For a casual collector, storing stamps in any order in an old photo album is enough. For a serious collector, however, stamps must be organized and stored in a way that protects, preserves and presents them. Fortunately, there are many ways to store stamps safely while keeping them accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7 creative stamp storage ideas are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stamp storage is not something to take lightly. Stamps show age and are susceptible to many threats. Making sure you store them in a way that protects but still lets you examine or present them is vital to getting the most out of your collection. Below, we go through some great stamp storage ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main reason you need to take proper care of your stamp collection and store it correctly is that if you don\u2019t you run the risk of ending up with a damaged collection<\/strong>. There are lots of things that can ruin a stamp collection, so let\u2019s consider a few of them in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Water can be a friend of a stamp or a mortal enemy. It can be used to help remove a stamp from a cover or it can warp a stamp<\/strong> and render it fragile and susceptible to tearing. When a stamp is immersed, intentionally or by accident, place the stamp on a paper towel face down and let it dry naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the place that the stamp is stored is too humid, gum can become sticky and even melt<\/strong>, stamps themselves can become prone to tearing, colors can smudge, etc. The proper humidity for a stamp collection ranges from 35% up to 55%. Any additional humidity can result in gum and durability problems very quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stamps that are exposed to excessive dryness can dry out<\/strong>. The gum can crack and crease the stamp and the paper can become brittle. Just as too much humidity is a danger to stamps, too little is a similar menace. Keeping stamps above 35% humidity is the best way to ensure your collection does not get damaged by moisture in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ambient temperature<\/strong> is also a concern where stamps are concerned. Temperatures that exceed 72 degrees Fahrenheit<\/strong> can become brittle or if exposed to humidity, can start to curl. High humidity and heat can also warp stamps as well as make the gum start to bond with whatever it touches. This can destroy a valuable stamp without you even doing anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cold temperatures <\/strong>are also no friend to stamps. Extreme cold can dry out a stamp and make it brittle. It can make the gum shrink, which pulls on the stamp and can even rip the stamp in the right circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This can happen in dozens of ways. Stamps taken out<\/strong> to look at can be left exposed<\/strong> to pets. Young children can get into a stamp booklet and wreak havoc. An envelope with a valuable stamp can be left in a hot car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One frequent occurrence is when a stamp collection that has been left behind at Mom and Dad\u2019s is abandoned in the attic<\/strong>. There it is exposed to blistering heat, chilling cold, humidity, and in the worst-case scenario, a leak in the roof. There is no end to the possibilities of someone mishandling a stamp or leaving it in proximity of another person to be mishandled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only way to avoid this is to always maintain control<\/strong> of your stamp collection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While fire and burning are not common threats, both can quickly destroy a stamp collection, especially if it is not stored properly<\/strong>. Never have a naked flame or anything excessively hot near your stamps or stamp collection books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even something as innocent as sitting a stamp collection booklet<\/strong> on a radiator<\/strong> can result in damage to the stamps inside. Stamps can endure a lot, but fire is one of the limits every stamp has. This is also why if you have a valuable stamp collection, storing it in a fireproof safe is a clever idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thieves are everywhere<\/strong>, especially if you have something that is worth a good amount of money. Any home invasion runs the risk of a thief taking a stamp collection, intentionally or by accident. Other places theft may happen is at a dealer\u2019s shop or stamp presentation venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mold can appear when a stamp is exposed to flooding<\/strong>, but it also can happen if it is extremely humid in the environment in which the stamps are stored. There are a few ways to tell if you have mold<\/strong>. The first is the smell; it is unforgettable. If you have not smelled mold, find someone that has and ask them to smell in the room your stamp collection is located for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way is to look for telltale signs<\/strong>. One sign is a black splotchy color that resides on walls, floors, etc. Black mold is extremely harmful, so if you encounter any in your home, wearing proper safety gear when disposing of it is vital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A third way is through physical symptoms<\/strong>. These can include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stamps age like everything<\/strong> else and that can create new ways in which they can become damaged. As a stamp dries out it becomes cracked and brittle. The gum can also dry out and recede, stressing the stamp. Paper, over a long time, can become extremely fragile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n General exposure is also an issue<\/strong> with stamps. If your collection is spending more time out of its storage than in it, the elements of the environment your stamps are exposed to can damage your stamps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sun bleaches anything<\/strong> that has prolonged exposure to it. If you compare part of a rug that has exposure to the sun every day and part of the rug that does not, you can see how much the sun bleaches fabric. It bleaches paper faster and deeper. That means stamps left in the sun, even for a brief time, can be bleached<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, the sun dries things out<\/strong>. A stamp left in the sun will experience drying of the paper, which can make the stamp brittle. The gum can also be affected in two ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of the drying effect on the paper and gum<\/strong> and the melting effect on the gum, it is critical that stamps be exposed to the sun as little as possible. If a stamp is exposed to the sunlight for any period longer than a few minutes, carefully move it after verifying that the gum has not melted. Do not try and peel the stamp or pull it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many insects that would feast<\/strong> on the paper and glue on a stamp. Even insects that do not come immediately to mind, like wasps, can damage stamps. Other insects like silverfish eat the paper of the stamp and the paper of the display booklet. The good news is that most insects can be easily trapped<\/strong> or dealt with by exterminators.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCommon Threats To Your Stamp Collection<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Water Damage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Humidity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dryness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Temperature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Individual Mishandling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fire & Heat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Theft<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Age And General Exposure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sunlight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pests<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Children<\/h3>\n\n\n\n