Damn unsoakable stamps (or if you can’t soak them… )
I felt somewhat sad after reading the latest “Editors Forumn” column at Scotts Stamp Monthly. The topic of post was non-soakable stamps, or more precisely what do to with them. I acknowledge the column was written mainly US stamp collectors in mind, but the suggested solution (collect non-soakable issues on covers) is IMHO the “wrong” one.
The situation itself is nothing new. Stamp collectors want it one way, postal officers the other way. This battle of titans has clashed several times (with quality of cancels/postmarks, number of new issues etc). And every time the collectors have lost the battle … IMO the more important question is if general stamp collecting should once again adapt to match the new situation as suggested by editor of Scott?
A superb quality example of recent non-soakable US postage stamps
As a stamp collector I admit that non-soakable items don’t fit in at all… Saving them on cut piece is IMHO not a reasonable option as stamp albums, stockbooks etc. were never designed to include large amounts of items that are 2-5 thicker than normal stamps. The thought of ending up with a pile of blown up albums/stockbooks is more than unpleasing… And then there’s always the question of aesthetics and visual looks. Personally I have no objections mixing soaked and cut items, but I admit there is a risk of very messy looking output.
The other route is saving non-soakable items on complete covers. If I was interested of postal history, then I would have no objections with this. But as a stamp collector I simply want to have a collection of different stamps – nothing more, nothing less. I don’t even want to start thinking how I would store or organize thousands of worldwide covers for non-soakable issues.
My solution to problem is something You will never find in printed (commercial) stamp magazines… Don’t collect the non-soakable ones if they make you feel bad. Your collection may end up being non-complete, but which is more important – a complete collection you don’t like looking at, or a non-complete one you love and cherish with every sight?
But that’s just my 2 cents… What’s your opinion?
Keijo, I think I recognize that postmark!
Hi Larry,
you’re right with the postmark “source”
BTW. The goods were dispatched this morning towards USA. Hope you’ll like the red cross semipostals on top of the cover.
I have found a way to get the “unsoakable” off paper. Buy a can of Bestine at your local art supply store. Brush on the back of the paper and self-adhesive stamps will lift right off. They will be sticky so sprinkle with baby power. You can also try hand sanitizer. The stamps don’t come off as clean but it’s safer for children to use.
I agree. There are many times when I don’t desire or require a complete set. For example I just broke up a set of Dominican Republic stamps last night in order to add to my topical collection of fencing on stamps.
There are too many stamps in existence to get “bent out of shape” (pun intended) because a few don’t conform to my specifications. I’ve broken my heart a few times trying to soak a wonderful, but unsoakable stamp. It’s just another metaphorical life lesson and a HOBBY, not a life-or-death “issue” (another pun intended).
Hi Don,
Personally I’m strongly in disfavour of mixing chemical solvents/thinners with stamps as there’s no sure way to tell how they will affect paper,colors etc on the long run. But… as there’s no way of telling how the original gum will start behaving in 10-50 years of time, those using Bestine (or more precisely heptine included also in products like Powerfuel) could be doing the right thing.
As said, this is a matter of personal preference. If something makes You feel bad, don’t do it. As simple as that!
Of cause you are right. Fortunately you only have to collect what you like.
For me non-soakable stamps are no problem. I keep them on the cover because I’m interested not only in the stamps, but in the whole covers.
And as far I know all (official) German stamps are soakable, even the self-adhesive ones. But these have another problem if you want to keep them on the cover: After some years they sometimes fell of from itself, because the gum isn’t durable. Some people also fear the gum will damage the stamps, and there are many “tricks” how you might prevent it. But we will need some decades untill we will find out, as self-adhesive stamps are a quite new invention …
Hi Tim,
the German self-adhesives are not the only ones felling off. I’ve noticed that also some Dutch and Swiss issues have similar problem… But at least the stamps come off easily
As usual, after reading your posts; you make me think a couple things about the way I keep my collection…
I understand exactly what the writer is talking about, particularly how the collection will look if you just cut around the stamp and respect his opinion.
While I understand, it doesn’t bother me. I collect mint and used U.S. stamps, but mostly mint. When I want to mount an unsoakable used stamp, I just cut around the stamp and use a stamp mount. I don’t think it looks that bad, especially if you make a nice neat square cut all the way around the stamp. After all, with some of the self adhesive mint stamps, you basically have to do the same thing.
Look at the bright side, now you don’t have to soak all those stamps, a job I always hated anyway.
“Look at the bright side, now you don’t have to soak all those stamps, a job I always hated anyway”
Every cloud has a silver lining. LOL.
I use lighter fluid on only the stamps I want to save
for myself, who cares what it does fifty years from now
as I will be long gone anyways,but the stamps looks really good now and what I found out is that you can re-use the non-cancelled stamps as the gum stays on the stamp and not on the paper that it’s stuck on , so the process can be a little messy,,,,soak for approximately 30 seconds,peel-off,
scrape the gum off with a small knife,rub-off excess gum with a cotton-ball soaked in lighter fluid,if gum remains on stamp then use a small amount of talcum powder on sticky parts of stamp, “VOILA” perfect results always. I use a very small plastic container for the lighter fluid as it cuts down on the cost of lighter fluid and a small ceramic tile for scraping off the gum. Do only one stamp at a time,
after repeating this process for about ten stamps that is when it start to get messy. Almost all United States stamps for the past 3 to 4 years are unsoakables.
Hope this help a few collectors of U.S. stamps.