Guest Author - Lin

Many people consider themselves stamp collectors and are always wondering if their collection is of any value. Unfortunately, the answer is often no--primarily because said collector hasn't learned the basics of protecting and displaying their stamps. What a collector may have spent years and money putting together has become merely an accumulation--lovely to look at, but not very easy to sell.

One of the tools no stamp collector should lack are stamp tongs. Not tweezers, which tongs resemble. Tweezers usually have pointed tips that can puncture a stamp and cause damage.

Why are tongs needed? Why shouldn't you handle stamps with your bare fingers?
Grease, oil and dirt on your fingers can stain the printed design of a stamp or interact with the ink on the stamp’s surface. If you are working with mint stamps, secretions from your fingers can also stain the gum. It may seem obvious, but you should never work with a stamp collection with wet or moist hands and fingers since that moistness will damage the stamp's gum. Additionally, you can cause inadvertent creases or tears by handling stamps with bare hands excessively, especially with one's fingernails.

Stamp tongs are generally made of stainless steel, and sometimes in plastic. Tongs have two narrow, flat “legs” joined together at one end in such a manner that it allows the two free ends to pinch each other. Most stamp tongs range from 3 to 5 inches in length. General purpose stamp tongs are not expensive and may be obtained from hobby stores or from stamp dealers.

Stamp tongs come in different shapes and sizes, the tong shape that is most handy for the beginning stamp collector is the spade point. This tong has a squarish, shovel or spade-like shape at the points, which affords the maximum amount of support to the stamp. An intermediate kind is called the paddle-pointed. This variety has a small round paddle-shaped points, usually much thinner than the spade points and quite a bit smaller. Also on the market are tongs that end in points--these should never be purchased as they can damage your stamps.

Stamp tongs are not difficult to learn to use. The basic technique is to slide one tip underneath the stamp and then pinch the other tip onto the front surface of the stamp. Take care to ensure that the stamp is held securely between the two tips but don't apply too much pressure when pinching the tips together. If you have never used stamp tongs before it is advisable to practice using the tongs on cheap stamps or small pieces of paper until you are comfortable using the tongs. In no time at all you will find your stamp tongs the most essential of all tools.