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![]() Figure 1. Using fingers to pick up and handle stamps can easily result in damage (top). Specially manufactured stamp tongs (bottom) are inexpensive and much safer for stamps. |
There are really two important reasons why collectors go to great lengths to keep their
Not every collector can afford the finest example of each stamp, but most collectors take care in selecting their stamps. It's much more satisfying to know each stamp in the collection has maintained its condition because of proper handling and storage than it is to look through a collection and spot damage to stamps that could have been avoided. Individual stamps are among the most fragile items in the stamp hobby. Even a new mint stamp can be torn, creased or stained with just a moment's inattention.
Many collectors handle stamps with their hands or fingers. Sometimes this can hardly be avoided, such as when a collector separates a single stamp from a
The tips of stamp tongs are specially designed for picking up and holding postage stamps. The tips are rounded and highly polished, making them safe for this delicate task. Standard tweezers, which resemble stamp tongs to some degree, should not be used with stamps because the ridged tips can crease or cut fragile stamp paper.
Human skin is always coated with some oily residue. Even a good solid hand-washing reduces that skin oil for only a very brief time. When skin oil is transferred to a stamp, even in minute quantities, it can act over time to discolor or dull the stamp. Certainly every collector should carefully wash his hands before touching stamps, but using stamp tongs practically eliminates the chance of soiling stamps with skin oil or other residue.
Figure 1 shows a collector attempting to pick up a stamp with his fingers. Notice that the stamp is bending as the collector struggles to pluck it off the table top. At the bottom of Figure 1, the same collector finds it easier to lift the stamp using a pair of stamp tongs. The stamp is held firmly, and the danger of bending or creasing the stamp is eliminated.
![]() Figure 2. Store stamp albums and stock books upright on shelves in a room with safe temperature and humidity levels. |
Stamps, covers, albums and stock books always should be stored in an area where humidity and temperature are kept at reasonable and fairly constant levels. The combination of heat and humidity can activate the adhesive on the back of many stamps, causing them to stick to album or stock book pages.
The added element of pressure on album pages or stock book pages can further aggravate the situation. When pages are packed tight with stamps, the adhesive has an even greater chance of sticking to the page.
Albums and stock books should never be overstuffed with stamps or pages. This can be tough on the pages and on the stamps, making either or both susceptible to damage.
Another way to avoid pressure on stamps is to make sure albums and stock books are stored upright, as shown in Figure 2. When an album lies flat on its side, the weight of the pages on top puts a lot of pressure onto the bottom pages. Storing the album upright distributes that weight evenly and reduces the pressure on both the stamps and the album binder.
When an album is not in use for extended periods, it is recommended that the collector periodically open it and carefully turn each page to ensure that all stamps are still affixed properly and that pages separate easily.
Stamps and albums should always be kept out of direct sunlight and away from dust. Storing stamps in a cabinet with a door is one way to accomplish both of these goals. Special album slipcases are available from some album manufacturers to further protect the stamps inside.
Sunlight can fade the colors of stamps and album binders. Heat from sunlight or other sources can cause binders to crack and album pages to yellow. Even repeated moderate exposure to room light can affect the colors of many postage stamps, either by fading them or by changing their appearance. Stamps displayed in frames for any length of time are likely to show evidence of damage from light.
![]() Figure 3. Don't ever bring food or drink this close to your collection. Just one small mishap could result in disaster. |
Storage boxes for covers should always have enough room for covers to be removed easily. But if there is too much room inside the storage box, covers may slide around loosely and suffer bent corners when other covers stack up on top of them. Cover boxes should be made of archival material that will not oxidize and stain covers.
![]() Figure 4. Transparent sleeves protect covers from dirt and fingerprints but still allow viewing from both sides. |
The example shown in Figure 4 is made from a sturdy transparent plastic that is chemically neutral so it will not damage the paper of the cover or stamp. The firm plastic resists bending or folding.
Also available are inexpensive polybag sleeves, which are best used as temporary storage for large quantities of less valuable covers. The clear plastic provides protection from dirt and fingerprints, but the thinner, flexible material does not protect against bending.
Some collectors use
Cover albums are available with transparent pages that hold covers securely and allow easy viewing. Cover albums provide the best protection for covers, but they are also considerably more expensive than sleeves or glassine envelopes.
All the collector tools and supplies mentioned here are available from stamp dealers and stamp hobby suppliers or can be ordered from Amos Advantage. These products serve to protect your favorite collectibles, so you can enjoy them for years to come -- long after that new car has been consigned to the junk yard.
첫댓글 우표 취급하기 전에 손을 씼었다고 괜찮을거라 믿지 말라는 얘기가 마음에 와 닿네요. 순식간에 나온 손의 기름기가 변색이나 오염의 근원이라고... 좋은 정보에 감사^^