How to Remove Stamps From Letters
Stamp collecting has remained one of the United States' most popular hobbies for decades. It's both family- and budget-friendly, and is an educational activity. Plus, cherished stamp collection albums make for treasured heirlooms. One of the most common and inexpensive ways to expand a collection is to collect the canceled stamps off correspondence that you've received. Removing stamps from your own letters uses the time-honored method of soaking the stamps gently in water, then drying them for collection.
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Things You'll Need
- Letter with stamp
- Scissors
- Small glass dish
- Access to warm water
- Stamp tongs
- Paper towels
Instructions
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1
Cut the envelope using the scissors. Cut around the stamp, leaving a 1/8-inch (or so) margin.
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2
Fill the dish with warm water. Place the envelope cutting containing the stamp into the water, stamp side up.
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3
Wait until the paper has softened and the glue holding the stamp has started to dissolve. Fish out the paper using the stamp tongs.
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4
Carefully slide the stamp off the envelope backing. Be gentle---wet paper is very fragile.
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5
Rinse the stamp in warm, clean water to remove any residual glue.
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6
Spread a few sheets of paper towels onto a flat surface. Lay the wet stamp on the paper towels to dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Self-adhesive stamps may require longer soaking than stamps with gum adhesive. Allow self-adhesive stamps to soak in the dish of warm water for about an hour.
If your stamps curl or roll during the drying process, you can press them out later between two heavy books.
