REMOVING AMERICAN STAMPS FROM PAPER.

Comments

• 19 Comments sorted by Votes Date Added
• RRon Carmichael

  September 2019 1 Likes Vote Down

  I think this works but I have never used it. (Someone told me you can get this stuff at your local small time tire store too perhaps).
  
  https://coinstampsupplies.com/product/bestine-solvent-thinner-3-sizes-great-for-removing-certain-stamps/
• Ron Lenke

  September 2019 3 Likes Vote Down

  some of that stuff dripped on my arm tattoo and now it reads " MOTH"
• RRobert Crankshaw

  September 2019 1 Likes Vote Down

  Try lighter fluid
• Mark Schwing

  September 2019 1 Likes Vote Down

  This is what I use. Not for sure if it's available down under, I get mine at either Walmart or Home Depot,
  but it is available on Ebay. Easy to use spray from the backside, wait a minute then lift stamp off. Then sprinkle gum with either corn starch or talc and scrape with old credit card.
  
• DDavid Peters

  September 2019 0 Likes Vote Down

  Many thanks gentleman.
  Cheers
  Dave
• George DeKornfeld

  September 2019 6 Likes Vote Down

  
  
• Doug Noernberg

  September 2019 2 Likes Vote Down

  I've used both Bestine (n-Heptane) and Pure Citrus (also available on Amazon.com). Both work well. It's laborious no matter how you slice it. Pure Citrus is more pleasant to work with, but takes longer to dry. I avoid the talc/powder on the back and prefer to go for a clean scraping of the backside with the credit card. I do this on a glass plate with a piece of paper on top, which makes a nice smooth and hard substrate to work upon, and the paper (and gunk you wipe on it) can be thrown away for relatively easy cleanup. Someday I should make a YouTube video.
  
• George DeKornfeld

  September 2019 1 Likes Vote Down

  Of course, one workaround would be to clip the envelope paper around each stamp using a mount guillotine, leaving a couple of mm's on each side. The downside is these tend to bulk up albums more quickly due to the added thickness, but on the other hand...no smelly solvents, no clean up, and countless hours of time saved. (its conversations like this that make me happy that most of my collections are of the Classic Era LOL
• DDavid Peters

  September 2019 0 Likes Vote Down

  Thank you for your advice. Cheers Dave
• DDavid Peters

  September 2019 0 Likes Vote Down

  Hi
  Found a product called UN-DU which works pretty well.
  Again thanks all for advice and humor both were much appreciated.
  Cheers
  Dave
• RRobert Tucker

  June 2020 1 Likes Vote Down

  BESTINE Solvent & Thinner – RECALL NOTICE
  BESTINE RECALL NOTICE:
  
  On December 9, 2019, we received notice from Speedball Art Products Company that they were voluntarily recalling the Bestine Solvent and Thinner Products. In a statement the company wrote:
  
  “It has been brought to our attention by Health Canada that our Bestine Solvent & Thinner Products are not compliant with Canadian regulations due to improper labeling including missing CCCR, 2001 hazard symbols and no French language warnings. As such, Speedball is recalling the following Bestine products in Canada:
  
  Product number Description
  238 4 oz Bestine
  201 16 oz Bestine
  202 32 oz Bestine
  203 128 oz Bestine
  
  These products have been removed from our inventory and are not currently available for sale in Canada
• Rene Bravo

  June 2020 0 Likes Vote Down

  
  Why it just may not be worth the effort anymore.......
• RRobert Tucker

  June 2020 0 Likes Vote Down

  Rene - I believe you are correct; I got really pissed off this afternoon...
• Wayne Buza

  June 2020 0 Likes Vote Down

  SO true Rene. So true.
• RRobert Tucker

  June 2020 edited June 2020 0 Likes Vote Down

  Thanks guys
• bob burger

  June 2020 0 Likes Vote Down

  I HAVE USED HYDROGEN PEROXIDE A FEW TIME AND IT WORKS. IT MAY TAKE AWHILE. NOT AS QUICK AS
  BESTINE SOLVENT & THINNER, IT MAY TAKE OVER NITE.
• George DeKornfeld

  June 2020 0 Likes Vote Down

  H2O2 will bleach the stamps. Not the best thing to use.
• T. Arthur Poudrier

  July 2020 0 Likes Vote Down

  For common stamps on paper, first I remove the ones' on colored paper (when wet, the color bleeds onto the stamp), then I just dump them into the sink full of warm water and let them soak for about 30 minutes. I leave the ones affixed to colored paper on the paper.
  
  For more valuable colorfast ones, I soak them individually in a saucer of warm water. I leave valuable stamps made with inks that run when moistened (aniline ink) on the paper to which they're affixed.
  
  For valuable classic colorfast canceled stamps with paper adhesions, hinge remnants, I use "The Ferrary Method", i.e., I immerse the stamp in boiling water for a minimum of 5 minutes. This method reveals any damage that the adhesions may be concealing.
• Ron Lenke

  July 2020 3 Likes Vote Down

  T. Arthur - I tried that once while making breakfast. Somehow I got mixed up and boiled the eggs and fried the stamps. Found out that Jack Daniels, while not removing the paper, did wonders for restoring my morning.