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Preventing Deterioration By Encapsulation

An Informative Article in 3 Parts
By
Aaron D J Brünger

Part 2
Stamp Hinges & Other Fixings

Stamp Hinges:  I think that during the time I have been collecting matchbox labels - which is some 12 years - I have seen more damaged labels as a result of stamp hinges or other forms of fixings than any other cause.  Whilst it is understandable that collectors desire to display their labels for their own benefit and the benefit of others, they do themselves no favours in using those little pieces of glued paper called stamp hinges.   After all, the name stamp hinge or stamp mount infers that the proper use for them is in mounting stamps!   Historically, stamps have always been made from paper whose strength is based on thickness, whereas, the paper used in matchbox labels has historically always been that much thinner.  

Back in the “good old days”, glues were made using various natural discarded products from animal and fish plus numerous forms of paste were also manufactured.   Gum Arabic, Fish Glue and the pastes were as common as PVA is today and in days long gone, removal of the glue from the paper was far easier than with modern day fixings.  Consequently, less damage was done when stamp hinges were used.  However, modern fixings that we take for granted are generally expected to bond long term and therefore the use of such material is really not conducive when used to secure ageing matchbox labels for display. 

Lumps: Visibly seen when looking at a mounted matchbox label generally indicates that the label has been affixed on more than one occasion using stamp hinges and that the remnants of the previous hinge or hinges were not removed before the latest hinge was affixed.   It is often this accumulation of glued paper that causes the damage to the delicate ageing label.  This is because the cohesion of the ‘paper lump’ is stronger than the molecular strength of the matchbox label paper!  Consequently, something has to give and invariably its the matchbox label itself.   So many labels exist today with neat rectangular segments missing from them where part of the label has come away with the paper lump.  For the more modern label which is manufactured in a layered process, the stamp hinge ‘thins’ the paper at the point where it was attached. 

Removal:  The removal of previously affixed stamp hinges should be undertaken with extreme care.  In the case of ‘used’ labels, soaking in water is often the best solution, however, for the ‘mint’ or ‘unused’ label soaking in water is generally not an option.   Therefore, the use of a very sharp craft tool to gently tease the old hinge from the label can be used but as already stated, extreme care should be taken.  If unsure about the risk of damage, it is sometimes better to leave a previous hinge in place rather than permanently damaging the label. 

Superglue, Araldite & similar fixings:  Many unused labels exist mounted on boards because the collector made a conscious decision to display them that way.   This sort of damage is usually irreversible and the only way to save the label is to physically cut the label from the board so that the board itself becomes the back of the label.  On other occasions, using one of the glues described, the label is ‘spot glued’ to a page.  Similar to the scenario above, the probability of damage to the label is extremely high and therefore, the best solution is leave well alone and if necessary cut the page to remove it with the label.  These solutions particularly apply to very old labels which may well be extremely rare and that by attempting to remove the backing  would render them totally useless. 

Sellotape and Masking Tape:  Both of these fixings are the death knell for matchbox labels.  So many collectors have destroyed valuable and rare labels simply because they secured them using sellotape or to a lesser degree, masking tape.   Part of the glue process migrates from these tapes into the heart of the matchbox label paper creating a form of grease stain. The stain is permanent and, at the present time I am unaware of any product that can remove it.    Sometimes a warm iron can help in ‘drying out’ the stain slightly but not to the point of eradicating it!   Additionally, when the tape is removed, especially within a year or two of it being originally affixed, the adhesive transfers onto the label  which makes the back of the label very sticky.  If this label is then stored on top of another label, then the new label will also be damaged by the glue even if it isn’t when trying to separate both labels. 

Removal of sellotape and masking tape can be a very risky business but not to do so will ruin the label anyway.  Therefore, if the label is rare or is the only one you have in your collection you should soak it in ‘Benzene’ or ‘Petrol Lighter Fluid’.   These fluids are highly inflammable and toxic and should be used with plenty of ventilation and extreme caution.   Sellotape and masking tape glues tend to dissolve in these hydrocarbons which then allows you to remove the tape itself from the label.  Then, using a small metal ruler, or similar product, gently scrape the edge across the label to remove the excess glue that is still attached.  The fluid should evaporate fairly quickly and once completely dry should leave you with a non-sticky label but regretfully you will have a ‘grease like’ stain where the tape was attached.  If you find that the label is still sticky, then you should repeat the last process until no more adhesive is present.....

Page History:
Page Created on 12th February 2008

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