Post by Andy Pastuszak on Jul 27, 2013 3:02:30 GMT
I have always found the Ostropa Souvenir sheet interesting.
To quote the article:
I find it interesting that they chose to use sulfuric acid in stamp gum.
To quote the article:
The Third Reich issued the OSTROPA Souvenir Sheet, shown above, on June 23, 1935, the first day of the philatelic exhibition. The souvenir sheets were provided, with the purchase of an admission ticket to the exhibition, which was 1.70 Reichmarks.
The souvenir sheet is watermarked "OSTROPA / 1935" at the top and bottom. The four perforated stamps in the middle of the sheet are perforated 14, and each one is watermarked with a "cross". This is the only time, during the Third Reich, that swastika watermarked paper was not used for a postage stamp issue. The souvenir sheet is also known, with the stamps being imperforate, but it is very, very rare.
IMPORTANT NOTE. The gum used for the OSTROPA souvenir sheet contained sulfuric acid. Over time, this will cause the paper to stain a dark brown and eventually disintegrate. If the sheets are left, with original gum, it will destroy them. Collectors MUST remove the gum, in order to preserve them, and a collector should NEVER BUY ONE OF THESE WITH ORIGINAL GUM, if any of them still exist INTACT, after 75 years.
The Michel Catalog has a special note on this in their catalog. They indicate that the MINT price for the souvenir sheet is for one that is "toned a light brown color" and that is "WITHOUT GUM". The Scott Catalog has a similar notation, as well.
The souvenir sheet is watermarked "OSTROPA / 1935" at the top and bottom. The four perforated stamps in the middle of the sheet are perforated 14, and each one is watermarked with a "cross". This is the only time, during the Third Reich, that swastika watermarked paper was not used for a postage stamp issue. The souvenir sheet is also known, with the stamps being imperforate, but it is very, very rare.
IMPORTANT NOTE. The gum used for the OSTROPA souvenir sheet contained sulfuric acid. Over time, this will cause the paper to stain a dark brown and eventually disintegrate. If the sheets are left, with original gum, it will destroy them. Collectors MUST remove the gum, in order to preserve them, and a collector should NEVER BUY ONE OF THESE WITH ORIGINAL GUM, if any of them still exist INTACT, after 75 years.
The Michel Catalog has a special note on this in their catalog. They indicate that the MINT price for the souvenir sheet is for one that is "toned a light brown color" and that is "WITHOUT GUM". The Scott Catalog has a similar notation, as well.
I find it interesting that they chose to use sulfuric acid in stamp gum.
