Q&A for How to Remove a Stamp from Its Envelope

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How can I tell if a stamp is still good?

Community Answer

A postage stamp is good for use as long as it has not been "canceled." A canceled stamp is one whose front surface has been altered in any way compared to when it was first printed. In other words, a stamp is considered canceled if it has any markings on it that weren't there when the stamp was first printed. This would include any pen or pencil marks (or visible erasures).

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Question

What should I do if the ink is runny?

Community Answer

U.S. postage stamps are not produced using ink that will run under any circumstances. If you see a stamp with "runny" ink, you are looking at either a phony stamp or one that has been produced under sub-standard conditions in a different country. You can discard it, or save it as a worthless oddity.

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Question

What kind of glue is used to preserve stamps?

Lilian Hayball-clarke

Community Answer

Stamps from different countries start with different glue on the back for adhesion to the envelope or parcel. Glue is not used to preserve stamps, but to glue them down. Collectors keep stamps on the envelope or place them dry in an album without hinges. These albums have rows of pockets to tuck your stamps into. Tweezers, not fingers, help keep the stamps undamaged. Valuable stamps are undamaged stamps.

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Question

How do I remove self-adhesive stamps from an envelope?

Community Answer

Paint thinners applied to back of the paper with a cotton bud. Use tweezers to lift a corner and remove. Place stamp, glued side down, in non-perfumed talcum powder to neutralize the glue.

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Question

How do I remove a stubborn stamp from its envelope without damaging the stamp?

Community Answer

Use steam heat to loosen the glue.

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How do I use an iron to remove a stamp from an envelope?

Community Answer

Put a damp paper towel over the stamp and heat it with an electric iron set to "cotton". The steam debonds the adhesive, freeing the stamp from the envelope without damage. This only takes 10-15 seconds.

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Question

Can I use this method to remove US stamps?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Yes, it will work with any stamps.

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Question

I wrongly addressed a letter and put a stamp on it. Can I reuse the stamp?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Yes. As long as the stamp is uncancelled, you can use it again. Peel the stamp off or cut it away from the envelope with scissors, and glue it to a new envelope.

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Question

How do I remove stamps I sellotaped to a cardboard box?

Donagan

Top Answerer

First carefully peel the tape from the box. The stamps will come up with the tape. Then carefully peel the tape from each stamp. (You can peel the stamps from the tape, but you have to be even more careful doing that.)

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