Andy Pastuszak
Member 
Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
Posts: 1,591 
What I collect: United States, Ukraine, Ireland
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on May 4, 2023 22:31:55 GMT
Curious.
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banknoteguy
Member
Posts: 324
What I collect: 19th Century US, High denomination US (> $1), 19th century covers US, Indian Feudatory States and most recently I acquired a BigBlue [with about 5,000 stamps] and pristine pages.
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Post by banknoteguy on May 4, 2023 23:57:11 GMT
Lighthouse clear top loading and equivalently Uni-Safe (Unitrade - Canada via Arpin Philately) clear top loading.
I find black mounts hard to work with. They can look nice if done right but it is easy to make them look bad.
I do not like split back at all.
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Post by PostmasterGS on May 5, 2023 0:19:34 GMT
Scott/Prinz Split Back in Black
Black because they look best.
Split back because I'm OCD about centering within the mount, and top loading mounts allow the stamps to move within the mount too much.
Scott/Prinz because Showgard are thinner and not as black.
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Andy Pastuszak
Member
Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
Posts: 1,591
What I collect: United States, Ukraine, Ireland
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on May 5, 2023 1:14:47 GMT
Scott/Prinz Split Back in Black Black because they look best. Split back because I'm OCD about centering within the mount, and top loading mounts allow the stamps to move within the mount too much. Scott/Prinz because Showgard are thinner and not as black. I like Scott/Prinz because there are way more sizes available, especially from Global Stamps.
I put my collection away in 2001 when my son was born. I picked it back up in 2009. A lot of my Showgard mounts went "wavy." The Scott mounts stayed flat.
I went with black mounts because, when I was 18, that's the only color mounts my local stamp store had. When I discovered clear mounts back in 2009-2010, I was about to spend all that money to remount everything.
I had a bunch of stamps in Crystal Mounts. I found out about the evil of those things back in 2010. Luckily none of my mounts had shrunk to the point where the stamps got damaged. I was able to save all the stamps with an X-Acto knife and some patience.
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Andy Pastuszak
Member
Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
Posts: 1,591
What I collect: United States, Ukraine, Ireland
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on May 5, 2023 1:17:09 GMT
Lighthouse clear top loading and equivalently Uni-Safe (Unitrade - Canada via Arpin Philately) clear top loading. I find black mounts hard to work with. They can look nice if done right but it is easy to make them look bad. I do not like split back at all. The Australian stamp dealer than runs stampboards.com claims split back mounts damage stamps. I can see why people don't like split-back mounts. But I have never seen one damage a stamp. |
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on May 5, 2023 6:15:04 GMT
Hi Andy
I have been using Showgard since their introductiuon in the U.S.. I never had one damage a stamp in all these years. My opinion is that if they did, something, or someone, would have been commenting about it by now.
Jerry B
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,655
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on May 5, 2023 14:34:44 GMT
I don’t use mounts or hinges as my entire collection is on Vario/Hagnar sheets, BUT from my experiences buying collections, if I were to use mounts, I would use top loading clear mounts. It is so easy to remove, add, or exchange a stamp with that type of mount. Collections with black mounts can look amateurish or messy if the mounts are crooked, but the clear mounts disguise those little errors. Plus with clear mounts you can still see the picture or description printed on the album page - I mean when there are varieties- perfs, watermark etc and in some albums, catalog numbers. That’s especially important for classic era collections. Black mounts obliterate the info.
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,700
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on May 5, 2023 20:13:32 GMT
My preference is clear. I use HAWID in sizes up to 33mm then Scott/Prinz split backs since cheaper than Showgard.
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renden
Member
Posts: 9,162
What I collect: Canada-USA-France-Lithuania-Austria--Germany-Mauritius-French Colonies in Africa
Member is Online
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Post by renden on May 5, 2023 20:36:52 GMT
I don’t use mounts or hinges as my entire collection is on Vario/Hagnar sheets, BUT from my experiences buying collections, if I were to use mounts, I would use top loading clear mounts. It is so easy to remove, add, or exchange a stamp with that type of mount. Collections with black mounts can look amateurish or messy if the mounts are crooked, but the clear mounts disguise those little errors. Plus with clear mounts you can still see the picture or description printed on the album page - I mean when there are varieties- perfs, watermark etc and in some albums, catalog numbers. That’s especially important for classic era collections. Black mounts obliterate the info. Terri - I hear you and thanks for sharing I use black clear and white clear mounts....all dending on the effect on a custom page I buy Canadian and use Uni-Safe on Top mounts from Montréal and I get a rebate each time and they have the sizes I need - Uni-Safe is a good quality product and US clients would get the product tax free and often shipping free Arpinphilately.com Enjoy - René |
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anglobob
Member
Posts: 2,602
What I collect: France and French Colonies,French cinderellas British Commonwealth QE2
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Post by anglobob on May 5, 2023 22:20:22 GMT
I mostly use top loading mounts.I started out using black mounts as I had a dealer friend in England who used to sell me discounted lots whenever I went back.However,I havent been back since 2019 and my supply is almost exhausted,so I have been buying in the US.One of my orders was messed up and I received a supply of clear mounts,so I am now using these. With my advancing age and deteriorating eyesight,I tend to like the black mounts more...I have less trouble figuring out which is the adhesive side....  |
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mberry
Member
Posts: 1,178
What I collect: USA, USA Revenues, Beer Related Stamps and Revenues, US State Revenues, Stamp Show Stamps
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Post by mberry on May 6, 2023 3:58:52 GMT
I had been using Crystal Mount mounts by H E Harris but must have found Perma Guard Stamp Mounts at some point because I have some of those as well. Guessing the Harris Crystal Mounts are no longer available and I see posts where they damaged stamps. I have not mounted any stamps in at least a decade, maybe 2, just put them in stock pages for now.
I will need to find new mounts for going forward, so will be watching this thread.
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tobben63
Member
Stamp eat sleep repeat
Posts: 1,874
What I collect: I collect to much, world wide!
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Post by tobben63 on May 6, 2023 4:26:10 GMT
I use Lighthouse clear top loading.
I don't like black mounts because you have to be so accurate when mounting them, and nobody is!
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djcmh
Member
Posts: 794
What I collect: Worldwide
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Post by djcmh on May 6, 2023 6:43:32 GMT
None of the above
in my early collecting years I used Scott/Prinz, but I sold that collection. When I restarted again in the early 2010s I decided to use Vario stock pages and save the cost of both album pages and mounts.
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on May 6, 2023 7:16:29 GMT
Hi
Since I use blank quadrille pages exclusively, I prefer black split-back Showgard mounts. If a mount is a little "crooked" it is alright. I worked part time for a stamp dealer friend in his store and got a discount on mount strips.
Jerry B
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,700
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on May 6, 2023 10:14:50 GMT
The history of Crystal Mounts has not been good.
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firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on May 6, 2023 12:12:51 GMT
much like Jerry the majority of my collection is on blank quadrille pages and my choice is black split backs not particular of brand so choice of sizes is great.If there is a downside it would be the risk of damaging a stamp trying to insert it in split back mount.I know have done it. Tore a F3 mint copy which went to Mitch for his worldwide display.
Not sure you all remember but my mounts are stored in accordion files.It is best thing I have ever done! Three of these holds all the sizes and is just so easy to find the size I need.
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Post by PostmasterGS on May 6, 2023 12:46:48 GMT
...you have to be so accurate when mounting them, and nobody is! I respectfully disagree.   |
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tobben63
Member
Stamp eat sleep repeat
Posts: 1,874
What I collect: I collect to much, world wide!
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Post by tobben63 on May 6, 2023 13:13:01 GMT
...you have to be so accurate when mounting them, and nobody is! I respectfully disagree. Respectfully, you are the exception that proves the rule. |
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hdm1950
Member
Posts: 1,889
What I collect: I collect world wide up to 1965 with several specialty albums added due to volume of material I have acquired. At this point I am focused on Canada and British America. I am always on the lookout for stamps and covers with postmarks from communities in Queens County, Nova Scotia. I do list various goods including stamps occasionally on eBay as hdm50
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Post by hdm1950 on May 6, 2023 14:06:49 GMT
I use several brands and stick to black because it is what I have. I have some split back but avoid using them. I posted several years ago that with one large auction lot I acquired a box full of old stock from a book store. They were a bonus and really cost me nothing. I will never need to buy mounts again. If there is any member in the greater Toronto area that needs or wants some message me and they can pick up some up, no charge.  |
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brookbam
Member
APS 236261
Posts: 235
What I collect: US...everything until I decide what I don't want to collect! And now thanks to a TSF give-away I'm adding Space topicals!
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Post by brookbam on May 6, 2023 17:15:57 GMT
The history of Crystal Mounts has not been good. I have a plate block collection here that I bought on SAN mounted in Crystal mounts. They were turning yellow and also starting to turn the edges of the plate blocks yellow.
Back in the 70s when I had my junior high collection, I had everything mounted in Crystal Mounts. One of the adults in the stamp collecting club I attended strongly suggested to replace them into Showgard mounts. Evidently they had a bad rep even then. Took me awhile but I got everything replaced.
I've lamented the fact that I wish I still had that collection... mike
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2023 20:43:03 GMT
I use Hagner stock sheets. I move my stamps around too much to be interested in mounts.
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mberry
Member
Posts: 1,178
What I collect: USA, USA Revenues, Beer Related Stamps and Revenues, US State Revenues, Stamp Show Stamps
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Post by mberry on May 6, 2023 21:57:06 GMT
The negative comments about the Crystal Mounts got me researching the history. I found quite a few horror stories online about yellowing, shrinking and people using tape to seal the stamps in later stained the stamps. That got me to worrying about the stamps in my albums, I only have 3 but used the Crystal Mounts exclusively in 2 of them so I checked them. I missed the bullet on this apparently, I do not see any damaged stamps or yellowing of the mounts, not did I see any brown stains on the album pages. I never used tape to seal the stamps in the hinges, I cut thin strips from the mounts to slip around the mount to keep the stamp inside.
So happy none of my stamps were damaged but I will be selected a new type of mount for when I decide to start mounting them again.
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,906
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on May 7, 2023 0:33:16 GMT
I respectfully disagree. Respectfully, you are the exception that proves the rule. i print my own pages and make the frame a bit thicker - larger than the OD of the mount and smaller tthan the ID. This provides a fudge factor and unless you examine closely in just the correct light... the mount is within th eboundaries of the box/frame! |
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Andy Pastuszak
Member
Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
Posts: 1,591
What I collect: United States, Ukraine, Ireland
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on May 7, 2023 4:19:43 GMT
The history of Crystal Mounts has not been good. At the time I was using Crystal Mounts, that's all there was at my local stamp store. They didn't carry any other brand.
When I found a new stamp store that had Showgard black mounts, I switched.
The one thing I regret was throwing away all my Dennison stamp hinges when I bought my first set of Showgard mounts, thinking I would never use them again.
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,700
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on May 7, 2023 10:40:46 GMT
When I restated collecting back in 1970 I had a HE Harris album and used Crystal Mounts all purchased from a local stamp dealer in Brooklyn, New York. I do not recall the dealer mentioning anything about Crystal Mounts. The restriction I saw was limited sizes. I eventually switched to a Scott National and started using Showgard mounts. Years later, when I started a worldwide collection, I was using mostly hinges for used but detested modern hinges. I did not like the album look with some hinged and some with black mounts so went to clear mounts so blended visually better and then decided to go all mounts since it was easier to upgrade stamps, etc. with no risk of damaging pages.
This could have been in the other mount thread but this had more activity,
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on May 8, 2023 8:05:47 GMT
Andy
Do you remember PM mounts? I used those for a while until I found Showgard.
Jerry B
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Andy Pastuszak
Member
Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
Posts: 1,591
What I collect: United States, Ukraine, Ireland
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on May 8, 2023 19:41:34 GMT
Andy Do you remember PM mounts? I used those for a while until I found Showgard. Jerry B I do not. What were PM mounts?
Didn't White Ace sell mounts for a while that were sealed on 3 sides and open at the top?
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TimG
Member
Posts: 230
What I collect: Worldwide
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Post by TimG on May 8, 2023 22:44:38 GMT
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Post by iswscwebmaster on May 8, 2023 22:58:49 GMT
I use Lighthouse and Protect when I get around to mounting my stamps.
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Post by TSF Admin on May 8, 2023 23:01:04 GMT
,,, but perhaps some of you "mounters" might be interested in making an offer whether cash or a trade of stamps. Considering the Forum rule on BST, any such transaction would need to occur after the 14 day/50 post requirement has been met. |
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