Postage Stamps

[Walrus]

G'day folks ...

There's always something new in this business .

I'd appreciate some input in how to mount two sheets of postage stamps. They're part of a collection of coins and other trinkets to be framed as one piece.

The sheets of stamps are about 8"x11" each and have not been licked , consequently they are likely to hold some value now or in the future.

If I don't mount them in something, they'll curl and if I do mount them in some kind of envelope the last thing I need is for them to get stuck due to condensation.

Advice anyone?

TIA.

 

[Ron Eggers]

Mat them. The window should probably be sized so that the row of perforations around the perimeter shows.

We have a term for using a single piece of Mylar/clear film behind the item (kind of a half-encapsulation) to hold it in place. I don't remember the term, but that's what I'd use so that there is no adhesive on the stamps (other than what was there in the first place.

)

 

[preservator]

In addition to Ron's suggestions, you could hold
the sheet with a few well placed and not overly tight stitches, through the Mylar, since the post office was so kind as to perforate the sheet and provide all those holes.

Hugh

 

[Bill Henry-]

There is a product called ShowGard® that is available at most stores which cater to coin and stamp collectors. They are made in Germany, I think. They are Mylar envelopes which are specifically designed for protecting and displaying stamps. They come in a whole lot of different sizes and are fairly inexpensive i.e. less than US$10.00/ package.

We carry about six different sizes, none as large as you mentioned; but, I’m pretty sure that I’ve seen sheets that are as large as you describe in our local store.

ShowGard® has a web site, but unless you’re a collector and know the lingo, trying to make sense of their numbering system is enough to drive you to batty.

Check out some local stamp places. They will most likely be able to help.

 

[Jack Cee]

We use ShowGard regularly for mounting stamps, full sheets or individual. We use a small size for duck stamps. They are available in either a clear background or a dark background. The smaller sizes have a glue on the back so that it can be attached to a mounting board and then matted. Check the internet or University products.

Jack Cee

 

[Framerguy]

G'day Mike,

Glad to see you're still alive and well! I hadn't seen any action out of you on this side of the pond lately.

About your stamp sheets, If you can't get the clear stamp envelopes that were mentioned earlier from a shop down under, I would opt for encapsulating them in 2 sheets of Mylar or Melanix. If the encapsulation is done correctly, there is little chance of condensation within the Mylar package as the static of the product holds everything together pretty well. You need air circulation to carry humidity into the package to create the problem that concerns you and Mylar doesn't allow much space within the package for that to happen.

I did 3 of these stamp sheets for my own use when I lived up North and they have fared quite well over the years. The humidity up there was very high almost all year long and I am confident that the stamp sheets are doing well within those Mylar packages.

One of them had writing on the reverse of each stamp explaining the event on the front of the stamp. I mounted the Mylar package between 2 suede mats, one on the front and one on the back of the package with the opening larger than the stamp sheet. (It appears to be floating in the opening of the mats. I looked at both sides of the package and can see no evidence of moisture damage at all.

You got a couple of good ideas from others on attaching the package to the backing board.

Framerguy