Mounting and framing postage stamp pages

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Dave

Dave

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
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Jun 11, 2004
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Edwardsburg, MI
I've searched the archives but haven't found the particular solution to a design problem I'm facing in framing some sheets of postage stamps.

Here is the design the customer likes:




It's four pages of limited edition Jimi Hendrix stamps as the background with one page showing the verso of the page we need to float in the center. We'd like to frame them not using any harmful adhesives.

The background pages could be held in place to a backer with small mylar corner pockets, but I'm coming up with a loss for the magical floating of the center sheet.

One possible solution would be to move the background stamps maybe 1/4" apart, still adhere them with corner pockets and then run a 1/4" strip of mylar centered top to bottom and another left to right passing through an appropriate colored backing board (Purple Haze).

Any other thoughts? Is there an adhesive that stamp collectors use that is non-damaging to the stamps and removable? (I think I know the answer to that question...) I could microdot the top page to hold in place and then do a DCO (direct contact overlay) with an acrylic plexi?

What do you think of the strap idea and the DCO mount?
 
Talk to a stamp dealer about stamp mounts. They are archival, clear acetate on the face and either clear or black on the back. You may not be able to get large enough ones for the sheets but if so they might suggest an alternative. Here is just one example - selected only because it illustrates the principle fairly well:

http://www.kenmorestamp.com/using-stamp-mounts
 
I would probably wrap all five pieces in clear polyester film, then use double-sided polyester tape (not ATG) to hold all of the pieces in place. That way, you could butt the four background pieces' edges together and then float the center piece on top, and no adhesive touches any of the five pieces. Personally, I would elevate the center piece on a layer of foam board or, for best preservation value, 8-ply matboard.

Or, if you want a matte-finish on the items, you could wrap them in Crepeline fine-mesh fabric instead of clear film.

Or, you could make full-length, folded-edge supports out of clear film or a stiff acid-free tissue, to overlap the edges of each of the four background pieces by about 1/16". Then, put a sheet of acrylic or glass over them, use similar edge supports to hold the center piece, and then use spacers on a final sheet of glazing.

Or, you could use an anti-reflection glass DCO with polyester batting for the four background pieces, then attach the center piece to the DCO glass, then space a final glazing sheet over that.
 
Here's another idea, maybe simpler:

Push nickel-plated brass or stainless steel straight pins through two or more of the perforation-holes of each of the five sheets, using Class I or Class II matboard over foam board for the substrate. On the back of the foam board, cut off the pins' shafts and use a tiny spot of glue on the end of each cut-off shaft to keep the pins from falling out. Paint the heads of the pins (white?) to match the perforated edges of the stamps. No adhesives, no overlays needed.

You could also sew through the perforation holes, but the slightly-tensioned thread might elongate those holes over time, or possibly tear through the paper.
 
You could use 2 sheets of glazing and the top piece could have a narrow mat overlay to cove the encapsulation edges of that piece.
 
Great solutions offered. Thanks! I don't know why I didn't think about double glazing. Must be a Friday thing.

:icon9:
 
You know it would have popped into your head right after you had framed it in a more complex manner. :p
 
Or would it be cheaper and easier to dry mount everything as they are limited edition into the millions. Present the customer with a few mint sheets in an folder or in a nice pocket on the back? <-also depends on customer obviously.

I did that once and the customer was very pleased. She got her layout, but also had a mint sheet in an album page on the back.
She liked the idea and it cost me les than $10 to turn a nearly impossible project into a drymount and some white glue.

I don't see how you are going to keep the sheets from bowing out in the middle.
 
Hi Dave,

Check here... [thread=62475]Framing Postage Stamps[/thread]

Or here... [thread=54960]Framing Stamps - Need Alternate Methods[/thread]

I might suggest each of the four Souvenir Sheets be mounted in a Showgard Stamp Mount with a mat of 3+ inches around the entire presentation. Not only would this provide some breathng space between the busy stamps and the frame, but it would also provide a platform for your interior pane of glass.

that interior pane of glass of course will supprt the Verso piece in the center. (It too, can be mounted within a Showgard Mount). Spacing and an outsie piece of MG or CC and you've got the job done.

Regards,

John (Philatelist and Picture Framer)
 
I like the design, but if you're trying to protect them in good condition, won't
covering four of them with the center one result in eventual discoloration?
It seems a shame to go to great lengths with all the other materials, only to
end up with such a drastic difference of the covered & uncovered areas.

In tandem with a couple comments in earlier posts, it sounds like a good idea
to consider this a 'sacrificial' set and for the customer to keep a mint set
that is unframed. Otherwise, if preserving these in pristine shape is the prime
concern, I don't see how this design can accomplish that.
 
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