Gum Glazing

[ltchjvjr]

I recently purchased a quantity of mint stamps where the gum was extremely glazed. I knew this ahead of time as I am going to use them for postage. The vendor said this was caused by long term storage in high humidity and hot temperatures. Are there other factors that would cause gum glazing? The gum still works when activated and assume this would lower the value of the stamp. I'm just curious about the actual transformation process. Thanks in advance.

Harry

[jerbear722]

Hi Harry,

Gum that has been exposed to heat and moisture actually melts into this shiny, hardened state - glazed gum.

Jeri

[michael78651]

The Crystal Mounts (tube type) are well known for causing gum on unused stamps to glaze.

[revcollector]

The Crystal Mounts (tube type) are well known for causing gum on unused stamps to glaze.

Black mounts will cause it as well. Many a valuable stamp has been ruined by using bad mounts.

[michael78651]

Yes, those old Marlate Mounts are horrible.

[youpiao]

From the APS web site: http://stamps.org/userfiles/file/pcpm/subsidiary_21.pdf
Stamp mounts manufactured by Marlate are quite safe to use. They tested at a pH of 5.33.

I don't cite this to refute your claims, but, rather, to show how alleged "experts" will formulate (and propogate) opinions that fly in the face of direct experience. Shows what can happen when some people use pH as the be-all and end-all for stamp preservation.



Tedski

[revcollector]

From the APS web site: http://stamps.org/userfiles/file/pcpm/subsidiary_21.pdf
Stamp mounts manufactured by Marlate are quite safe to use. They tested at a pH of 5.33.

I don't cite this to refute your claims, but, rather, to show how alleged "experts" will formulate (and propogate) opinions that fly in the face of direct experience. Shows what can happen when some people use pH as the be-all and end-all for stamp preservation.



Tedski

If they are kept in a dry cool environment, and the album is never kept flat with a lot of weight from other albums on top of it, then they can keep stamps safe. I have seen many collections with perfectly fine stamps in mounts. Personally I perfer stockbooks to albums every time.