Watermarks and how best to view them

If the watermark is difficult to see with the unaided eye, use a small black plastic tray with clean lighter fluid (I use Ronsonol).  That will reveal most watermarks except some of those light yellow or orange-yellow stamps with a dark cancel "in the wrong place". Someone mentioned that the bottled Ronsonol in the past couple of years is not as "clean" as in the past, so they "filter" the Ronsonol before using. I'm still using bottles from years past, so I can't confirm there is a problem with "oily" residue or "stuff" in the recent Ronsonol.  I've never encountered it.  Maybe just a bad batch.  If really concerned, just make sure you buy filtered lighter fluid (it's more expensive).

In my experience, I've only had to use Ronsonol on less than 10% of watermarked stamps.

Half my watermarks I can ID quickly wearing dark blue jeans and laying the stamp down on my lap (don't use bright lighting, just nominal lighting).

Those I can't see, I hold up one by one several inches in front of a light source and look through the back of the stamp.

The remaining <10% end up having to use Ronsonol. Most of those because cancellations interfere with the quick methods, although some of those post-1950s British Commonwealth watermarks can be really faint as well.

Ronsonol will be safe on almost all stamps you encounter. There are a very small number of stamps that do not mix well with lighter fluid nor water because of the ink used in printing. In the Scott catalog, some (not all) will be footnoted with "aniline ink" for those that should not be soaked in water. I've never seen a footnote on stamps that cannot be soaked in lighter fluid, but from what I understand, it only occurred on an ink used on a few engraved stamps. I have also read reports that lighter fluid will cause some cancel inks to "run". I don't know if it is by chance or what, but I've never run into this problem on used stamps.


The Morely-Bright replacement sachets are really really difficult to find. So take care of the one you have.

I don't see the listing. Usually, even if I see a listing from a dealer, it is sold out despite the price listing.

Thanks for the info, Philatarium !

I think the info I had previously read, was cancel ink running on Machins when dipped in lighter fluid;  don't know which ones and if the cancel was in color.

I've never had to dip Machins or Japanese stamps in lighter fluid before.  I guess I probably wouldn't have noticed, either, since I have the stamp face down and also let the stamp dry out face down!

Hi

I don't recommend Morley Bright.  I have seen ruined stamps from the sachet leaking or broke.  Lighter fluid has been used for generations with no effects to the user, or the stamp.  However one does need caution as some stamps may be affected.

Ronsonol used to be the fluid of choice as it wasn't "greasy" feeling.  However, I have been told that another company bought Ronsonol and now the fluid  has a slight greasy feeling to it.

Jerry B
 

I just use a black tray and Clarify watermark fluid. Safety over cost for me. Stamps with strong cancellations or on colored pager can be a challenge plus experience helps. I would like to try the Signoscope.

I will add that if I need extended time to view a watermark, I have put the stamp in an approval card (plastic back and clear front) then applied watermark fluid and let the clear front close over it. This will reduce the evaporation rate significantly and also allows you to scan it.

Rex, it will take me a little time to get materials together and experiment to determin the level of compression required to produce an acceptable outline of a watermark. The Morely Bright relies on a small roller, the more recent devices incorporate a screw and light source. Over the next month or so I'll see what I can achieve. I do have lighter fuel but am very conscious of the safety factor in openly using it

I had been search on ebay but have not seen any real deals yet Most sellers are in the UK.

I use the SG Detectamark Spectrum and find it is able to ID about 95% of watermarks. I have never been comfortable with the idea of using lighter fuel in a confined space, especially with my computer on the desk!

I'm not a chemist, but i have no problem using the two/three product needed to treat paper... The lighter fuel is just hexane. You can find it as hexane, as lighter fuel, in many other shapes (i've bought the last small bottle in a farmacy as patches removal liquid!?)... But for the watermark detection in great... i've never had problem with my stamps, maybe on new stamps the teeth tend to become a little bit harder to the touch and the stamp seems to be regummed... But hexane is also good against "rust" (how do you call the brown-orange spots that you can sometime find on stamps and letters?)... It doesn't remove rust but it kill the responsibles and stop the growing...
Oxigenated water 40 volumes is good as light whitener, much better than hypochlorite and much less dangerous (it doesn't leave acid residues)
The Signoscopes seem to me just a light source behind the stamp, you can use the flash of your mobile to get the same effect
I'm curious about the Morley bright detector, just i'm wondering why it has been kept out of production...
But i will be happy to see a DIY detector...
For stamps on letter or much worst on carton lables like the packages labels do you have any hint?

Hi ameis33,
Ummm... not to be contentious here, but the Signoscope (T1, anyhow) compresses the stamp against the base of a prism and the light is applied obliquely (reflected, not pass-through).  I only bothered trying one because I ran across a cheap used one on ebay, and I will never go back. There's a little bit of learning curve and finesse required, but it's been extremely rare that I've been unable to detect a watermark using it that later showed up with fluid detecting, and many times (heavy cancels, certain stamp colors, etc.) where the Signoscope showed a watermark that I couldn't detect with fluids.

Negatives: can have trouble with embossed stamps, heavy hinges, severe thins, etc.

Positives: 100% non-damaging (except possibly embossments, but this has yet to happen to me). It's faster than fluids (no drying time). And (for me) the big difference... I can easily take pictures and directly compare several watermarks whenever I want.

So, you know... if you find one cheap, it might be worth thinking about.
Andy

I would be curious to know what's inside these liquids... There is something written on the bottle? Do they have any smell?

I dont think they small much, but my wife think so! But then again she dont think nail polish remover smell, I do!

Here is what's written of the back of the Super Safe watermark fluid can. 



As you can se, perfectly safe, no danger!!!!!!!!!!!