elderstamps
**Member** 
Stamp and Postal History Collector
Posts: 31 
What I collect: Venezuela and Aeronautic
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Post by elderstamps on Jan 23, 2021 23:13:46 GMT
Recently bought a small postcards lot and one have a stain for water damage (don't worry seller posted pictures and everybody see the stain). To try remove the stain, I test submerging the postcard in water and result is better but still is note (see attach picture).
Is anybody here with restoration experience or recommendation for remove that kind of stain?
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stainlessb
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qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,642
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 Jan 23, 2021 23:16:27 GMT
You might try some hydrogen peroxide, but it's always with some risk
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elderstamps
**Member**
Stamp and Postal History Collector
Posts: 31
What I collect: Venezuela and Aeronautic
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Post by elderstamps on Jan 23, 2021 23:19:56 GMT
You might try some hydrogen peroxide, but it's always with some risk I did already  |
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rex
Member
Posts: 1,150
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Post by rex on Jan 24, 2021 15:23:37 GMT
You can try a swab of water and a few drops of bleach. However, the operation is not without risk. . or leave it as it is ..?!
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brightonpete
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On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on Jan 24, 2021 15:35:53 GMT
I think I agree with rex in leaving it as is. It is what it is. Do you want to end up destroying it?
It does mar the card, but that is part of its history now, at least in my mind.
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elderstamps
**Member**
Stamp and Postal History Collector
Posts: 31
What I collect: Venezuela and Aeronautic
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Post by elderstamps on Jan 24, 2021 16:58:34 GMT
I will follow your recommendations, leave it as is now. The original stain was yellowish and more remarked. In the picture is like looks now after water and hydrogen peroxide baths.  |
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ameis33
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What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet
Posts: 505
What I collect: Poland and Italy Republic
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Post by ameis33 on Jan 24, 2021 20:15:59 GMT
The result is not so bad, Which concentration of H2O2 did you use? How long?
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elderstamps
**Member**
Stamp and Postal History Collector
Posts: 31
What I collect: Venezuela and Aeronautic
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Post by elderstamps on Jan 24, 2021 21:42:37 GMT
The result is not so bad, Which concentration of H2O2 did you use? How long? Fist bath in warm water with little of dishwasher soap for around 1omin, second bath with cold water, other one with 100% peroxide and last one again with cold water and put to dry unde heavy books |
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ameis33
Member
What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet
Posts: 505
What I collect: Poland and Italy Republic
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Post by ameis33 on Jan 24, 2021 22:01:37 GMT
I mean, concentrated H2O2 (at least in Italy) is 130 volumes. This correspond to a concentration around 35% and should be the maximum concentration that you can easily find (easily? not so easy). Normally to clean stamps i use 40-60 volumes, so i put two parts of clean water and one part of H2O2. I add a drop of ammonia to activate the solution. If the peroxide is good (not exaust) you should see boubles apparing on the solution and hear something like "fry". I will not go over 40-60 volumes, but it depends by the inks used, the paper should not be damaged. I will try another cleaning, but that's not really needed. The result is pretty good in my opinion.
Let us know if you do other tests...
I've heard also (weird) things like to use salt? or other light chemicals (bicarbonate?). I will not try bleach because you should neutralize the chlore at the end, and also consider what you can purchase in shops as bleach is in reality a mixture and could contain also whiteners... You letter could became "fluorescent"...
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,642
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 Jan 24, 2021 22:12:15 GMT
In the US, Hydrogen peroxide purchased at the drug store or supermarket is typically 3% by volume. Higher strength peroxide can be purchased at beauty supply stores (used to bleach hair). This is strong enough that it may cause some skin irritation/burn. Do not get it in your eyes!!!!! Best to use glass or plastic dishes. I would recommend experimenbting with items you are not tyoo concerned with. I have literally H2O2 treated a stamp so all that remained was the postmark on a white perforated square!  |
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ameis33
Member
What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet
Posts: 505
What I collect: Poland and Italy Republic
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Post by ameis33 on Jan 24, 2021 22:29:14 GMT
In Italy we call H2O2 as "oxigenated water". The first time i used it, a friend of mine who use it for his work gave me a litre to test. I took glasses and all is needed, but after using it (and i use at home for several things, to clean walls, to treat wood and in the end to clean stamps) it is not much dangerous than other chemicals that you use at home... Nitrile gloves, that's needed... But they are not so difficult to find and so expenseve...
BTW! peroxide to be used for hair, that should be 20-40 volumes... You should find it also in farmacy...
Are you sure the inks of your stamp was not water soluble? Some stamps (like some first issue of the russian empire) should even not be soaked just for this reason...
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,642
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 Jan 24, 2021 23:07:43 GMT
It was a Belgie stamp ( and of a type I have soaked before)and I "forgot" it was soaking... so it soaked for over a week!
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elderstamps
**Member**
Stamp and Postal History Collector
Posts: 31
What I collect: Venezuela and Aeronautic
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Post by elderstamps on Jan 24, 2021 23:53:57 GMT
In the US, Hydrogen peroxide purchased at the drug store or supermarket is typically 3% by volume. Higher strength peroxide can be purchased at beauty supply stores (used to bleach hair). This is strong enough that it may cause some skin irritation/burn. Do not get it in your eyes!!!!! Best to use glass or plastic dishes. I would recommend experimenbting with items you are not tyoo concerned with. I have literally H2O2 treated a stamp so all that remained was the postmark on a white perforated square! Same here, 3% is the only I can find at drug store or supermarket. |
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