THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Customer Service and Satisfaction are our number ONE policy.

 

Proper Tools to Use on Stamp Collecting

Every stamp collector needs tools to pursue the stamp collecting endeavor. The most common are a stamp tongs, magnifying glass, albums, hinges and perforation gauge. Another accessories can be watermark detector and a UV-lamp but they are always expensive. On this page , we will explore each one of these tools.

Stamp tongs require little instruction in use, it is also an indespensable accessory. They are being used to pick up and hold a stamp either for identification or to mount in the album. You must never hold a stamp with your fingers, because of the chance of spots caused by dirt, or the perspiration which can be the cause that the gum will be moist. No matter if it is cancelled or not, always use a stamp tongs or tweezers. Your stamp dealers will have an assortment from which you may choose a pair that feels right for you.

Magnifying glass is being used when you take a better look at a stamp. It helps you to discover small depects in the presentation of the stamp. There are so many different varieties in all price ranges from your stamp dealers. But as a beginner, you should select a simple and inexpensive glass that will provide reasonable magnification. The most used magnifying glass has a round glass/lens and a handle.

Perforation gauge and millimeter rule is often printed on cardboard and sometimes on metal or plastic, that makes it possible for you to tell at a glance the gauge of the perforation of a stamp or to measure in millimeters the size of the stamps. There are so many kinds of gauge but the most common type is the kind that provides a series of dots or points within a given space. The use of the millimeter part of the instrument as an ordinary ruler, only to measure in millimeters instead of inches. All perforations are measured againts the same standard throughout the world. This standard is a distance of 20 millimeters, and the number of holes provided within a distance of 20 millimeters is the count as we say the gauge of the perforation. Hence, if there be 10 large holes spaced closely together within a distance of 20 millimeters, the gauge would be "10". And if there were 10 very small holes within the 20-millemeter distance - spaced far apart from each other, the gauge would still be "10".

You will find the use of the gauge only when identical stamps are separated from each other in your album because of different perforations. This happens frequently with United States stamps in the early twentieth-century issues when the Bureau of Printing and Engraving was experimenting with various methods of perforations. Most all United States postage stamps are now produced by machines that provides the standard "Perf. 11 x 101/2."

Watermark Detector is a black tray (preferably glass) for the purpose of detecting watermark primarily as a protection againts counterfeiting, many stamps are printed on paper watermarked with some sort of device. After having the stamp face downward in the watermark detector, pour in enough drops of Benzine to entirely cover it. This usually will reveal any watermark if in the stamp. We will elaborate this further on the page about watermarks.

Stock Book is a sheet of book that have rows of cardboard or transparent (acetate) pockets into which stamps can be more or less firmly held. This enables collector to store stamps for most any purpose without the use of adhesives. Sheets of stock books are usually interchangeable which will aid system and expansion.

Stamp hinges is a small piece of thin paper to which a special gum has been applied. It is prepared for use by folding it at about one third of its length. How to use stamp hinges? 1. Lightly lick the smaller folded part of the hinge. 2. Press the hinge on the back of the stamp. It should be as near to the top edge of the stamp as possible. Be careful that the hinge does not show behind the perforation. 3. Now lick the remaining part of the hinge. 4. Carefully put the stamp in place on the page. Use stamp tongs with smooth rounded ends to position hinges and stamps. The glue takes a little while to harden so you can adjust the stamp slightly to make sure that it is straight. If you want to move the stamp, do not try and remove it right away. The glue will feel off easily only when it is completely dry.

Plastic mounts are clear plastic strips, with an opening to put the stamp in, that are gummed on the back. Plastic mounts are expensive and can be bought in strips or cut for individual stamps. You need a special cutter to make neat strips. Platic mounts are best for specialized collections where there are only few stamps on each page. These mounts are difficult to remove so use them only if you know you are not going to change the page. Stick the mount to the page before putting the stamp.

Stamp album is a book with pages to keep your stamps safe and to display them attractively. There are so many different kinds of albums to choose from and we will also discuss this on the following pages.

Color guide is made up of a number of cards of different color shades, attached atone end so that they out like a fan. Lay the color guide over or near the stamp, matching the different colors until you find the right one.

These are few accessories that are useful in stamp collecting operation. But not all of them are necessary. Once you know how to handle stamps without damaging them, it can be fun to display them in an album.


 

 

 
 
 
Copyright © 2000-2009, AJD Connection owned by Zita Demaree.