Soaking/Storing Engraved Pictorals

Post Reply
Message
Author
Jerry Weirich
Posts: 332
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:35 pm
Location: Virginia, USA

Soaking/Storing Engraved Pictorals

#1 Post by Jerry Weirich » Mon Jan 16, 2017 10:49 am

I'm seeking information on techniques or methods used by other collectors when soaking the 1899 engraved (recess-printed) pictorials to prevent them from curling. Whenever I soak them they curl up quite tight sometimes to the diameter of a pencil and it is difficult to unwind them without creasing the stamps. I would also like any information on storing mint copies to prevent them from curling. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Jerry

Postagedues
Posts: 61
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2014 1:57 pm

Re: Soaking/Storing Engraved Pictorals

#2 Post by Postagedues » Sun Jan 29, 2017 1:20 pm

Jerry,

Some people swear by drying books, but I'm not fond of leaving stamps wet for days at a time.

When I soak stamps, I let them spend as little time in water as possible, dry them on disposable paper towelling an then put them into hagners for an initial sort before the study of them begins.

Perhaps covering them with a dry cloth with a book or similar on top may assist?

I have upwards of 1,000 postage dues stored this way.

Jerry Weirich
Posts: 332
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:35 pm
Location: Virginia, USA

Re: Soaking/Storing Engraved Pictorals

#3 Post by Jerry Weirich » Fri Feb 03, 2017 1:20 am

Thanks "postagedues". I always place a dry cloth over drying stamps, but have started to use antique 8- and 6-pound irons to flatten the stamps. It helps but does not completely remove the curl. One thing that I have since learned is that removing all gum from the used stamps during soaking helps a lot. Still have no solution for my mint sheets that are curling. Thanks again, Jerry

Post Reply