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How to Preserve Stamps

Stamp collecting is a fun and artful hobby normally started during a young age. Stamp collecting kits are still widely available though the art of stamp collecting is relatively obscure next to collections such as coins, cards, rocks and other artifacts. Learning how to properly store and preserve your stamp collection will ensure its beauty and value in the future, and allow you to display the collection later on in life. Preservation of stamps can be achieved following these guidelines.

Things You'll Need

Peel-easy stamp hinges
Sleeved stamp mounts
Stamp Album

Instructions

- 1
  Use peel-easy stamp hinges to mount posted or used stamps onto the pages of your album. These hinges are designed with adhesive on the back for easy removal for examination or cleaning.
- 2
  Use clear plastic stamp sleeves (stamp mounts) with a gummed back for your best stamps or mint condition stamps. These are designed to preserve the stamps original gummed back. Simply slide them into the sleeve and place them on the album page.
- 3
  Place your stamps into a stamp album of archival quality after mounting them. Stamp albums are specifically designed to preserve stamps. Normally they have a light thin plastic sheet that folds over adhesive cardboard pages, similar to a photo-album, or pocket sleeves for entire envelopes or small pockets for individual stamps.
- 4
  Place stamps onto the album and keep them separate from one another by at least two inches. Only place stamps on one side of the album page. If you have stamps on both sides of a page and close the album, you will run the risk of damaging fragile stamps as they contact and compress against one another.
- 5
  Store your stamp album in a room of your home that has a moderate temperature year round. Rooms such as an office or living room are ideal. Don't store them in an attic, garage, or basement as heat and humidity are higher in these rooms.

Stamp Collecting