This GUIDE  will show you how to remove stamps from paper, in a step-by-step process, so that you can have them ready for inclusion in your STAMP ALBUM or STOCKBOOK.

HOW TO GET STARTED: Get yourself organized

• You will need an empty/clean large plastic ice cream container or similar.
• You will need some newspaper pages, which have no color printing.
• You should have at least 5 to 10 pages..... preferably an entire newspaper....
• You need a large empty clear space near the sink.
• You will need to sort out the stamps, before placing them in the water.
• ....... pull out all the stamps on red, green, yellow or beige paper.....
• ....... you will need to soak these separately....
• ....... red and green tend to run and yellow/beige stain......

THE SOAKING BEGINS: Be ever watchful

• Fill the container with lukewarm water
• place stamps in the container
• make sure that the stamps are all submerged
• ensure that the stamps are not all stuck together by sloshing them around with your fingers
• leave them there, for at least 2 hours
• ...... if you leave them for longer.....
• ..... the stamps may become too soft and hard to handle......

THE REMOVABLE BEGINS: Be careful

• After 2 hours have elapsed......
• pick out all the stamps that you are off paper already
• the others you will need to remove, one at a time.
• pick out one stamp out of the water
• peel off the paper with a stamp tweezer.
• start at a corner and pull gently.
• it should peel away cleanly.
• if it does not, then try another corner
• or put back in to soak further.

WHERE AND HOW TO DRY THE STAMPS: watch out for any remaining glue.

• Place each stamp separately, face down on the newspaper
• the newspaper will soak up the water quickly
• do not re-use the newspaper,  as it will be all rumply.
• Make sure that the stamps do not touch each other or overlap.
• If the gum side is placed against the newspaper, the stamps will stick to the page
• .... and you will then have to soak the stamp again.....

HINT: Do not place too many stamps in the water at once, since you will need to remove all the stamps in one session.

SUGGESTION: At your first attempt, do a trial run with stamps that are not important. You can then slowly become more adept at removing stamps and progress to soaking larger numbers of stamps.

THE DRYING BEGINS: Allow the stamps to dry overnight

• The stamps may curl but do not worry
• Option 1) - Place the stamps in a telephone book in the morning
• ..... several stamps to a page......
• Option 2) - Place newspaper pages one on top of each other
• ...... then place several heavy books on top .....
• After, say 2-3 hours, remove them and you will see that they are straight
• They are then ready to add to your stamp album or for trading with your friends

NOTE: Each country's stamps are printed differently and will react differently, when placed in water.

Why not check out my GUIDE TO SOAKING AUSTRALIAN STAMPS OFF PAPER SUCCESSFULLY,

where you will obtain more detailed information.

GOOD LUCK!!