Geoff, you might want to look through this old posting.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=9658#145886
I keep a large selection of black top opening mounts in my desk drawer and if I have a stamp that doesn't quite fit I put it in a mount slightly too high and carefully trim the top a bit. I like to have a little bit of black all around the stamp. I try to keep things as simple as possible.
I usually buy 55mm mounts (clear) for my collection. That way, most stamps fit. There is some trash, but I don't have to worry aboot sizes.
I collect stamps from GB, Switzerland, Tristan da Cunha, British South Atlantic Territories, Canada including plate blocks, and so I keep a wide range of mounts from size 24 to 105. Using a guillotine, I can always trim the top of a mount to give an even black border around the the stamp (as long as it a top-opening mount).
When deciding which size mount to use, measure the height of the stamp, including perforation, and using that measurement select an equivalent mount. A measurement of say 26mm requires a mount size 26.
I always cut my own with a Prinz mount cutter. The benefit is that buying mixed packets of mounts at auction is far more economical than buying individual sizes
Sheepshanks,
Thanks for the link - that and the links within will keep busy for a while.
Geoff
I collect mostly British Commonwealth and use top HAWID loading clear mount strips then trim to the tops to fit the height of the stamps. Before HAWID went out of business, the price for their strips was the same price for sizes up to 33mm so you could just order 33 and not need to worry about lower sizes. The 33mm will be sufficient for many pre-1960 stamps. I use clear split backs (Showgard/Scott/Prinz) for sizes over 35mm. Even when the taller clear split back are not perfect size, it far more forgiving in appearance than black mounts.
The split back sizes most are 33mm, 35mm, 39mm, 41mm, 43mm, and 45mm. I always use a cutter.
For some reason I find determining what to order for stamp mounts for non-US stamps confusing. As an example, I've recently started collecting Cayman Islands and won in an auction a very nice mint set of the first QE2 issue. Is there a guide anywhere to determine what size mounts I should use? Or is it simply measuring in millimeters the size of the stamp? And is that vignette size or including the perfs? Of course, once I determine the size then I have to figure out what kind to buy. Am I, as usual, overthinking this?
TIA,
Geoff
re: Stamp Mounts
Geoff, you might want to look through this old posting.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=9658#145886
re: Stamp Mounts
I keep a large selection of black top opening mounts in my desk drawer and if I have a stamp that doesn't quite fit I put it in a mount slightly too high and carefully trim the top a bit. I like to have a little bit of black all around the stamp. I try to keep things as simple as possible.
re: Stamp Mounts
I usually buy 55mm mounts (clear) for my collection. That way, most stamps fit. There is some trash, but I don't have to worry aboot sizes.
re: Stamp Mounts
I collect stamps from GB, Switzerland, Tristan da Cunha, British South Atlantic Territories, Canada including plate blocks, and so I keep a wide range of mounts from size 24 to 105. Using a guillotine, I can always trim the top of a mount to give an even black border around the the stamp (as long as it a top-opening mount).
When deciding which size mount to use, measure the height of the stamp, including perforation, and using that measurement select an equivalent mount. A measurement of say 26mm requires a mount size 26.
re: Stamp Mounts
I always cut my own with a Prinz mount cutter. The benefit is that buying mixed packets of mounts at auction is far more economical than buying individual sizes
re: Stamp Mounts
Sheepshanks,
Thanks for the link - that and the links within will keep busy for a while.
Geoff
re: Stamp Mounts
I collect mostly British Commonwealth and use top HAWID loading clear mount strips then trim to the tops to fit the height of the stamps. Before HAWID went out of business, the price for their strips was the same price for sizes up to 33mm so you could just order 33 and not need to worry about lower sizes. The 33mm will be sufficient for many pre-1960 stamps. I use clear split backs (Showgard/Scott/Prinz) for sizes over 35mm. Even when the taller clear split back are not perfect size, it far more forgiving in appearance than black mounts.
The split back sizes most are 33mm, 35mm, 39mm, 41mm, 43mm, and 45mm. I always use a cutter.