When I was younger, my Grandma Alice started me on my first stamp collection. She was a pro at stamp collecting! One of the very first things she taught me was how to remove a cancelled stamp from an envelope after being used. Also, keep in mind that sometimes, depending on the stamp and postmark, the stamp may be more valuable staying on the envelope. Such is the case with first day covers.

Here are Grandma’s instructions:

• Get two bowls of cold water. Warm water has the chance of making some inks run.

• Cut the envelope around the stamp

• Using your tweezers, place the stamp into the first bowl of water

• Do not force the stamp to come off. The water is loosening the adhesive on the back of the stamp and will eventually fall off the envelope and float to the top of the water.

• After the stamp has come off, using your tweezers, remove the stamp from the first bowl of water and place into the second bowl to rinse off any adhesive that still may be on the back.

• Place you now clean and wet stamp onto your drying paper face down overnight. (some use paper towels, I prefer parchment paper)

• You can now place your stamp in your holding book or your collection book