From: mohawky@adirondack-pc.com   
      
   On Tue, 18 May 2004 22:57:01 -0500, "Luther Bell"   
    wrote:   
      
   >There are countries that I have many copies of various stamps.  I keep them   
   >around in case someone wants to trade with me, or someone needs help   
   >starting up a collection.  My question is:   
   >   
   >"Is it better to soak the stamps and store them without the paper from the   
   >envelope on them, or doesn't it really matter??"   
      
   Luther -   
      
   This is a very generic question to a broad topic.  (BTW, no question   
   is bad!)   
      
   Some stamps would be better off left "on piece" than soaked.  This   
   way, some of the postal history may be deciphered.  This all depends   
   on the catalog value, scarcity of the item and the usage of said   
   stamp.   
      
   I'm opening a BIG can of worms here...   
      
   Most current stamps can be soaked.  Some older ones are better left on   
   piece.  If they are duplicates, why not let them sit on paper for a   
   while until you get better acquainted with your collecting habits and   
   specialties.  Currently, I have a 30 gallon drum chock full of stamps   
   on paper / piece.  Would I want to soak them all off right now?  Nope!   
      
   Eventually, when the snows start hemming me in - maybe.  :^)   
      
   Stamps, on paper / piece are much more clumsy to handle and store than   
   those that have been soaked.  Find yourself a nice box an simply put   
   them away until someone wants to trade - or whatever...   
      
   Just my .02, is all...   
      
   Now - you'll get more answers from the rec.collecting.stamps.discuss   
   newsgroup than you would here.  Hope to see you there.   
      
   Tracy Barber   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)