How To Soak And Catalog Postal Stamps For Collecting

In this Instructable I will be showing you how to start a stamp collection. The beauty about stamp collecting is that although it can be an expensive and complex thing, it can also be free and very simple. If for nothing else, you should start collecting to brush up on your history. The two go hand and hand. If you know history, stamp collecting is easier. If you collect stamps, history is common sense. I'll explain more on this at the end of this Instructable. This is my first, so forgive the simplicity. I'm more of an old fashioned type person and computers have never been my forte. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I have been collecting stamps for over 13 years and my collection has grown into well over 3000. Feedback is appreciated. We stamp collectors are always willing to help someone on the way to stamp collecting and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. Have fun!
 

Step 1 Getting a Stamp

The first step is to find a stamp on a letter. Then, you rip the paper around it to remove it from the envelope and place it in a bowl with water (warm works best, but trickier because it cant be too warm, so I use mine at room temperature), gently tapping down so that the water covers the stamp, but not completely sinking it to the bottom. Leave it for three to five minutes. Don't worry too much about how long. As you gain the experience, you'll know when it's ready. There is no set time because there are many factors to how sticky it is. Age, how long it's been on the paper, type of adhesive (self, or water activated), etc.

Comments

[gusgus7]

place the wet stamps between 2 layers of paper, two per side, and place a few heavy books on top. encyclopedias work just fine. leave for 3-4 hours and your stamps will be flat and well pressed with no wrinkles! ready to mount.

[abehambino]

That's a good tip i forgot to mention. thanks for addressing it. I'll put it in the Instructable. Thanks again.

[gusgus7]

yo are very welcome! it's what separates us from animals and other etcv.erated species.love and kindness to all, is the only way to live a successful life. so, lets keep sharing!!!

[gusgus7]

ask friends and colleges to save stamps for you. exolain how to rip them from envelopes or to keep them ints=act for you to process. always thank the givers so they will be willing to keep collecting for you!