Post by Gordon Lee on Feb 12, 2014 17:51:07 GMT -5
Greetings Fellow SB Boarders
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One of the first things a beginner gets confused about is how to apply a stamp hinge on a stamp. Now I know a lot of folks cringe when "hinges" are mentioned. But remember, most beginners are not collecting high value stamps to start. It is usually the typical run-of-the-mill minimum catalog value stamps that they are getting their feet wet (and in this case, their tongue).
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First a stamp hinge is a thin (normally rectangular) piece of paper, gummed on one side and designed for the neat mounting of stamps to an album page. They were invented as long ago as the 1860's. The careful use of hinges, which peel easily when required, leave little or no trace on either stamp or album leaf (page). Most hinges come from the factory pre-folded.
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1. Think of something juicy to eat. This is to get your salivary glands working.
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2. Suck excess saliva from your tongue.
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3. Extend your tongue, but not more than the tip past your lips.
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4. Dampen the short side of the pre-folded hinge.
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5. Place the hinge to the back side of the stamp. The just dampened short side abuts the stamp, near the top center of the stamp. Be sure the folded edge of the hinge does not protrude past the top perforations on the stamp. Ideally, the hinge will be an 1/8 to one-quarter inch below the top row of perforations.
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6. With the short side of the pre-folded hinge now secure to the back of the stamp, start with number two above, proceed to step three, and dampen the long side of the pre-folded hinge.
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7. Quickly, but deftly, place the stamp with the long side of the pre-folded hinge, onto the space provided on the album leaf (page).
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Respectfully,
Gordon Lee
