper with water?

Doug

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DavidG

APS member since 2004
24 Feb 2014
07:40:49pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

Stampaholic:

Canadian self-adhesive stamps soak-off in warm water.

Use your finger to remove the rubbery residue whilst the stamps is in the waterbowl. No need to use the chemicals.

David

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25 Feb 2014
12:01:06pm

re: It's Like Magic - Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (if you must)

" ... How do you know which stamps of Great Britain can not be soaked off paper with water? ..."

Look at the perforation's teeth. If they are ragged from being torn apart they are probably water soluble.
If they are simulated by a die cutting process they are almost guaranteed to be stickies and not water soluble.
With the Machins there are several different die cuttings. Two look like an undulating "SINE" wave with the curve and spacing between peaks slightly different. The third looks similar but the peaks are capped (trimmed )much like one might expect at the top of a castles walls.

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