Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Should I care about watermarks? Is so why, what tale do they tell?
I have not looked for them yet, as I understand a special fluid may be needed.
Thanks!
JR
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Hi JR,
Some countries used watermarked paper extensively, others somewhat more limited. Sometimes the only difference between a rare stamp and a common one is the watermark; so yes watermarks are important. I would go further and say that some hobbyists do not bother to learn stamp manufacturing details and this lack of knowledge results incorrect stamp identification.
To learn more there are several ‘How To’ articles and videos on Stamp Smarter here
http://www.stampsmarter.com/learning/Home_HowTo.html
A short article on The History of Watermarks on U.S. Stamps 1895-1916
http://stampsmarter.com/learning/Gen_HistoryWatermarksUS.html
Don
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Hi Don,
Wow, great info! Thanks a lot for helping a "Mega-Newbie!".
I had never heard of the "Stamp Smarter" website and will absolutely check out those videos/articles that you have outlined. Most likely this will be on my "Hobby To-Do" list for tonight.
Thanks a lot for helping me out.
JR
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Considering your username, here's something you might like to read about. You could even make it a topical collection!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_mail
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My essential kit. Stamp tongs with rounded (spatulate) edges. Combination watermark tray and perforation gauge. Watermark fluid. Stamp mounts - Davo (the self adhesive kind -- not lick). Catalogues not shown.
I prefer Paloalbums.com for this stuff. There are more likely less expensive places to purchase these items.
Determining watermark and perforation are vital. Never touch a stamp with your fingers - use tongs.
Collecting Worldwide is a great way to go, but if you want to bore down deep, you may want to consider collecting one country. I finally came to that conclusion and collect Great Britain, Australia, U.S. and Colonial Africa.Oh, that's more than one country isn't it.
I focus on Great Britain now.
Wine.
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@Michael78651,
I never had even heard of such a thing and to be honest, I'm surprised. I also used to like to build model kits of WW1/WW2 stuff, so certainly I would have thought that a "kit" of such a thing would have existed. Very interesting stuff, thank you!
@Wine,
Thank you for defining a watermark "kit". This is very helpful to me. Two additional nice things from your post that will really help me are: 1) Knowing that self adhesive mounts exist. Now I want those! 2) Knowing about Palo Albums - seems like a GREAT site. Had to laugh about your just collecting "one country" statement... I can already see myself falling into this pattern of "just one more topic" that I collect... My problem is, that being new to the hobby, I like them all!
@All,
Thanks you all have been super helpful and VERY welcoming!
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02:28:32am
Watermark Fluid --- I have used, readily available
70% rubbing alcohol from a local pharamacy.
Usually about $1.50 +/- for a (US) quart,
and have for over fifty years. It is also quite useful
in releasing Machin Stamps from the death grip of
modern glues.
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I've been using Ronsonol lighter fluid since the 1980's with no noticeable ill effects.
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"Ronsonol lighter fluid since the 1980's with no noticeable ill effects."
It is supposed to be great with stamps but I thought the concern on Ronsonol was human effects not stamp effects.
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Everything in moderation. If you read the labels everything is bad for you. As a kid we inhaled copious amounts of carbon tet cleaning the tires on our slot cars. I often overfilled my Zippo lighter with fluid bacck when I was smoking. Charcoal grilled steaks are bad for you. Saturated fats are bad for you (except they now realize that they are not that bad).
Seriously, I wouldn't want to spend days and weeks on end watermarking stamps with lighter fluid (or anything else for that matter - if those high priced special fluids don't have a warning label on them it's only because no one has reported them to the government yet for not having a warning label....). But the hour or two a week I spend a couple minutes at a time is unlikely to be the final cause of my demise, or even contributory to it.
Sir Mick has led a life that by all rights should have ended his life decades ago. If anyone watched the clip of him prancing around the stage like a teenager with Taylor Swift before they removed it - tell me again how bad all those things are for you....
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I always had heard that Mick tamed things down quite dramatically after the big drug raid in the 60s.
Now, KEITH on the other hand ... he must have embalmed himself with all the chemicals he took!
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I use Clarity now but also had some product from Prinz.
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Just a warning on rubbing alcohol (surgical spirit) it will dissolve some dyes used for ink and postmarks, especially registered mauve/purple, this will then stain the stamp in the same manner that red envelopes will when soaking stamps.
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This is called a dandy roll. It is what is used to impress the watermarks into the still moist paper.
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I feel like I may be missing something...
Should I care about watermarks? Is so why, what tale do they tell?
I have not looked for them yet, as I understand a special fluid may be needed.
Thanks!
JR
Login to Like
this post
re: Watermarks?
Hi JR,
Some countries used watermarked paper extensively, others somewhat more limited. Sometimes the only difference between a rare stamp and a common one is the watermark; so yes watermarks are important. I would go further and say that some hobbyists do not bother to learn stamp manufacturing details and this lack of knowledge results incorrect stamp identification.
To learn more there are several ‘How To’ articles and videos on Stamp Smarter here
http://www.stampsmarter.com/learning/Home_HowTo.html
A short article on The History of Watermarks on U.S. Stamps 1895-1916
http://stampsmarter.com/learning/Gen_HistoryWatermarksUS.html
Don
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: Watermarks?
Hi Don,
Wow, great info! Thanks a lot for helping a "Mega-Newbie!".
I had never heard of the "Stamp Smarter" website and will absolutely check out those videos/articles that you have outlined. Most likely this will be on my "Hobby To-Do" list for tonight.
Thanks a lot for helping me out.
JR
Login to Like
this post
02:33:39pm
re: Watermarks?
Considering your username, here's something you might like to read about. You could even make it a topical collection!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_mail
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: Watermarks?
My essential kit. Stamp tongs with rounded (spatulate) edges. Combination watermark tray and perforation gauge. Watermark fluid. Stamp mounts - Davo (the self adhesive kind -- not lick). Catalogues not shown.
I prefer Paloalbums.com for this stuff. There are more likely less expensive places to purchase these items.
Determining watermark and perforation are vital. Never touch a stamp with your fingers - use tongs.
Collecting Worldwide is a great way to go, but if you want to bore down deep, you may want to consider collecting one country. I finally came to that conclusion and collect Great Britain, Australia, U.S. and Colonial Africa.Oh, that's more than one country isn't it.
I focus on Great Britain now.
Wine.
Login to Like
this post
re: Watermarks?
@Michael78651,
I never had even heard of such a thing and to be honest, I'm surprised. I also used to like to build model kits of WW1/WW2 stuff, so certainly I would have thought that a "kit" of such a thing would have existed. Very interesting stuff, thank you!
@Wine,
Thank you for defining a watermark "kit". This is very helpful to me. Two additional nice things from your post that will really help me are: 1) Knowing that self adhesive mounts exist. Now I want those! 2) Knowing about Palo Albums - seems like a GREAT site. Had to laugh about your just collecting "one country" statement... I can already see myself falling into this pattern of "just one more topic" that I collect... My problem is, that being new to the hobby, I like them all!
@All,
Thanks you all have been super helpful and VERY welcoming!
Login to Like
this post
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
14 Mar 2018
02:28:32am
re: Watermarks?
Watermark Fluid --- I have used, readily available
70% rubbing alcohol from a local pharamacy.
Usually about $1.50 +/- for a (US) quart,
and have for over fifty years. It is also quite useful
in releasing Machin Stamps from the death grip of
modern glues.
Login to Like
this post
05:25:53am
re: Watermarks?
I've been using Ronsonol lighter fluid since the 1980's with no noticeable ill effects.
Login to Like
this post
re: Watermarks?
"Ronsonol lighter fluid since the 1980's with no noticeable ill effects."
It is supposed to be great with stamps but I thought the concern on Ronsonol was human effects not stamp effects.
Login to Like
this post
08:11:54am
re: Watermarks?
Everything in moderation. If you read the labels everything is bad for you. As a kid we inhaled copious amounts of carbon tet cleaning the tires on our slot cars. I often overfilled my Zippo lighter with fluid bacck when I was smoking. Charcoal grilled steaks are bad for you. Saturated fats are bad for you (except they now realize that they are not that bad).
Seriously, I wouldn't want to spend days and weeks on end watermarking stamps with lighter fluid (or anything else for that matter - if those high priced special fluids don't have a warning label on them it's only because no one has reported them to the government yet for not having a warning label....). But the hour or two a week I spend a couple minutes at a time is unlikely to be the final cause of my demise, or even contributory to it.
Sir Mick has led a life that by all rights should have ended his life decades ago. If anyone watched the clip of him prancing around the stage like a teenager with Taylor Swift before they removed it - tell me again how bad all those things are for you....
Login to Like
this post
re: Watermarks?
I always had heard that Mick tamed things down quite dramatically after the big drug raid in the 60s.
Now, KEITH on the other hand ... he must have embalmed himself with all the chemicals he took!
Login to Like
this post
re: Watermarks?
I use Clarity now but also had some product from Prinz.
Login to Like
this post
re: Watermarks?
Just a warning on rubbing alcohol (surgical spirit) it will dissolve some dyes used for ink and postmarks, especially registered mauve/purple, this will then stain the stamp in the same manner that red envelopes will when soaking stamps.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: Watermarks?
This is called a dandy roll. It is what is used to impress the watermarks into the still moist paper.
7 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.