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I collect stamps for fun and not for resale. I bought bunch but never sold any. My question is, I keep hearing about “Gum” on back of the stamp and importance of it. Why is that important and if I remove a stamp from an envelope, it will not have gum. Does that mean the stamp is useless? Also, I put stamps in warm/hot water to remove stamps from envelopes/cards. They slide of quickly. Is that advised from pros or is there a better way to remove them.
Sorry for the late reply here. Gum is important for mint stamps. Those never used. If you are soaking off envelopes then they are used stamps and the gum condition does not apply. 100 years ago, collectors were not concerned with gum condition, so they used hinges or even licked and stuck stamps into albums. So to find a stamp with undisturbed gum (Never Hinged), increases the rarity and value because a collector of such material is concerned about condition, and to have an example that was never used with original undisturbed gum (what we call “post office fresh” gum) is more desirable.
Basically a “Virgin” stamp. I’ve never heard or used this analogy before, but I may start using it.
Ryan Joneson
APS #224675
Thanks Ryan. Do you know of a good iPhone App that I can use to find value and ID my old stamps. I recently bought bunch of stamps from an Estate Sale and found some old (Probably 1890-1910) Washington, Adams, Jefferson stamps.
Some of them are in really good condition (they are used – but still in good condition). Thanks. Radha
@rsb_stamps I tried a couple apps. None of them worked well or offered accurate pricing. Best thing is to get a Scott catalogue. You can usually find them at your local library.
Ryan Joneson
APS #224675
