Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I'm going through some of my uncle's albums, and even though both Marlate and Showgard mounts were among his supplies, he seemed to prefer the Marlate mounts. It seems like an ok system to me, that would be pretty easy to mount, and even easier to unmount the stamps. This thing I read about the stamps being sealed all around doesn't seem to be part of the system. Am I missing something?
They come in a rectangle, sealed on 4 sides. You cut them so that each corner becomes a separate mount for a stamp of nearly any dimension. After mounting it to the page, the stamp is simply inserted between the two clear plastic sheets. Since the mount is a corner, it is sealed on two sides, forming an angle, and open on the other two sides. It's super easy to just reach in and pull a stamp out. However, the mounts seem really stable. He mounted these around 40 years ago, and even after him opening the albums, and my having opened them now and then over the 20 years I've had them, nothing has fallen out, the plastic is flat, and the stamps are still nicely centered. Were all these people back then just using them wrong, or did Marlate have more than one system?
Below - mounted stamp
Below - easy dismount
Below - new old stock front
Below - new old stock back with instructions
Below - some of his album pages
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Note that there are not any 'archival safe' statements on package.
The acetate can shrink over time and this can cause the stamps to become creased. I also do not think the black paper they used was acid free, although I admit I have not ever seen any toned stamp in these mounts. Finally, there is the question of the impact to resale value. Whether or not these mounts are 'good', most collectors hate them and understand the incredible amount of work required to extract the stamp from these 'mount tombs'. This is likely to impact any resale value when that day comes.
Don
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If it's open on two sides, is it still a tomb?
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The only collections I have seen that had Marlate Mounts in it had the mounts sealed on all four sides. If collectors weren't following the instructions regarding that, well, there's no way that I will buy a collection with the stamps in Marlate Mounts.
As Don hinted, the black paper is not acid free. The black paper is supposed to go behind the acetate, but I have seen collections where the stamp was inserted into the mount with the back of the stamp resting on the black paper, with the acetate behind the black paper. The back of the stamps so mounted had turned black from the paper, so I'm am also led to believe that the black dye used on the paper leeches onto the stamp paper with humidity.
Use them if you want. I don't think they would have been around for so long if people didn't like them.
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The picture above provides directions for creating four mounts out of one piece, but the package says they are available for singles too. Just wondering how they work if they are sealed on all four sides - how do you get the stamp inside?
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The singles are the same as the blocks, just a bit smaller (so each sheet enough to cut 4 regular sized stamp mounts). I used the photo of the block package because the instructions are on the outside. The singles package has the same instructions, but on the inside. But you can see that the instructions in my photo above shows the a drawing of the single and how 4 stamps could have their mounts made from that (although they would each be cut out of that one Marlate sheet. After you cut a corner out for your stamp, you just slide the stamp in through the two cut edges corner, in between the two clear plastic films (so stamp not touching the black backing).
I'm not trying to sell them as a great system. I'm just trying to figure out if I should leave them in (removing the stamps would be trivial if I ever was going to sell them), or move them out to Vario pages if these mounts are going to harm the stamps. Plus, I'm not understanding how or why folks sealed them on all 4 sides, as the instructions don't mention doing that.
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Could be what you have are revised mounts. The packaging looks more modern from those I have seen before.
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I believe that Marlate mounts were originally called ‘Protective Mounts’; they tried to addressed short-coming of then popular Crystal Mounts with sealed sides and a ‘natural’ gum adhesive. This held the mount and stamp much more securely then Crystal Mounts.
I am unsure of the exact year they transitioned to ‘Marlate’ name but it was before I entered the hobby in the 1970s, here is a vintage ad for them
Acetate is NOT archival. Acetate is well known for being susceptible to shrinkage after their manufacture due to the loss of solvents. If anyone doubts this then go look up what happen to all the old Hollywood acetate films. I would remove them immediately.
Don
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Cellulose is organic, and will turn green and then brown as it degrades. That's why the older glassine envelop0es turn brown, having been made partly of cellulose.
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Cellulose acetate has a relatively short life. With good storage conditions away from light (say 70-72 degrees F, relative humidity below 50%), it has a life of 40 - 50 years. Drop that down to 55 degrees with 40% RH and life is over 100 years. On the other hand, jack up storage temp and RH to something like you might see in the tropics and it goes to pot in less than 10 years.
The way you know it's going is the smell - a distinct smell of vinegar. It's even called the vinegar syndrome. Acetate groups split off from the polymer chains and become hydrated by the RH, yielding acetic acid. The acetate loss causes the polymer chains to break, which in turn causes the film to shrink and also lose strength. Storing with an open tray containing something like sodium bicarbonate absorbs the acetic acid and slows further reaction.
It's simply not a good choice for long-term storage.
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I appreciate the feedback. Although the mounts all look pristine, and the stamps undamaged after the 35-45 years since they were mounted, I will be moving all the stamps out of the Marlate mounts and into Vario pages. This decision is based on what's been said here, and what I've read about cellulose acetate, and it's chemical properties over time.
From the looks, the mounts all seem fine, and even the new old stock that's never been opened (until today), where the sheets are still sealed on all 4 sides as they came from the manufacturer (where any shrinkage should be detectable) look like the day they were made. I also did not detect the breakdown symptom of vinegar odor. But I won't chance it, and will consider myself lucky that no problems presented themselves up to now.
The apparent long life may have been helped by the fact that during the 20 years I have had them, they have been with me in the lower elevation (2500') of the interior mountain west USA, where we have notoriously low humidity and dry climate, stored in a very dark place.
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You can always get a refund if not fully satisfied!
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I've been in this hobby since 1962. I question if PM mounts and Marlate were produced by the same company. PM mounts were cut to size. They had a tab at the top, you were supposed to insert the stamp, remove the protective strip on the back and then, if you followed their instructions fold the tab over onto the sticky back, sealing the stamp inside. Apparently permanently. I used them briefly but would snip off the tab so I could then easily remove the stamp later.
They were the worst mounts ever devised. I sometimes still see collections with these things and always pass then by. I cannot get stamps out of them without damage.
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06:26:47pm
I've read a number of threads here and other places regarding mounts, and when included in the discussion, Marlate mounts seem to be almost universally hated. The recommendation is to get them out of those horrid mounts. A complaint that I've seen repeated is that after acquiring an album, it's a royal pain in the rear to remove the stamps, requiring a lot of wasted time.
I'm going through some of my uncle's albums, and even though both Marlate and Showgard mounts were among his supplies, he seemed to prefer the Marlate mounts. It seems like an ok system to me, that would be pretty easy to mount, and even easier to unmount the stamps. This thing I read about the stamps being sealed all around doesn't seem to be part of the system. Am I missing something?
They come in a rectangle, sealed on 4 sides. You cut them so that each corner becomes a separate mount for a stamp of nearly any dimension. After mounting it to the page, the stamp is simply inserted between the two clear plastic sheets. Since the mount is a corner, it is sealed on two sides, forming an angle, and open on the other two sides. It's super easy to just reach in and pull a stamp out. However, the mounts seem really stable. He mounted these around 40 years ago, and even after him opening the albums, and my having opened them now and then over the 20 years I've had them, nothing has fallen out, the plastic is flat, and the stamps are still nicely centered. Were all these people back then just using them wrong, or did Marlate have more than one system?
Below - mounted stamp
Below - easy dismount
Below - new old stock front
Below - new old stock back with instructions
Below - some of his album pages
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re: Marlate mounts - am I missing something?
Note that there are not any 'archival safe' statements on package.
The acetate can shrink over time and this can cause the stamps to become creased. I also do not think the black paper they used was acid free, although I admit I have not ever seen any toned stamp in these mounts. Finally, there is the question of the impact to resale value. Whether or not these mounts are 'good', most collectors hate them and understand the incredible amount of work required to extract the stamp from these 'mount tombs'. This is likely to impact any resale value when that day comes.
Don
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07:41:26pm
re: Marlate mounts - am I missing something?
If it's open on two sides, is it still a tomb?
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09:32:23pm
re: Marlate mounts - am I missing something?
The only collections I have seen that had Marlate Mounts in it had the mounts sealed on all four sides. If collectors weren't following the instructions regarding that, well, there's no way that I will buy a collection with the stamps in Marlate Mounts.
As Don hinted, the black paper is not acid free. The black paper is supposed to go behind the acetate, but I have seen collections where the stamp was inserted into the mount with the back of the stamp resting on the black paper, with the acetate behind the black paper. The back of the stamps so mounted had turned black from the paper, so I'm am also led to believe that the black dye used on the paper leeches onto the stamp paper with humidity.
Use them if you want. I don't think they would have been around for so long if people didn't like them.
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re: Marlate mounts - am I missing something?
The picture above provides directions for creating four mounts out of one piece, but the package says they are available for singles too. Just wondering how they work if they are sealed on all four sides - how do you get the stamp inside?
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11:11:55pm
re: Marlate mounts - am I missing something?
The singles are the same as the blocks, just a bit smaller (so each sheet enough to cut 4 regular sized stamp mounts). I used the photo of the block package because the instructions are on the outside. The singles package has the same instructions, but on the inside. But you can see that the instructions in my photo above shows the a drawing of the single and how 4 stamps could have their mounts made from that (although they would each be cut out of that one Marlate sheet. After you cut a corner out for your stamp, you just slide the stamp in through the two cut edges corner, in between the two clear plastic films (so stamp not touching the black backing).
I'm not trying to sell them as a great system. I'm just trying to figure out if I should leave them in (removing the stamps would be trivial if I ever was going to sell them), or move them out to Vario pages if these mounts are going to harm the stamps. Plus, I'm not understanding how or why folks sealed them on all 4 sides, as the instructions don't mention doing that.
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02:20:40am
re: Marlate mounts - am I missing something?
Could be what you have are revised mounts. The packaging looks more modern from those I have seen before.
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this post
re: Marlate mounts - am I missing something?
I believe that Marlate mounts were originally called ‘Protective Mounts’; they tried to addressed short-coming of then popular Crystal Mounts with sealed sides and a ‘natural’ gum adhesive. This held the mount and stamp much more securely then Crystal Mounts.
I am unsure of the exact year they transitioned to ‘Marlate’ name but it was before I entered the hobby in the 1970s, here is a vintage ad for them
Acetate is NOT archival. Acetate is well known for being susceptible to shrinkage after their manufacture due to the loss of solvents. If anyone doubts this then go look up what happen to all the old Hollywood acetate films. I would remove them immediately.
Don
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12:08:14pm
re: Marlate mounts - am I missing something?
Cellulose is organic, and will turn green and then brown as it degrades. That's why the older glassine envelop0es turn brown, having been made partly of cellulose.
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11:18:48pm
re: Marlate mounts - am I missing something?
Cellulose acetate has a relatively short life. With good storage conditions away from light (say 70-72 degrees F, relative humidity below 50%), it has a life of 40 - 50 years. Drop that down to 55 degrees with 40% RH and life is over 100 years. On the other hand, jack up storage temp and RH to something like you might see in the tropics and it goes to pot in less than 10 years.
The way you know it's going is the smell - a distinct smell of vinegar. It's even called the vinegar syndrome. Acetate groups split off from the polymer chains and become hydrated by the RH, yielding acetic acid. The acetate loss causes the polymer chains to break, which in turn causes the film to shrink and also lose strength. Storing with an open tray containing something like sodium bicarbonate absorbs the acetic acid and slows further reaction.
It's simply not a good choice for long-term storage.
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12:10:10am
re: Marlate mounts - am I missing something?
I appreciate the feedback. Although the mounts all look pristine, and the stamps undamaged after the 35-45 years since they were mounted, I will be moving all the stamps out of the Marlate mounts and into Vario pages. This decision is based on what's been said here, and what I've read about cellulose acetate, and it's chemical properties over time.
From the looks, the mounts all seem fine, and even the new old stock that's never been opened (until today), where the sheets are still sealed on all 4 sides as they came from the manufacturer (where any shrinkage should be detectable) look like the day they were made. I also did not detect the breakdown symptom of vinegar odor. But I won't chance it, and will consider myself lucky that no problems presented themselves up to now.
The apparent long life may have been helped by the fact that during the 20 years I have had them, they have been with me in the lower elevation (2500') of the interior mountain west USA, where we have notoriously low humidity and dry climate, stored in a very dark place.
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re: Marlate mounts - am I missing something?
You can always get a refund if not fully satisfied!
Login to Like
this post
re: Marlate mounts - am I missing something?
I've been in this hobby since 1962. I question if PM mounts and Marlate were produced by the same company. PM mounts were cut to size. They had a tab at the top, you were supposed to insert the stamp, remove the protective strip on the back and then, if you followed their instructions fold the tab over onto the sticky back, sealing the stamp inside. Apparently permanently. I used them briefly but would snip off the tab so I could then easily remove the stamp later.
They were the worst mounts ever devised. I sometimes still see collections with these things and always pass then by. I cannot get stamps out of them without damage.
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