KirkS
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Often wrong, but never in doubt :-)
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Post by KirkS on Feb 5, 2014 17:49:28 GMT
Before Christmas, I mailed a package to a friend. It was a Priority Mail box with insurance, so I decided to post it using some of the new $2 Jenny stamps. The total postage was something like $19.95 so I overfranked it with $20.
I let my friend know in advance that if the stamps survived USPS and the Marker Monkey, I wanted her to send the stamps back to me.
I carefully removed the backing from one sheet ($12) and attached it to the Priority Mail box. From the second sheet, I kept two stamps and attached the rest of the sheet to the box.
My postmaster is a nice guy -- very friendly and helpful. He allowed me to hand cancel the sheets. Unfortunately, his stamp uses RED ink, and not much of that.
Here are two scans of the sheets.
jenny-01-1024
jenny-02-800
My friend carefully cut the box and returned the stamps. They escaped the marker monkey; BUT the quality of cardboard box seems to have wrinkled the stamps. I'm not sure if it was the handling, or if the porous cardboard absorbed moisture, or what? OR, another possibility is that when my friend mailed them back to me, in a small manilla envelope, they were bent, "rolled" or wrinkled during the sorting process.
These images are photographs from a 'side angle' -- a scan doesn't show the wrinkles.
wrinkle-1-800
wrinkle-2-800
It's probably a moot point anyway -- I don't know if they're soakable, and even if they are, I doubt the sheets would stay intact after soaking.
Kirk
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KirkS
Member
Often wrong, but never in doubt :-)
Posts: 187
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Post by KirkS on Feb 5, 2014 17:55:12 GMT
Ooh lordy -- those images are big. I'd better read the FAQ on posting images. --KS
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tomiseksj
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Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,383
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Feb 5, 2014 18:18:31 GMT
For those of us with tired eyes, the bigger images are very much appreciated!
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Zuzu
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Post by Zuzu on Feb 5, 2014 18:59:00 GMT
OR, another possibility is that when my friend mailed them back to me, in a small manilla envelope, they were bent, "rolled" or wrinkled during the sorting process. Just a guess, but judging by the pictures, this looks to be the explanation. All the wrinkles/creases are in the same direction, possibly from pressure against the inner corrugated cardboard. And it looks like the top right corner of the piece with the full sheet was crunched a bit. Too bad.  I think they're very attractive with the red cancel. I wonder if it would be possible to carefully separate the top layer of cardboard and flatten them out under a mountain of heavy books?? |
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rod222
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What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Feb 5, 2014 22:37:36 GMT
If they are normal pvc gum, I should think soakable,
I do these sorts of sheets all the time.
Sink full of cold water
tiny drop of dish liquid
float the cardboard on top
Have the courage to have enough patience, the board will finally seperate
and GENTLY wash or agitate in the water to remove gum.
Place in the Rod222 freezer bag sandwich, and press.
The big unknown is the cancellation ink.
If the perfs are not compromised before you start, they should hold firm.
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Zuzu
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Post by Zuzu on Feb 6, 2014 1:26:15 GMT
They're die-cut self-adhesives.
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rod222
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What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Feb 6, 2014 3:16:43 GMT
They're die-cut self-adhesives.  I see, thanks Zuzu. White Spirits, lift all my Australian self stick beautifully, but I wouldn't entertain a Souvenir sheet. If damaged ones come my way, (souv sheets) I'll test them. |
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BC
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Vancouver, BC Canada
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What I collect: Worldwide USED up to the 1960's, later years from countries that came into existence after then, like Anguilla, Tuvalu and Transnistria.
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Post by BC on Feb 6, 2014 3:59:14 GMT
What Zuzu says about the top layer of the cardboard makes sense. Yet I would cut it real close to the sheet, soak it in water long enough to peel the top layer off. Then do the Rod222 bag play.
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Post by stampgeezer on Feb 6, 2014 7:31:36 GMT
I have not tried soaking an inverted jenny yet, has anyone actually done it?
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I.L.S.
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I am in Clearfield, Pa. I love US Classic covers!
Posts: 2,113
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Post by I.L.S. on Feb 6, 2014 10:05:14 GMT
The red ink from the cancel would certainly run. I don't want to be a pessimist but it may do more harm than good soaking. I recently heard of a WD40 method but that sounds a bit sketchy though? Would that orange stuff work perhaps? Just a thought I had. They do look great on a package tough. What did you have in that box bricks of lead? lol That's a LOT of postage!
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I.L.S.
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Rest in Peace
I am in Clearfield, Pa. I love US Classic covers!
Posts: 2,113
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Post by I.L.S. on Feb 6, 2014 10:16:51 GMT
I also might add that this is a good example of why not to use corrugated cardboard as stiffeners for philatelic items.
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KirkS
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Post by KirkS on Feb 6, 2014 15:12:31 GMT
ILS & Others...
My post might have been confusing, so for the record, I did not use corrugated cardboard a "stiffener."
USPS Priority Mail Boxes are made of cardboard and the stamps were, of course, attached directly to the USPS box.
Kirk
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Zuzu
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Post by Zuzu on Feb 6, 2014 15:37:38 GMT
Kirk, I don't think was "admonishing" you or your friend for using the cardboard as a stiffener. I think he was simply pointing out that the pictures show a good example of what *could* happen if corrugated cardboard is used - the result would be similar.
Out of curiosity, did your friend return the cardboard panels in a padded envelope? I'm just thinking that although it would probably bump up postage for mailing, it might cushion and avoid such wrinkles.
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KirkS
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Often wrong, but never in doubt :-)
Posts: 187
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Post by KirkS on Feb 7, 2014 17:25:34 GMT
Zuzu:
I took no offense or admonishment. I was just admitting that my original post wasn't clear.
My friend cut the Priority Mail box and put the two pieces in a plain manilla envelope that I included with the package. I didn't include any packing material, inserts, or stiffeners in the "return" envelope.
So, my point is, I'm not sure if the wrinkling damage occurred while the box was traveling to her or if the pieces of cardboard were rolled/wrinkled on the return trip to me.
Kirk
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