No matter the size of your stamp collection, preserving it is a top priority, especially if your appraisal of it uncovers your findings are rare and of high value. You want to ensure your collection is protected no matter what and that you’re storing each piece correctly to reduce degradation and damage. Below are a few important tips for caring for your stamp collection.

How to Maintain Your Stamp Collection

1. Handle With Care

Never touch your stamps barehanded. Dirt and oils from your fingers can do extensive damage to the delicate materials. Make sure your maintenance tools include stamp tongs and not tweezers. Tongs are designed especially for handling delicate papers and feature a smooth edge that won’t crease or rip the stamp.

2. Beware of Moisture

Moisture can damage your collection greatly, reducing its appraisal value and degrading it over time. Anything from warping and mold to problems with the gum will lower the stamp’s worth. Aim for humidity levels anywhere between 35% and 55% throughout the year, especially in the area where your collection is stored. If your space has drastic humidity changes, install a humidifier or dehumidifier to balance moisture. In addition, always keep water sources and drinks away from your collection.

3. Shield From the Light

Excessive, direct exposure to sunlight will fade and crack your collection. The papers will begin to yellow, causing the images and designs to suffer damage over time. Keep collections in dark places to reduce UV exposure and limit the time antique stamps spend in bright light.

4. Control Temperature Extremes

Extreme hot and cold temperatures are not great for your collection because dramatic swings can cause the materials to expand and contract, resulting in damage. Keep storage areas between 65°F and 72°F, and avoid areas like basements and garages that may not be insulated and cannot balance temperatures sufficiently.

5. Select Storage Book

Where stamp albums are crafted to help organize your pieces and will include space for different stamp issues and descriptions, stockbooks offer a blank space to create your own storage design. Whichever you pick, make sure pages are not overwhelmed with different stamps, leading to heavy pages and a higher risk of damage. Store your books vertically to reduce impact on the bottom pages. For particularly rare stamps still affixed to envelopes, leaving them in place may be safer. Ask an appraisal expert for advice on these items.

For 45 years, Hawaiian Islands Stamp & Coin has been Honolulu’s top authority on stamps, old gold and silver coins, and paper money. Their appraisal services offer clients professional assessments of their collections, and their inventory of valuable coins and interesting collectibles make them a reputable source for rare items. Call (808) 531-6251 to speak to a friendly associate today, or browse their inventory of stamps online.