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How to Find the Watermark on Old Stamps

A watermark is a nearly invisible impression made into stamp paper that is used to identify where the stamp was made. Over the course of history, many postage stamps have been printed with watermarks to prevent counterfeiting. Postage stamp watermarks show various letters, numbers, or designs. These hidden designs are important to stamp collectors because they are often the only thing that can be used to tell nearly identical stamps apart.

Things You'll Need

Watermark detector fluid
Watermark tray
Tongs
Eyedropper
Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue

Instructions

- 1
  Handle the stamp with tongs to avoid getting oil from your fingers onto stamp.
- 2
  Place the stamp face down in a watermark tray.
- 3
  Use an eyedropper to saturate the stamp with watermark detector fluid.
- 4
  Look for the presence of a watermark on the stamp. You must look quickly because the fluid will evaporate within a minute and the watermark will disappear. Your stamp may have only a portion of the watermark present. A stamp with a complete letter or design is worth more than a stamp with just a segment of a watermark impression.
- 5
  Note any damage to the stamp. A side benefit of watermark detector fluid is that it also makes flaws in the stamp (tears, creases, etc.) more noticeable.
- 6
  Use your Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue to identify watermarks. The catalog lists known watermarks, which can help you identify your stamp and determine its value. You can also search for stamps online at Stamp2.com-Library (http://www.rarities.com.sg/watermarks/default.asp).

Stamp Collecting