Stamp Mounts - Safe and Beautiful

Stamps can be mounted in a stamp album in several different ways, but the two most common methods are (1) by using stamp hinges, and (2) by using stamp mounts.

Stamp hinges, which have been around in one form or another for almost as long as stamps themselves, are extremely inexpensive and very easy to use. With one exception, they're an almost perfect choice for mounting used stamps, mint stamps that have already been hinged at least once, and inexpensive stamps. But for mint never hinged stamps and stamps that have some significant value,
aren't such a hot choice.

Why?

Hinges, no matter how lightly applied, always leave a mark on the gum side of a stamp. You don't want that to happen if you're mounting mint never hinged stamps because using hinges will significantly devalue the stamps. This isn't a concern with used stamps because they have no gum to leave a mark on, and it isn't really a concern for mint stamps that have already been hinged, because a hinge mark is already there. But you also shouldn't use hinges on expensive stamps, even if they're used or have been hinged already: hinges allow the mounted stamps to move a bit, and sometimes they can get tangled up with each other with the potential for damage. So our advice is to only use hinges to mount used or mint hinged stamps that are common or fairly inexpensive.

Stamp mounts provide more protection for your valuable stamps, and they're also more appealing to look at. They preserve the pristine state of mint never hinged stamps because unlike hinging, no salvia or hinge material is ever applied to the stamp itself. And when mounts are used, the stamps don't lift up from the stamp album pages as much as they can when hinges are used, so the potential for damaging valuable stamps is significantly reduced.

Appearance is another factor in favor of stamp mounts. Appearance is important for two main reasons: (1) the sense of pleasure a stamp collector experiences when looking at an attractively presented stamp collection; and (2) if the stamps are eventually to be sold, an attractively and safely mounted collection will almost always fetch a higher price than a collection that's been haphazardly or
unsafely mounted. And stamps are an investment that sometimes require waiting several years before a significant profit can be made. Keeping the stamps in a collection in their best condition during the waiting period is essential. Mounts are ideal for these purposes - they provide an attractive little frame for the stamps and they protect them at the same time.

All stamp mounts have a clear front, but some come with a black background (our favorite) and others with a clear background. Other than that, there are two styles of mounts: top-opening mounts and center-opening mounts. The top-opening style might be slightly easier to use, because you can easily slide a stamp into the mount from the top, using your stamp tongs. But the center-opening mounts are better: although you have to lift up both ends of the mount in order to insert a stamp, there is almost no chance that the stamp will ever
slide out of the mount and become damaged. Whether you use top-mounts or center-mounts, the backs of the mounts are pre-gummed and ready to be applied to stamp album pages once the stamps are inside.

Stamp mounts are sold in pre-cut sizes to fit individual items and also in strips of varying sizes, from sizes to fit the smallest stamps to large souvenir sheets and mini-sheets. Mounts can be trimmed to size with a guillotine-type mount cutter, an inexpensive but essential tool.

Safe and beautiful, mounts are well worth their extra expense, protecting your treasured stamp collection over the years.

How to Use Stamp Hinges


Knowing how to hinge stamps into an album is an almost essential talent for all stamp collectors. Stamp hinges are the cheapest, easiest and most popular method to hold stamps in place on album pages. Typically they are are tissue-thin, semi-transparent or translucent small slips of paper that are gummed on one side. This thin layer of gum is activated by moisture, either saliva or water (but not too much!) Stamp hinges are very inexpensive, especially when compared to stamp mounts, and are perfect for beginning stamp collectors and even seasoned collectors who want to mount used stamps.



Most are sold pre-folded and creased along the fold line. With pre-folded hinges, about a quarter or a third of the hinge is folded over onto itself so that the gummed portion faces out. The crease helps the hinged stamp lay flat on the album page. The shorter portion is the stamp side, and the longer portion is adhered to the album page. Today's stamp hinges are usually considered "peelable," meaning that their gum will adhere to the stamp and the album page with just enough strength to hold the stamp to the page, but will peel away from both if required and tongs are properly used.



Here's some instructions for how to hinge a stamp:



1. Moisten the shorter side of the hinge (the portion that's folded over) and gently press it against the center portion of the upper part of the back of the stamp. Then moisten a small portion of the larger side of the hinge down toward the end (away from the folded-over part). Don't moisten any other part of the hinge: if you moisten the entire hinge, you won't be able to flip the stamp up without damaging its top perforations, so just lick a small part of it. A tiny amount of moisture is all you need, and all you want.



2. Press the longer portion of the hinge onto the album page where you want the stamp to be placed. Hold the stamp away at a 90 degree angle while you're doing this.



3. Always guard against excess moisture on the hinges and drops of moisture falling on the stamp or the album page. If you use the proper amount of moisture you shouldn't have much of a problem with this, but make sure you remove any excess moisture immediately.




That's it - now you know how to use stamp hinges to mount stamps into an album. It actually sounds a bit more complicated than it is, and once you get the hang of it - which should only take a few times - you'll hinge like a pro!