I use very hot water on early Germany and early Canada with excellent
results but watch out for stamps that are printed with water-soluble ink
(not all catalogs tell you that which is a shame). Also, don't use very hot
water if you are soaking off coloured paper or you are likely to wind up
with a bowl of pink / yellow / whatever stamps. Particularly bad are stamps
stuck to the type of airmail envelope with red and blue stripes round the
outside.

--
Cheers - John Mycroft

www.agands.com - in beautiful Asheville, NC