stevew
Member 
Posts: 226
What I collect: stamps, covers, postal cards from Canal Zone, early USA, Channel Islands
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Post by stevew on Oct 7, 2018 22:52:04 GMT
It seems CTOs are looked down upon by many. Because I'd like to begin trading stamps, I've started separating CTOs from used and mint stamps. I'm a bit unsure when it comes to Bulgaria. A Linns article says the east block countries began issuing CTOs around 1951. But when I sorted out cancelled Bulgaria stamps having gum, I have a number of them from the 1940's. Now I'm unsure...are they CTOs or not? Is gum + a corner cancel the only way to tell? How much gum can a postally used stamp retain after its been removed from paper?
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brightonpete
Departed
Rest in Peace
On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110 
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Post by brightonpete on Oct 8, 2018 1:41:54 GMT
On a properly used postage stamp, all the gum should be missing. When one soaks the stamp off an envelope, there shouldn't' be any gum left. It is like the Albanian stamps I bought. The "used: are all CTO , with full gum & hinged. When I get a stamp drying book, I'll soak off all the hinges & the gum will disappear. So they will then look more postally used than not.
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