After a recent trip to the bookstore, you bring home your very first stamp binder, a thick heavy book filled pictures of almost every United States stamp you can imagine. Now the only question is, "how do I put my stamps in my album?" Do you glue them? Lick them and stick them? Is there a way to paste them down so you can remove them later? And why are there four illustrations of the same stamp? Learn the answer to these questions and others with this How to Guide.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 15-20 Minutes
Here's How:
Make sure you have everything you need before you begin. What a disappointment it would be if you went to put your stamp in your album only to realize you didn't have a mount!
Use your tongs! Always carefully handle your stamps, especially mint stamps, to avoid tearing, creasing, or other damage to them.
Find the corresponding illustration to your stamp. Most stamp albums have illustrations which allow you to locate and identify the stamp you are attempting to place. BE CAREFUL because there may be more than one illustration of the same stamp! When in doubt, always check the text under the illustration to make sure you are placing your stamp in the right position.
If you are unsure...consult! If your stamp has more than one illustration, it may be a variety of the same stamp. Sometimes stamps have different perforations or watermarks, in which case you will need to use a perforation gauge or watermark detection fluid to find the proper place in your album. Consult your catalog if you are unsure which variety you have.
Mount your stamp.For used stamps, it is often customary to use stamp hinges. Hinges are small gummed pieces of glassine that are lightly moistened and adhered to both the back of the stamp and the album page. (See illustration) For mint stamps, it is better to use hingeless mounts. These are pockets or tubes with adhesive on the back. The stamp is place inside the mount and the back of the mount is moistened, instead of the stamp. This keeps the gum of your stamp in tip-top shape.
Store your album in a cool dry place. Humidity and moisture are the worst culprits of stamp damage. Stamp gum can become tacky and stick to your album pages or mounts, making them nearly impossible to remove! It is a good idea to stay away from attics and basements, when looking for a place to put your albums.
Enjoy your collection! Stamp collecting can be a rewarding, as well as, educational experience that brings you joy for many years to come.
Tips:
If your stamp isn't pictured in your album, there may be a good reason. Often high value stamps or rare stamps are not pictured in beginning albums, because these stamps are so hard to come by. In worldwide stamp albums, you will often find your stamp without an illustration. Most worldwide albums depict only a small selection of stamps from each issuing country to help you identify which country your stamp came from and the approximate year of issue. It is virtually impossible to illustrate every stamp issued from the over 190 stamp producing countries of the world.
When using a mount remember: less is best! Don't apply too much moisture to the mount. The stamp mount could become soggy and unusable - or worse - your stamp make become soiled! If you are using a hingeless mount, you never want to seal the mount completely. Stamps are made from paper, and if kept air-tight, may become brittle or decompose.
Don't get discouraged! If you can't seem to identify the stamp you are looking for or are having difficulty using your mount, don't give up. There are hundreds of stamp professionals who would be more than happy to help you with your questions.
What You Need:
Postage stamps.
A album designed specifically for stamps.
Catalog to identify your stamps.
Stamp tongs to handle your stamps.
Stamp hinges or mounts.
Magnifying glass to read any small markings on your stamps.
Perforation gauge to measure stamp perforations.
Watermark detection fluid to test for watermarks. (Optional)
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