More and more self-adhesive stamps are being issued and collectors are in a dilemma over how they should keep them. The paper on which the majority of these stamps have been used on cannot be safely removed without damaging the stamp.

Some resort to keeping the stamps without removing the paper. This is fine if all the stamps on the page are on similar kind of paper with the same colour. Sometimes you would get a hard to find stamp used on a blue or beige coloured enevlope. That cut to piece will stand out on the page!

Over the years Peter Butler, FRPSC, have been experimenting with various techniques in the safe removal of self-adhesive stamps from the envelope paper. He wrote many articles in local newspaper and the philatelic press about his techniques and here are some of them including two videos.

Using Bestine

Using Aerosol

• The Saga of Soaking Self Ads (HTML | Word doc)
• Unpredictable World (HTML | Word doc)
• Freshen up self adhesives (HTML | Word doc)
• Chemical removal of stamps (HTML | Word doc)

Peter Butler’s October 2010 American Philatelist article:

• It’s Like Magic / Removing Self-Adhesive Stamps from Paper (PDF / 541k)

All the above videos and files are hosted by The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada.