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Many used postage stamp needs to be removed from the envelope. A bowl of warm water and scissors are needed, and ordinary paper towels are laid flat on a cookie sheet for the drying process. Press dry stamps between the pages of old phone books.
Steps
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Decide to remove or keep the stamp on the paper. Some stamps are more valuable if they are kept on the envelope. An old stamp may be worth a few dollars by itself but may be worth many times that in the historical context of the envelope that bears it. [1] X Research source -
Cut stamps off the corner of the envelope with some scissors. [2] X Research sourceAdvertisement -
Place the cut corner in bowl of warm water and wait 10+ minutes. [3] X Research source Apply cold water if you are worried the ink might run. In the past, some stamps were manufactured so soaking would ruin the stamp; this prevented people from illegally reusing them on new mail. -
Most of the stamps will float off, so put them on the blotter of paper towels face down. Do this carefully so the stamps do not tear or crease. [4] X Research source Some stamps require coaxing to come off the paper, especially the newer "peel and stick" versions. -
Put the cookie sheet of stamps in a dry place (such as the unheated oven) overnight. -
Place the now dry (and maybe a bit curled) stamps flat between the pages of a large book and weigh them down if necessary. -
Leave them for 3 weeks to be flat for handling and sorting into your collection, or for later use.
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Empty envelope. Remove the contents of the envelope. -
Place in microwave. This is only to melt the adhesive from the stamp. [5] X Research source- >1000 watt- Microwave for around 10 seconds
- 700-950 watt- Microwave for around 15-20 seconds
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Peel. Peel off the stamp from the envelope. If it does not come off easily, repeat step 2. -
Tape or glue. The adhesive from the stamp is no longer effective. It will require you to use tape or glue to keep the stamp on the new envelope.
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Insert your nails. Place your nails under the stamp. Use 2 fingers. Use your nails to pull up the stamp a little. -
Pull. Use your finger to pull the stamp up.- Pull slowly and carefully. You can rip the stamp or envelope if you do not pull carefully.
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Tape or glue. By peeling a small amount of paper from the envelope can stick to the adhesive.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow can I tell if a stamp is still good?Community AnswerA 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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QuestionWhat should I do if the ink is runny?Community AnswerU.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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QuestionWhat kind of glue is used to preserve stamps?Lilian Hayball-clarkeCommunity AnswerStamps 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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Tips
- Some stamps, especially from the 19th and early 20th century, are preferable on the envelope, as it holds the value of the stampThanks
- If you want to use washed stamps on an envelope, a glue stick will serve for putting them on. Use stamps that have not been processed through the mail. Using a stamp more than once for sending mail is illegal in most countries.Thanks
- Plastic stamps take longer to soak off.Thanks
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Warnings
- Be careful with colored envelopes as they can bleed through the stamp.Thanks
- Don't dig through other people's mail. They will get mad. Ask permission first, no matter how rare the stamp is.Thanks
- Keep food and drinks away from a stamp collection.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.2-clicks-stamps.com/article/used-postage-stamps-collecting.html
- ↑ https://stamps.org/learn/getting-started/how-to-soak-sort-and-store-stamps
- ↑ https://stamps.org/learn/getting-started/how-to-soak-sort-and-store-stamps
- ↑ https://www.2-clicks-stamps.com/article/used-postage-stamps-collecting.html
- ↑ https://lifehacker.com/use-your-microwave-to-remove-stamps-from-letters-1681946482
About This Article
Article Summary
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There are a few easy ways to remove a stamp from its envelope. Place your envelope in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds to melt the adhesive. Then, gently peel the stamp away from the envelope. You’ll need to use tape or glue to make the stamp sticky again. Alternatively, use warm water to remove it. Start by cutting the corner with the stamp off the envelope with scissors. Place the stamp in a bowl of warm water to soak for 10 minutes. This should melt the glue and remove it from the envelope. Once the stamp separates from the paper, place it on a paper towel in a dry place, like an unheated oven, overnight. If the stamp is curled or warped, place it between the pages of a heavy book for 3 weeks to flatten it. For more tips, including how to peel a stamp off without melting the glue, read on!
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