Must, Mildew on unused gummed stamps Part II
 

I had some stamps in a dry basement (house only two years old, never seen a
drop of water in the basement but humidity is high in summer and low in
winter so lots of temp/humidity changes)

My Test Case:
I took some test stamps out of their glassine envelope that smelled musty
(no damage just a musty smell when held close to nose).
I put them in three test situations:
1.) left some in the envelope as a control
2.) left some out in the open (laying on floor on carpet)
3.) placed some in a closed jar suspended (using nylon stocking piece) over
Baking soda
4.) placed some in a closed jar covered in Baking soda

Results:
tests 2, 3, and 4 all smell fresh now (and I am very picky about smells!)

My question:
I am sure that the stamps still have the original spores that made them
smell. I bet if I expose them to a humid environment they will smell again
quickly.

I'm glad the baking soda worked - it absorbs both humidity and smells
pretty rapidly.

Do the stamps still harbor the spores?? You can bet your bippy they do
- but the moment paper is produced (long before it's printed into
stamps) it has been exposed to all manner of aggressive elements. If
you put new stamps into the basement - well, you can be pretty sure
that they'll smell in a year or two.

The key to this is keeping varying humidities away from the stamps.
Dry is the keyword here! Even magazines placed on a bookshelf in a
home will eventually start producing that 'skanky' smell.

Are your stamps safe to trade - heck yes!!!!

Anything can develop mold, mildew or fungal infections. When I was a
medic in Viet Nam many (if not all) service personnel tramping around
in the wet jungle would develop "Foot Rot". Viet Nam vets will know
this term. The remedy - send 'em off to "China Beach" or some other
dry sandy climate with instructions to not wear any shoes - not even
socks for their one week stay. They came back refreshed and their
feet were perfection all over again!

You can go ahead and trade or give away those stamps. You've done the
necessary part in drying up their advance. You can even give them a
'spritz' of Chanel No. 5 if you wish - but keep away the "Old Spice" -
it's just too "Butch".

Handshakes,


Dakota

On 6 Aug 2003 18:15:52 -0700, (Dakota) wrote:


I had some stamps in a dry basement (house only two years old, never seen a
drop of water in the basement but humidity is high in summer and low in
winter so lots of temp/humidity changes)

My Test Case:
I took some test stamps out of their glassine envelope that smelled musty
(no damage just a musty smell when held close to nose).
I put them in three test situations:
1.) left some in the envelope as a control
2.) left some out in the open (laying on floor on carpet)
3.) placed some in a closed jar suspended (using nylon stocking piece) over
Baking soda
4.) placed some in a closed jar covered in Baking soda

Results:
tests 2, 3, and 4 all smell fresh now (and I am very picky about smells!)

My question:
I am sure that the stamps still have the original spores that made them
smell. I bet if I expose them to a humid environment they will smell again
quickly.

I'm glad the baking soda worked - it absorbs both humidity and smells
pretty rapidly.

Do the stamps still harbor the spores?? You can bet your bippy they do
- but the moment paper is produced (long before it's printed into
stamps) it has been exposed to all manner of aggressive elements. If
you put new stamps into the basement - well, you can be pretty sure
that they'll smell in a year or two.

The key to this is keeping varying humidities away from the stamps.
Dry is the keyword here! Even magazines placed on a bookshelf in a
home will eventually start producing that 'skanky' smell.

Are your stamps safe to trade - heck yes!!!!

Anything can develop mold, mildew or fungal infections. When I was a
medic in Viet Nam many (if not all) service personnel tramping around
in the wet jungle would develop "Foot Rot". Viet Nam vets will know
this term. The remedy - send 'em off to "China Beach" or some other
dry sandy climate with instructions to not wear any shoes - not even
socks for their one week stay. They came back refreshed and their
feet were perfection all over again!

You can go ahead and trade or give away those stamps. You've done the
necessary part in drying up their advance. You can even give them a
'spritz' of Chanel No. 5 if you wish - but keep away the "Old Spice" -
it's just too "Butch".

Also, a good rememdy for used stamps is the old in-out, in-out of the
wash bowl to rinse bowl - treatment for soaking stamps.

Tracy Barber