All About Stamp Tongs


Stamp tongs may superficially resemble the tweezers that are sold in drug stores or for beauty care, but they are different, and regular tweezers should never be used to handle stamps - proper stamp tongs should always be used. They are an essential tool for every stamp collector, from beginners through the most advanced, sophisticated collectors. Stamp tongs help collectors handle their stamps safely and when used properly they reduce the chances of causing damage to stamps. They work like tweezers, being made of two flat metal arms that are joined at one end, with a spring action that allows the free ends of the arms to be pinched together.

Unlike tweezers, stamp tongs have rounded, polished tips that make them safe for handling stamps - tweezers have sharpened edges that can cut into or poke through stamps. Tongs with pointed tips are designed for precision work (and should probably not be used by beginning stamp collectors), while stamps with flat or spade tips are good for beginners and for holding larger items such as blocks or souvenir sheets.

Postage stamps can be damaged by oils in the skin if they are held in the fingers; even if the collector's hands have just been washed, the oils are not entirely removed and some can transfer to the stamp. When oils are deposited on stamps, the surface can end up being stained - the oils will react with the stamp ink over time. Stamps can also be damaged when they are picked up by the fingers: it's not difficult to damage perfs or cause bends or creases when doing this. And you certainly don't ever want to pick up mint stamps with your fingers no matter how careful you are, because fingerprints can be left on the gum and substantially reduce the value of the stamps. Stamp tongs were designed to eliminate all of these problems.

Stamp tongs allow the collector to slide a tip underneath a stamp and then securely grasp it by pinching the two tips together. It sounds a bit more complicated than it is - it's incredibly easy to operate stamp tongs after only one or two tries.

Stamp tongs come in several tip styles and also a couple of different lengths. They're not expensive and generally sell for somewhere between $3 and $7, depending on the style, length and manufacturer. They should be regularly
inspected and cleaned to protect your stamps, but if they're properly handled they'll last for years and years. Stamp tongs are a small but essential tool for stamp collecting, and their low cost will pay off time and time again.