An important collection of unused postage stamps (mid 19th century to the present) is about to move to new storage facilities. As the stamps are unused and mostly gummed (more recently also self adhesive) the question of the relative humidity range seems crucial. The collection is not used for display nor handled actively (mechanical stress). Are there any resources exploring this specific question of storage environment for stamps more in detail? Ist there any knowledge about deteriorating gumming and paper used for stamps over the decades and its influence on choosing an adequate environment? Several (rather general) resources found state a range of relative humidity between 35% and 55% rh. I personally tend to a range rather below 50% rh and as low as 35% rh (collection not actively handled).
Sincerely Joachim Huber Joachim Huber Museum consultant Prevart GmbH – Museumsplaner – Konzepte für die Kulturgütererhaltung CH - 8405 Winterthur [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> www.prevart.ch <http://www.prevart.ch/> ConsDistList address to Joachim Huber = [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> ****** Unsubscribe by sending a message to [email protected] Archives through August 2016 at http://cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/ Archives from September 2016 onward at https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
