Civil Service Philatelic Society
Site last updated
21 March 2012
Helpful Hints & Tips
1. Soaking stamps
Imagine the scene. It is the day after one of the CSPS auctions
and you have taken home some packets of stamps on paper. What do you do next? In
this Bulletin and the next few will be some handy hints on soaking off stamps gleaned
from philatelic writings but especially Stamp Soaking Tips – A stamp soakers bible
by Will Moss published in 1982. Please test on cheap stamps first. None of the methods
are tried and tested by your Editor who just soaks in tubs of cold or luke warm water
and dries the stamps in a drying book.
The best method of soaking off seems to be fresh water and agitation of the stamps. There are variations on this method. You can go the effort of using a wetting solution and it has even been suggested by an American writer that in hard water areas, Calgon in the water might help. Yes the same as you put in the washing machine. In other writings it is suggested that you keep rain water, as that will be softer.
2.Rice paste
Stamps from Japan and Asia have rice paste as the adhesive and this is not soluble in water and just softens and swells. Any residue is prone to fungus and mildew as well. It has been suggested but untested by your Editor, that you use some dishwashing detergent well diluted in water and then wash them thoroughly afterwards in water. Even so the residue will have to be rubbed off. It has been suggested that methylated spirits could be employed with caution.
3. Boiling water and steam
This method involves laying the stamps on blotting paper singly and building up layers to place over a pan or kettle of boiling water. The stamps are then removed with tongs and placed on clean, dry blotting paper. A word of caution, do not leave them for too long over the steam.
4. Sierra Leone adhesives
The best advice here is to leave them alone. Stanley Gibbons recommends collecting as cut squares. After soaking the facing comes adrift from the backing. Peeling might be possible but adhesive residue will remain on the back and it is suggested that a dusting of flour would solve this problem.
5. Bulk soaking
This methods suggests using a bath tub and placing the stamps in a
flat, deep perforated tray and then partly filling the bath. Leave the stamps for
2 hours, agitating them 2 or 3 times. Take off the paper and then drain the stamps.
They are then spread out on blotting paper or old newspapers for three days. It is
suggested that the stamps are sorted first to remove coloured envelopes that might
bleed colour to the other stamps, those with rice paste and non-
(Probably also best to check no one needs the bath. Ed.)
6. Collecting cut-
Prior to 1914 cutting stamp imprints from postal stationery was a common practice
so they could be placed in the pre-
If any member has views on cut-
7. Soaking stamps Part 2
Several editions ago (July 2007) I featured a piece entitled Soaking stamps Part 1 under the heading Helpful hints and tips and at long last here is part 2. It is strange that this comes at a time when new security features on GB definitive stamps have been introduced which will prevent them being soaked off. There is more detailed coverage of these new stamps elsewhere in this Bulletin.
8. Steam vapour
This method is of particular use for stamps on card or heavy paper. A pressure cooker is required and 2 to 3 inches of water over heat. The stamps to be soaked are placed on a wire rack over the water and it is reported that they will come away easily in 3 to 5 minutes. They must be wetted thoroughly first and any coloured paper removed, as usual, but those with heavy cancels should also be put aside as the ink can run and stamps could be stained. After the stamps have been removed they will need washing to remove the residue of gum.
9. PVA and dextrine gum
For dextrine gum the stamps should be left in clean water to soak after lifting as the gum residue makes the stamps curl, as it is applied when the paper is dry, and reduces their life. PVA gum is applied when the paper is wet so it impregnates the paper and this leaves a floppy stamp. It will release ‘smoke’ in the water. If you have a mint stamp PVA gum is dull and looks like no gum and dextrine is shiny, which is not really relevant as we are assuming the stamps are used if they require soaking off. A catalogue is of use to determine gum type.
10. Bulk soaking
Use a large pan of water, either hot or cold. Hot water is reported to work well
for US issues unless on coloured paper and cold for many other countries, including
GB issues. Dry the stamps using 2 sheets of plain loose-
11. General tips
It has been suggested that just one thickness of envelope is soaked to even out the
soaking effect and then the stamps should be left for 15 minutes. Two week old newspaper
is good for drying or a towel with the stamps placed face down. Four thicknesses
of kitchen paper works well and this can be dried and re-
For good stamps small batches should be soaked, using cold water, removing any on coloured paper. Red paper is especially prone to running then staining stamps. It has been suggested that hot water is used for coloured papers to reduce the time taken to soak to a minimum and that each stamp is done individually. It might be wise to treat parcel wrapping, ie brown paper the same way. If you are soaking off older stamps, check in a catalogue beforehand to see if fugitive inks were used as these stamps will be damaged by soaking.
12. Self adhesive issues
Issues from Brazil and France can be difficult. A recent article in the philatelic
press suggests using lighter fuel to remove Brazilian stamps, as this dissolves the
gum, after first carefully lifting a corner of the stamp. French issues are best
left on piece as they are extremely difficult to remove from envelopes and if you
soak Spanish self-
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