How to soak stamps off paper safely

Most used stamps reach a collection still stuck to a corner of an envelope. Soaking them off is the traditional way to free them, and it is easy to do well.

First, decide whether to soak at all

Not every stamp should come off its envelope. Keep the whole cover when:

• the postmark, route markings or address tell a story (postal history is often worth more than the stamp alone);
• it is a first day cover, a special cover or carries a special cancellation;
• the stamp is self-adhesive and modern — many will not release in water and are better kept on a neatly trimmed piece of paper.

If in doubt, ask at a club meeting before you soak.

What you need

• A shallow bowl of lukewarm (not hot) water
• Stamp tongs
• Clean paper towels or blotting paper
• A heavy book

Step by step

1. Trim the paper around each stamp, leaving a margin of about half a centimetre. Never cut into the perforations.
2. Sort before soaking. Stamps on coloured or brightly printed envelopes can stain others, so soak them separately.
3. Float the stamps face up in the water. After 10–20 minutes most will slide off the paper on their own. Do not pull — if a stamp resists, give it more time.
4. Rinse each stamp briefly in clean water to remove any remaining gum.
5. Dry face down on a paper towel. When they are just damp, place them between two sheets of blotting paper under a heavy book overnight. This keeps them flat.

Common mistakes

• Peeling a stamp off paper thins the back and ruins it.
• Hot water can make some inks run.
• Leaving stamps to dry in the sun curls them and can fade colours.

Once dry, handle your stamps only with tongs and store them in a stockbook. A little care at this stage keeps your collection in good condition for years.