tobben63
Member 
Stamp eat sleep repeat
Posts: 1,866 
What I collect: I collect to much, world wide!
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Post by tobben63 on Jun 24, 2022 7:57:19 GMT
I hate those 'Donkey ears' ( do they have a name?) So I remove them on nearly all the stamps that I lay my hands on. Before After |
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Post by paul1 on Jun 24, 2022 8:23:42 GMT
Hello tobben63 - IMHO the answer is a resounding NO - do not remove. Objections are ............. potential damage to existing perfs. - creates irregular perfs. - destroys originality - quirky is good. Only joking of course - but I guess there is always the possibility of ending up with short perfs. (or worse) once you start picking at it.:-) I don't think 'Donkey ears' quite cuts it - how about surplus gutter, extra wing - unwanted selvedge etc.
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cjoprey
Member
Scanning stamps for my website...
Posts: 1,443
What I collect: Belgium (predominantly), British Commonwealth (older ones), WW (whatever comes my way...)
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Post by cjoprey on Jun 24, 2022 8:38:26 GMT
As with all things in stamp collecting, I believe this is one of those "collect in your own way" moments. Like Torbjorn tobben63, I tend to - very carefully - remove these as I find it makes the collection look nicer on the page. |
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,331
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Jun 24, 2022 9:51:02 GMT
Yes.
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hdm1950
Member
Posts: 1,595
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 Jun 24, 2022 10:32:10 GMT
I tend to remove them but as others have mentioned there is a risk factor. If it was on a high value stamp I suppose I would leave it out of fear of damage.
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JeffS
Member
Posts: 2,598
What I collect: Oranges Philately, US Slogan Cancels, Cape of Good Hope Triangulars, and Texas poster stamps and cinderellas
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Post by JeffS on Jun 24, 2022 10:53:19 GMT
Do I remove? Of course. If removal seems problematical, I use an art knife (X-acto) and from the back gently make thin cuts across the perfs without cutting all the way through to make removal easier.
also, sometimes simply folding forward and back a few times weakens the paper fibers to permit tearing off.
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docphgeek
Member
Posts: 51
What I collect: PNCs, US-Definitives, Machins, BOB, Israel, Engraved
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Post by docphgeek on Jun 24, 2022 11:19:41 GMT
peronally, i remove them but I can see the argument for not doing it. To me it just looks sloppy.
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,403
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Jun 24, 2022 11:31:32 GMT
Depends on the stamp - modern material, heck yeah! A classic? Ummmm probably not going to risk it.
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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 Jun 24, 2022 12:06:48 GMT
For the most part, I do the back & forth and tear thing if it is substantial. Otherwise I pull out my Fiskars guillotine cutter and cut it off. It looks better if it can be easily torn off though. Fortunately, I don't come across too many poorly torn stamps.
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docphgeek
Member
Posts: 51
What I collect: PNCs, US-Definitives, Machins, BOB, Israel, Engraved
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Post by docphgeek on Jun 24, 2022 12:26:59 GMT
For the most part, I do the back & forth and tear thing if it is substantial. Otherwise I pull out my Fiskars guillotine cutter and cut it off. It looks better if it can be easily torn off though. Fortunately, I don't come across too many poorly torn stamps. If you want that torn perf look and not the sharp edge cut look I have had success with using a moist q-tip rubbed along the uncut perf and then pulling it away. Kind of like licking a paper crease before you tear it. |
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Mr. H
Member
Member - APS #129381
Posts: 935
What I collect: US, Netherlands, Whatever suits my fancy.
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Post by Mr. H on Jun 24, 2022 13:59:47 GMT
I prefer the clean look for my collection and remove them. If they are just going into the stock book I leave them alone.
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Beryllium Guy
Moderator 
Posts: 5,653
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
Member is Online
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Jun 24, 2022 15:43:42 GMT
It's an interesting thread, tobben63, thanks for starting it. There have been many good comments so far. Personally, I remove something like this, because it is not actually "unwanted selvedge" or "surplus gutter" (sorry to have to disagree, paul1). It is a fragment of an adjacent, damaged stamp, and to my thinking, it adds nothing in terms of interest or value to keep it there, so I wouldn't. That said, I do agree that one needs to be careful in removing these fragments, as you could end up damaging the stamp in the process. The advice from JeffS and brightonpete seems pretty good to me. But as cjoprey states, it is really a matter of personal preference in the end, and there is really no right or wrong answer. |
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loupy
Member
Back and active, thank you!
Posts: 70
What I collect: US to 2000 with a focus on 720 & 721, WW 1840 - 1930, DDR 5 year workers, Machins, Canada Centennials, Brazil Allegories, Mexico Archiecture & Archaeology 1950 -75, used stamps preffered when possible.
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Post by loupy on Jun 24, 2022 20:16:33 GMT
It depends on the stamp, but usually these extra bits get removed before mounting in place.
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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 Jun 24, 2022 20:47:23 GMT
Hmmm, I've never licked a paper crease before tearing it!
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Cephus
Member
Posts: 161
What I collect: U.S. 1847-1993, Australia, China, New Zealand
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Post by Cephus on Jun 24, 2022 21:13:06 GMT
I do, although if it's an expensive stamp, I'd probably leave it alone, especially if it had a cert. I think it makes them look bad and since I'm the one looking at them, I get to choose.
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jdtrue66
Member
Posts: 287
What I collect: US&US FDC, Keys & Locks, NUDES, Rubber Ducks, USS NJ covers
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Post by jdtrue66 on Jun 25, 2022 14:21:52 GMT
All I know is from now on I will call them "Donkey ears" its a great term lol
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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 Jun 25, 2022 19:13:35 GMT
Never do today what you can do tomorrow
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damo
**Member** 
Posts: 47
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Post by damo on Jul 1, 2022 9:18:28 GMT
Yip I have to get rid of them
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