| ign="center"> | | | | stamp. Continued exposure to the sun's rays and |
| Collecting stamps, for some people, is more than | | | | to heat will cause the colors to fade over time, |
| just a hobby-it's a lifestyle. In fact, the world has | | | | making the design's details close to unnoticeable. |
| been witness to decades upon decades of stamp | | | | Dust and other dirt particles have the corrosive |
| collecting. Case in point: the American Philatelic | | | | property of damaging the stamps. Moreover, |
| Society (APS) with its 44, 000 members-the | | | | dusts pose the threat of becoming smeared unto |
| biggest membership in the entire world-was | | | | the face or design of the stamp, compromising |
| founded as early as 1886. | | | | the design centered on it. |
| The passion for collecting stamps is rooted in a | | | | As such, it is completely necessary to find |
| variety of reasons. Some collect stamps because | | | | adequate cases and storage solutions for stamp |
| it helps them connect to a bigger historical identity | | | | collections. |
| of their country. Others collect stamps simply for | | | | While waiting to transfer stamps into more |
| their aesthetic value. Still others collect stamps | | | | permanent albums, philatelists recommend the use |
| because of its capacity to assist in educating | | | | of glassine, a very thin transparent paper that |
| people about history, culture, and events. Others | | | | protects stamps from dust and air. However, |
| partake in the tradition for the thrill of chasing | | | | glassine must only be temporarily resorted to; it |
| that rare stamp, and at times, even gaining profit | | | | should be of primary importance to find a suitable |
| from the sales of a stamp that another collector | | | | album for stamps. |
| is looking for. | | | | These albums, as much as possible, should be |
| However, the greatest challenge faced by | | | | free from all forms of plasticizers. These |
| collectors is the storage and care of these | | | | plasticizers tend to chemically react to the |
| stamps. The storage of these stamps, first and | | | | components of the stamp, especially under high |
| foremost, will help in the manageability of the | | | | humidity and heat. The stamp may be completely |
| collection. A stamp collection that is well organized | | | | ruined, or may stick to the album permanently if |
| and catalogue provides the collector with much | | | | plasticizers are not avoided. |
| ease in monitoring what stamps he or she already | | | | However, at the end of the day, an album is not |
| has or otherwise, and locate duplicates that may | | | | sufficient protection for a stamp collection that |
| be sold to other buyers who may be interested in | | | | spans a lifetime of years. Usually, collectors make |
| the same design. | | | | their cases dust-free by putting albums inside dust |
| Moreover, stamp collections of huge volume are | | | | covers before storing them; others store their |
| most preferably stored using minimal space, as | | | | stamp albums in cabinets with doors or glass |
| much as possible; philatelists recommend that | | | | covers to minimize any other ulterior exposure to |
| stamps are rather stored upright than laid out. | | | | dust. |
| However, the most important of all is protecting | | | | While it is important to maintain stamps dust-free, |
| the quality and longevity of the stamp. As they | | | | it is also imperative that the stamps are not |
| are, stamps are printed on paper and are | | | | stored in an airtight container. Airtight containers |
| therefore perishable. This subjects them to a | | | | leave no room for the stamp to 'breathe', and |
| huge variety of natural conditions that can make | | | | may cause accelerated aging to the stamp. In an |
| or break the worth of the stamp to the collector | | | | airtight case, the stamp being protected from |
| or future prospective buyers. | | | | dust and moisture will most definitely turn to dust |
| Protecting the stamp begins with proper handling; | | | | over the long run! |
| some professionals use tongs to handle stamps, | | | | Want to find out about garden gravel, golden |
| keeping the natural oil found in the hands away | | | | chain tree and other information? Get tips from |
| from the stamp. This natural oil can corrode the | | | | the Gardening Central website. |
| stamp over time. | | | | Report this article |
| More importantly, stamp collectors face the | | | | This article is free for republishing |
| greater challenge of protecting the stamps against | | | | Source: |
| natural conditions like moisture, dust, heat, decay, | | | | Republish this article |
| and the like. | | | | |
| The capacity of stamps to retain moisture that | | | | Ask a Question About this Article |
| hastens the decaying process makes humid and | | | | >> 98 degrees temperature- tired- no |
| warm places unfit for storage. Some of the | | | | appetite |
| places that must not be used to store these | | | | >> Can you get a flu shot and then have a |
| stamp collections include basements and attics | | | | high white blood count |
| that tend to get extremely warm on some | | | | >> What would cause these symptoms |
| seasons. | | | | >> In what crucial step are organisms |
| In relation to moisture, heat has the very strong | | | | destroyed in an autoclave? |
| capacity to discolor and destroy the quality of the | | | | |