Stamp Cleaning?

On Thu, 31 Jul 2003 10:42:36 +0100, "David F."
found these unused words floating about:

Has anyone found a good safe method of cleaning up those
grubby old Victorian Stamps that are just too good to throw
out, but look bad next to the other clean Stamps on the
album page?

They are so cheap (relatively) and easy to 'pick-up' on the
Auctions etc. that it would be worth some time and effort to
improve their appearance - instead of just paying the going
rate for a Fine Used example costing many times more!

Bleach, at any strength, seems to be a bit too risky. There
is always the chance of a small amount being left in the
paper fibers to destroy the stamp when you are not looking -
and the timing is critical!

Physical cleaning (erasers etc.) are also risky in the wrong
hands - one slip is all it takes!

I would rather have a clean 'good' stamp than a dirty 'fine' one.

Any ideas out there?

David.

Might do a search for paper conservation ...

Too much information to summarize and also too many 'caveats'!

Hi Dakota
Thank you for your advice. I have parts of an old newspaper from Danish
Westinies. A lot of scotch
tape has been used to put it together leaving grim marks. How do I get rid
of the marks? Important because of the 3 stripe 1 cent 1875 stamps attached.
The marks made by the scotch tape do not look good.
regards
Svend



"Dakota" wrote in message
om...
Daivd:

Has anyone found a good safe method of cleaning up those
grubby old Victorian Stamps that are just too good to throw
out, but look bad next to the other clean Stamps on the
album page?

Easiest way - a small bowl 1/2-3/4 liter of tepid/warm water and a few
drops of dishwashing liquid. Start the water moving by stirring it
with your finger. Dump in the stamps and let them agitate for 10-15
minutes. The water will eventually cease movement - but let them set
for the 10-15 minutes. Rinse in another bowl of cool water then
dry/press them. They'll look a lot better.

If you have large amounts of them then it might be easier to purchase
"Lindner Erni A & Erni B". This is a 2 part chemical treatment but
pretty darned safe. It's been around for a long time and many
dealers/collectors use it. You dump a couple of spoonsful of Erni A
into a glass container (ashtray is fine). You dump the stamps in -
they'll turn a frightening shade of purple (unless Lindner has
reformulated). You let them soak for a few moments and then remove
the stamps and place them into another glass ashtray containing the
Erni B solution. The purple will vanish and they'll come out looking
like new.

Bleach, at any strength, seems to be a bit too risky. There
is always the chance of a small amount being left in the
paper fibers to destroy the stamp when you are not looking -
and the timing is critical!

Good for you! Bleach is a very bad thing!

Handshakes,


Dakota

Assuming the stamps aren't worth anything in the condition they are in, what
is there to lose if they are destroyed in whatever "conservation" process
you use? I've bleached lots of stamps over the years, and only have problems
when I am too "generous" in the amount of bleach I use. I've never noted any
sign of damage in stamps cleaned in a very mild solution of bleach and dish
detergent, and then of course rinsed well.

There has been a great deal of endless debate about the safety of bleach in
this newsgroup, and one member has complained that it's acidic. I have tried
without success to find out about the composition of "bleach," and one of
the problems is that "bleach" means different things to different people,
and in fact different chemicals can be called "bleach".

In any event, stamps that might otherwise be thrown out (or used in
arts/crafts projects) seem to me to be "safe" candidates for any cleaning
effort.

Bob

Has anyone found a good safe method of cleaning up those
grubby old Victorian Stamps that are just too good to throw
out, but look bad next to the other clean Stamps on the
album page?

They are so cheap (relatively) and easy to 'pick-up' on the
Auctions etc. that it would be worth some time and effort to
improve their appearance - instead of just paying the going
rate for a Fine Used example costing many times more!

Bleach, at any strength, seems to be a bit too risky. There
is always the chance of a small amount being left in the
paper fibers to destroy the stamp when you are not looking -
and the timing is critical!

Physical cleaning (erasers etc.) are also risky in the wrong
hands - one slip is all it takes!

I would rather have a clean 'good' stamp than a dirty 'fine' one.

Any ideas out there?

David.
--
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.This message was scanned using
.Norton Anti-Virus 2002 when
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David F. wrote:
Has anyone found a good safe method of cleaning up those
grubby old Victorian Stamps that are just too good to throw
out, but look bad next to the other clean Stamps on the
album page?

They are so cheap (relatively) and easy to 'pick-up' on the
Auctions etc. that it would be worth some time and effort to
improve their appearance - instead of just paying the going
rate for a Fine Used example costing many times more!

Bleach, at any strength, seems to be a bit too risky. There
is always the chance of a small amount being left in the
paper fibers to destroy the stamp when you are not looking -
and the timing is critical!

Physical cleaning (erasers etc.) are also risky in the wrong
hands - one slip is all it takes!

I would rather have a clean 'good' stamp than a dirty 'fine' one.

Any ideas out there?

David.

Note that some of those Victorian stamps (the 1883-4 series) use
fugitive inks that will fade even in pure water. There is probably no
safe way to clean them.

= Eric

Has anyone found a good safe method of cleaning up those
grubby old Victorian Stamps that are just too good to throw
out, but look bad next to the other clean Stamps on the
album page?

Easiest way - a small bowl 1/2-3/4 liter of tepid/warm water and a few
drops of dishwashing liquid. Start the water moving by stirring it
with your finger. Dump in the stamps and let them agitate for 10-15
minutes. The water will eventually cease movement - but let them set
for the 10-15 minutes. Rinse in another bowl of cool water then
dry/press them. They'll look a lot better.

If you have large amounts of them then it might be easier to purchase
"Lindner Erni A & Erni B". This is a 2 part chemical treatment but
pretty darned safe. It's been around for a long time and many
dealers/collectors use it. You dump a couple of spoonsful of Erni A
into a glass container (ashtray is fine). You dump the stamps in -
they'll turn a frightening shade of purple (unless Lindner has
reformulated). You let them soak for a few moments and then remove
the stamps and place them into another glass ashtray containing the
Erni B solution. The purple will vanish and they'll come out looking
like new.

Bleach, at any strength, seems to be a bit too risky. There
is always the chance of a small amount being left in the
paper fibers to destroy the stamp when you are not looking -
and the timing is critical!

Good for you! Bleach is a very bad thing!

Handshakes,


Dakota


Thankyou very much for that information!

I will give the Lindner Emi solutions a try, if the standard soaking
doesn't clean them up well enough. Sounds ghastly, but I will
have a go on something cheap, like 1880 penny lilacs first!

Regards,

David.

David F. wrote:
Has anyone found a good safe method of cleaning up those
grubby old Victorian Stamps that are just too good to throw
out, but look bad next to the other clean Stamps on the
album page?

They are so cheap (relatively) and easy to 'pick-up' on the
Auctions etc. that it would be worth some time and effort to
improve their appearance - instead of just paying the going
rate for a Fine Used example costing many times more!

Bleach, at any strength, seems to be a bit too risky. There
is always the chance of a small amount being left in the
paper fibers to destroy the stamp when you are not looking -
and the timing is critical!

Physical cleaning (erasers etc.) are also risky in the wrong
hands - one slip is all it takes!

I would rather have a clean 'good' stamp than a dirty 'fine' one.

Any ideas out there?

David.

Note that some of those Victorian stamps (the 1883-4 series) use
fugitive inks that will fade even in pure water. There is probably no
safe way to clean them.

= Eric


Yes indeed - I am resigned to leaving those issues in the condition I
obtained them! I am thinking more of the 1887 Jubilees, and some
mid-reign issues like 1873-80 2-1/2d. and 3d. plated ones, which are
often obtained in a dirty condition, in bulk Auction lots!

David.

On 31 Jul 2003 08:32:40 -0700, (Dakota) found these
unused words floating about:

Daivd:

Has anyone found a good safe method of cleaning up those
grubby old Victorian Stamps that are just too good to throw
out, but look bad next to the other clean Stamps on the
album page?

Easiest way - a small bowl 1/2-3/4 liter of tepid/warm water and a few
drops of dishwashing liquid. Start the water moving by stirring it
with your finger. Dump in the stamps and let them agitate for 10-15
minutes. The water will eventually cease movement - but let them set
for the 10-15 minutes. Rinse in another bowl of cool water then
dry/press them. They'll look a lot better.

If you have large amounts of them then it might be easier to purchase
"Lindner Erni A & Erni B". This is a 2 part chemical treatment but
pretty darned safe. It's been around for a long time and many
dealers/collectors use it. You dump a couple of spoonsful of Erni A
into a glass container (ashtray is fine). You dump the stamps in -
they'll turn a frightening shade of purple (unless Lindner has
reformulated). You let them soak for a few moments and then remove
the stamps and place them into another glass ashtray containing the
Erni B solution. The purple will vanish and they'll come out looking
like new.

Do you guarantee this with the GB fugitive inks (most surface printed
issues) ???

Bleach, at any strength, seems to be a bit too risky. There
is always the chance of a small amount being left in the
paper fibers to destroy the stamp when you are not looking -
and the timing is critical!

Good for you! Bleach is a very bad thing!

Handshakes,


Dakota