Do I have to remove the Gum on my "Ostropa" sheet?
Georges Ghattas
I have the Ostropa sheet MNH. The color of the gum is Brown. The gum is
probably with Sulfid acid. It breaks my heart to remove the gum. It's the
advanced collectors advice. But if I have to do it, I will. How? (simply
puting in water?)
I need an advise.
P.S. I also may consider to sell it with the gum if a serious buyer is
interested.
Thx,
Georges
AJJensen
After all these years, I wonder if it may not be too late to bother to remove
the gum (the gum may be all that is holding the paper together)
What does everyone else think?
Jerry
Leonard H. Hartmann
You are right,
it is too late, i expect it would disolve if you do so today
Leonard
Jay T Carrigan
Is the paper already discolored? If not, I would soak it. Otherwise
it probably would be OK to leave it alone. I have blocks of Scott
C57-58 (Michel 606-07) in that condition. As of now, they are full
gum mint NH. If I were to soak them they would be considered seconds
because of the discolored paper.
On the other hand, the paper on my stamps has become brittle with age
(I lost the corner from one stamp). I suppose it's possible they will
eventually disintegrate. The Ostropa block is on thicker paper though
(so it will take longer to disintegrate?).
Jay Carrigan j...@crosslink.net
In article <19980306194...@ladder02.news.aol.com>, ajje...@aol.com
says...
Roger K. Smyczek
The gum should be removed by soaking the sheet in an alkaline soapy
solution, then in Water and it should then be "Treated" in a 2 step
stain remover process, the first of which contains Potassium
Permanganate which turns everything purple, then a water flush, and
finally a neutralizing solution of dilute Sodium Sulfate. The Sulfuric
Acid gum would only break down the paper fibers if the Stamp had been
exposed to very high humidity or has gotten wet.
Roger
pdo...@sk.sympatico.ca
Is there any 'gentle' way to neutralize the gum without discoloring the
paper? Or some sort of preserving/binding compound that could be used to
overcome the brittleness? I'm thinking of sdome of the techniques used in
preserving old documents.
-------
Peter
In article <6dql6f$ek8$2...@kronos.crosslink.net>,
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pdo...@sk.sympatico.ca
John L. Taylor
>Roger
Roger,
I would certainly like to know more about the steps in the process you
describe. For example, what portion water with what portion of
chemical is proper, and what are your references: experience, someone
else's process, or a reference book? I'm sure most of us would be
interested.
Thanks,
John
Roger K. Smyczek
I have removed the Gum from Both the Ostropa Sheet and the Hindeburg
Airmails, Michel Nos 607 and 607. In both cases, the gum had yellowed
but there were no noticable cracks in either the gum or the paper. I
mixed a hot solution of Tide detergent in about a half gallon of water
and slip the stamps into the solution gently then let them soak for
about 20 minutes. The stamps were then rinsed with running warm water
for about 5 minutes. then, while still Wet, i placed them in a flat
dish with the cleaning solution Part 1, let them sit there for about 1
minute, rinsed with clean running water and then placed them in Part 2
the Sodium Sulafte Neutralizer. They need to be agitated in this
solution and this can be accomplished by just rocking the pan, which was
Pyrex glass, back and forth. You can actually see the stain disappear
while you are doing this. You then rinse them again in running warm
water and dry in a blotter book. The 2 part cleaning solution is sold by
Subway and can be found in better stamp shops. This stuff will also
remove tropical rust or other oxide stains. The best detergent would be
an industrial product called Alkonox which is used to clean industrial
glassware, that is if you can find it. We used to call it Sneezing Soap.
Roger
Peter Aitken
If you use Alconox be sure to wear gloves. It is highly alkaline and if you
get it on your skin you'll start to feel your skin become very slippery.
That's your skin slowly dissolving from the detergent! I would hesitate to
use something so strong on stamps. Glass after all is a lot tougher than
paper!
Peter G. Aitken
Roger K. Smyczek wrote in message <3501992B...@idt.net>...
pdo...@sk.sympatico.ca
In article <3501992B...@idt.net>,
rodk...@idt.net wrote:
>
> an industrial product called Alkonox which is used to clean industrial
> glassware, that is if you can find it. We used to call it Sneezing Soap.
>
powder irritates and inflames the nasal passages. It can also cause choking
if breathed in, and actually burns the linings of the lungs/throat. Also
wear gloves when handling it even in diluted form, or you'll lose some skin.
If it isn't as harsh I describe, I apologize for any concern, but I thought
it best to err on the side of caution.
Peter
Wakarchuk
Peter - you are right about the Alkonox; it's about as close to pure lye
as you can get, and as alkaline. It's used regularly in labs as it is
such a good cleaner for glassware - burns everything right off. I think
it was Peter who mentioned that your hands feel slippery in it if you
don't wear gloves, which is a sign of a base (alkali) at work. Oven
cleaner does this too if you neglect to wear gloves when using it. So
will automatic dishwasher detergent.
In very, very dilute quantities (maybe 1 part per 10 thousand or less) I
might use it on paper to neutralize acidity, which is what I assume it
is being used for here. It will also remove the gum from a stamp, but
then so will good old water. Any stronger solution may well
disintegrate the paper depending on how fragile it already is.
I don't think I would use this for anything except washing glassware.
My choice for neutralizing acid in paper would be something milder - for
the "kitchen chemist" fooling around with stamps, a dilute solution of
baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) while not as active, would be a lot
safer and easier on the stamps. As with any chemical treatment, I would
then wash with lots and lots of water, preferably distilled, to remove
any traces of the treatment from the stamps.
I'll try and suss out what the archivists do. In the meantime, avoid
the Alkonox.
Arlene
Peter Aitken
It seems likely that archivist have worked out procedures for treating paper
items to remove excess acidity. I think Arlene is right in seeking out this
information. In the meantime I suggest placing the item in a sealed
container with some dessicant, and possibly freezing it.
Peter G. Aitken
Wakarchuk wrote in message <35035E...@bc.sympatico.ca>...
Edwin Muller
As a chemical engineer I would say that it might be a nice experiment
to treat the block with ammonium vapour. It could be done by placing
the sheet above a glass/cup of concentrated ammonia solution (maybe
one can help this process by heating the ammonia a little) . This way
the block doesn't get wet but the sulpharic acid is neutralized by the
alkaline ammonium gas. The result is that the sulfaric acid is
replaced by the chemically more harmless ammonium sulfate. It seems
worth a try.
If someone tries this, I advise him to do this in a well ventilated
place.
Edwin Muller
DBoyd001
The more this thread goes along the more curious I get.
what is this sheet? Country? Scott #?
Just curious.
Curious Dave (not the one with the man with the yellow hat)
H. Nihei
It is a german souvenir sheet issued june 23, 1935 on the occasion of
the eastern european stamp exhibition at koenigsberg held from
6.23.1935 til 7.3.1935. it is famous for its gum containing sulphuric
acids that tend to damage the stamps.
scott listing is B68.
shirokuma
DBoyd001
"H. Nihei" answered:
>It is a german souvenir sheet issued june 23, 1935 on the occasion of
>the eastern european stamp exhibition at koenigsberg held from
>6.23.1935 til 7.3.1935. it is famous for its gum containing sulphuric
>acids that tend to damage the stamps.
>scott listing is B68.
>
>shirokuma
Thank you. Curiosity is satisfied.
Dave (now that the curiosity is past, can get back to using commemoratives on
all my mail)