Soaking Stamps

Once you have selected the stamps to be soaked there are certain guidelines you should follow in order to take them off the envelope with minimal damage. The first thing to do when soaking stamps is to trim the edges. Be sure to leave approximately a quarter of inch of paper around the edge. Do not cut the stamp or its perforations. After you do the soaking it is important to remember that the stamp will be weak when it’s moist. The following part of the article will deal with a simple and basic way to soak stamps.

The first step is to get a container and fill it with water. What type of water will depend on the stamp. If it is a self adhesive stamp then hot water should be used. If the stamp is on manila or colored envelopes, then cool water should be used. If it is regular stamps being soaked glued on plain envelopes, then lukewarm water will do. Next put some of the stamps in the bowl. You should not put more that 15-20 stamps at a time. The reason why few stamps are done at a time is because they may clump together. Of course if you are using a large container then more stamps can be put. If the stamps are on colored paper then putting fewer stamps in the water the better.

Leave the stamps in the water until they get unstuck by themselves. This may only happen after changing the water a few times. The important thing is the water must stay clean. As soon as the stamp detaches from the envelope, take out the envelope from the water. If it is a colored envelope the color runoff from soaking stamps may stain the stamp. After you take out the stamp carefully rinse them in some clean water. Be prepared with a separate bowl of clean water to do this. Self adhesive stamps are generally the most stubborn. They can take up to 25 minutes before detaching from the paper. Sometimes they may not detach at all so be prepared for this.

Once the stamps have been taken out of the clean bowl of water you should dry them by putting them face down. For this part it is better to use a clean and colorless object such as a paper towel. You should also only dry one layer of stamps at a time. Do not stack them on top of each other. After you have done all this the stamps will be ready for flattening.

Photo Credits: Heptagon

Originally posted 2010-09-01 03:27:09.

This post involves:

soaking stamps, stamps, used stamps

... and focuses on:

Stamp Collecting, Tips and Tricks, Used Stamps

Posted by Collectible Stamp on January 9, 2012 in Stamp Collecting, Tips and Tricks, Used Stamps.