An internet stamp hinge comparison chart, which was reproduced in a national biweekly stamp newspaper, got me thinking about the ongoing controversy over the use of stamp hinges. 

Stamp hinges began as linen paper folded rectangles that when moistened aided in affixing a stamp to an album page so it could still be moved at a later date. This is an improvement over gluing or otherwise permanently affixing the stamp to a surface as part of a collection. 

The original hinges are very difficult to remove without damaging the stamp and are best soaked off in lukewarm water. Be careful as soaking may damage some chalky paper stamps and usually removes the gum from mint stamps. 

Sweat boxes are sometimes used to remove backing paper from mint stamps, but this technique requires much time and practice. Hinges evolved into glassine rectangles gummed on both sides, which are meant to be more peelable. 

Contemporary hinges often come pre folded for ease of use.  The smaller portion is moistened, pressed onto the top center of the stamp, and then the larger portion is moistened and the stamp is mounted on an album page. Careless moistening may cause the gum on a mint stamp to stick down to the album page as well, increasing the likelihood of damage to the stamp when it is moved, or removed. 

Paper, or gum, loss or thinning, make a stamp worth less or even valueless. Hinging a stamp too high on the back may cause damage to the perforations, or increase the changes of damage during removal. 

If you must hinge, do so with care. Careless hinging, or inexpert hinge removal, may cause damage to a stamp that has come down through the years otherwise unblemished. Hinges or hinge remnants can also be used to hide faults in previously hinged mint or used stamps. Because collectors desire stamps that are closest in condition to when they were originally printed, unmounted, or never hinged mint stamps with complete, original gum will always bring a premium in the collector marketplace. 

Hinges cannot be removed without disturbing the gum. It is possible to expertly re gum a previously hinged, or apparently unused, stamp so that it appears more desirable to the untrained eye. While hinge marks are not an asset to mint stamps, faults caused by careless hinge removal are even worse. Post contemporary gum is likewise frowned upon.   

For common used stamps, hinges are a cheap and easy means of mounting, but they are not always easily removed. Two techniques are helpful in safely peeling hinges away from the backs of stamps, or off of the corners of covers. 

Remove the larger portion of the hinge from the album but leave the hinge on the stamp. If it will not easily come away from the page, work at it with a pair of stamp tongs that you are comfortable using. Try and peel the hinge off of the album page and not the stamp. Once the hinge bearing stamp is off the page, carefully rub the top portion of the hinge from behind with the tip of your stamp tongs.  This should loosen the hinge enough to peel it away. 

If you feel you cannot safely remove the hinge by peeling it off this way, try tearing the hinge off along the fold between the smaller affixed portion and the larger piece that once held it onto the album   page. This way a small piece of the hinge remains on the back of the stamp but no damage is done by you to the gum or paper. This smaller piece can still be removed by careful rubbing and peeling with stamp tong tips. Stamp tongs are an invaluable aid to removing hinges but must also be used with care. Stamps are fragile paper and are easily damaged. This damage is not so easily disguised.        

The convenience of hinges does not outweigh their pitfalls. Unless you   are collecting stamps on an entirely souvenir basis, use a stock book where stamps and covers slip behind glassine or acetate strips, and mounts are not  required, or use mounts where gummed strips can be cut to shape and the stamp sits in a see through pocket. 

Regarding strip style mounts, perhaps I will make another molehill out of mounting in a future newsletter.

Newsletter 45
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Stamp issue

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