Started Soaking Lots of Stamps

After receiving the Miniature World update from the post office which depicts all the lovely stamps that were issued in the year of 2010, I finally got off my butt and started to soak some of the repeat stamps that I had in my possession which were taking up quite a bit of space.

The wife was angry that I used her hand towel to dry the stamps. The set of stamps were largely repeats from England Christmas series.

I am not too sure what I am going to do with them. Perhaps I will sell some of them on eBay for extra cash to buy new stamps.

Ruined Stamps by Poor Soaking Method

I ruined some stamps because I did not soak them properly.

The mistake I made was to use cool water instead of lukewarm water. Was too lazy and figured that cool water would work just as well. I waited and waited and realised that the stamps did not come off even after half and hour.

By then, a lot of the paper was starting to disintegrate and the stamps were still stuck to them!

What followed was me trying to use my fingers to "rub" away the paper that was still stuck to the back of the stamps. Some stamps were spoilt as they got torn as I was trying to do that.

Oh well. Guessed I learnt from my mistake. ALWAYS USE LUKEWARM OR WARM WATER TO SOAK STAMPS. Remember that my friends!

How To Soak Stamps

Very often, we get stamps that we would like to collect. However, these stamps might be fixed on envelopes.

Below is the method that I use for soaking my stamps:

1. Prepare a tub or basin of lukewarm water.

2. Separate your stamps into the "whites" and "colored" based on the evelopes they are stuck on.

3. Soak the "whites" first. The stamps should be facing up when you soak them so that the heavier part (the envelope) will peel off nicely.

4. Try to separate the stamps such that they do not stick to one another.

5. Leave for 5 to 10 minutes and remove.

6. Lay them out on a piece of paper to dry facing up. Make sure that there is no gum remnants on the back otherwise the stamps will stick to the paper.