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This is a stamps collectors' blog. As an enthusiast, I'd like to provide some recommendations on the best way to keep stamps in the best condition. One could end up with a stamp that worth a great deal of money and it would be a shame not to have maintained it in the best possible way.  The assumption here is that you have already decided on the kind of stamps you want to collect.

1. Type of Stamp Album:

Make sure this has blank, acid-free pages. Ensure pages are strong and not flimsy or fragile as these will not be strong enough to hold the stanp hinges or mounts. Using glue or tape will definitely damage the stamps.

2. Removing the Stamp:

Never attempt to peel a stamp from an envelope. Carefully cut from the envelope avoiding the perforated edges. Once cut, float the stamp in a small bowl filled with cool water. After a while, the glue should dissolve enough for the stamp to come off easily. Rinse the remaining glue off with cold water and lie flat to dry. If required after drying, put the stamps in a book to flatten.

3. Sort According to a Chosen Theme:

It is good to have some sort of order to your collection. This can be by countries, by topic or by types of stamps.   Discard damaged stamps as the values are likely to be low, unless these happen to be extremely rare ones.

4. Always Handle Stamps with Clean Tongs:

Grease or dirt on fingers can damage the stamp. Also, the small and thin nature of stamps can make handling difficult with fingers. Tongs are the best way to handle stamps. It is advisable to practice handling ordinary stamps with tongs first as these can easily rip or poke a hole through stamps.

Once you have decided to collect stamps and have all the necessary tools, you will probably become more curious about the history behind some of these issues. There are a multitude of books and literature on the subject. Many of them explain how and why some of these stamps haves become so valuable over the years.

For many stamp collectors, this is a lifetime hobby. This is a hobby that never gets boring as there are just such a large variations of stamps that can be collected.