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How to Remove Stamps for Collecting

Whether collecting stamps for fun, profit or historical reasons, collectors inevitably must learn how to remove a stamp from the corner of an envelope without tears or damage. Though spy movies and detective novels might suggest steaming stamps off envelopes, the American Philatelic Society recommends soaking as the most efficient and low-risk method of loosening stamp glue and freeing a stamp from paper.

Things You'll Need

Scissors
Bowl of cool to lukewarm water
Tongs
Black and white newsprint or clean cloths
Book or heavy object

Instructions

- 1
  
  Set aside stamps with heavy cancellation marks to soak alone.
  
  Group stamps according to color to be soaked as a batch. Take care to set aside valuable stamps or those with heavy cancellation marks to be soaked individually.
- 2
  
  Soak stamped envelope pieces in water.
  
  Trim the envelope surrounding each stamp to a small frame. Don't cut a stamp's perforated edges or the stamp itself.
- 3
  Submerge stamped envelope corners in a bowl of cool to lukewarm water. Avoid using hot water. The stamps should face the surface. Allow them to soak until their glue dissolves and they separate from their envelope.
- 4
  Remove stamps with tongs. and rinse any remaining glue off the back of the stamp with cool water. Dry stamps on black and white newsprint or on clean, dry cloths. Smooth out any wrinkles in the stamps, after they are dry, by pressing under a heavy book or other flat object.
- 5
  Rinse remaining glue off the back of each stamp with cool water.
- 6
  Dry stamps on black and white newsprint or clean, dry cloths.
- 7
  Smooth wrinkles. After the stamps are dry, smooth any wrinkles by pressing the stamps under a heavy book or other flat object.

Stamp Collecting