Collecting
How to Store Stamps Safely
Store stamps in a proper stockbook or album, kept somewhere cool, dry and out of direct light. Use acid-free, stamp-safe materials, and mounts or hinges rather than ordinary glue or tape. Keep the collection flat, handle every stamp with tongs, and avoid damp, heat and PVC plastics, all of which damage stamps over time. Good storage protects both the stamps and any value they hold.
At a glance
The three great enemies
Stamps are paper, and three things harm paper above all. Guard against these and you are most of the way there.
None of it requires special expense, only a little awareness of where a collection is kept and how it is handled.
- Damp. Moisture is the worst enemy. It causes "foxing", the brown spots seen on old stamps, sticks stamps together, and disturbs gum. Keep stamps dry, and never store them in a damp loft, garage or cellar.
- Light. Strong light, especially sunlight, fades the colours that give a stamp its appeal. Store and display stamps away from direct light.
- Heat. Heat and temperature swings dry stamps out, curl them and harm gum. A steady, moderate temperature is best.
Cool, dry, acid-free
Good storage protects value
A stockbook or acid-free album, kept somewhere cool and dry and away from light, will hold a collection in fine order for a lifetime. The same careful principles we apply to every order, set out on our packaging page, apply to storing stamps at home.
What to store them in
- A stockbook holds stamps in clear strips without fixing them, ideal for sorting and for used stamps.
- An album with acid-free pages displays a collection and, with mounts, protects each stamp.
- Mounts and hinges fix stamps in an album. Mounts protect mint and valuable stamps without touching the gum, while hinges suit used stamps. Our guide to hinges versus mounts explains the choice.
- Acid-free, stamp-safe materials matter throughout. Avoid ordinary plastic wallets and PVC, which can react with stamps over time. Look for materials sold as acid-free or archival.
What never to use
Keep these away from stamps
Some everyday materials do real harm and should never come near a stamp. Never use ordinary glue, sticky tape or self-adhesive photo corners, which stain and tear. Never press stamps under heavy weight for long periods, or store them loose where they can rub. And never attempt to clean a stamp to "freshen" it; cleaning damages stamps and removes value, as our guide to what affects a stamp's value explains.
Handling and good habits
How you handle stamps matters as much as where you keep them. Always use stamp tongs, never fingers, since skin carries moisture and oils that mark stamps over time. Keep the collection flat and supported, return stamps to their album or stockbook rather than leaving them loose, and check now and then for any sign of damp. These simple habits keep a collection in fine order for a lifetime. They are the same principles of careful handling we apply to every order, as our packaging page describes.
Frequently asked questions
In a stockbook or album with acid-free materials, kept cool, dry and out of direct light. Use mounts or hinges rather than glue or tape, handle stamps with tongs, and keep the collection flat.
Damp above all, which causes foxing and sticking, then strong light, which fades colour, and heat, which curls stamps and harms gum. Ordinary glue, tape and PVC plastics also do harm.
No. Lofts, garages and cellars are usually damp and suffer temperature swings, the worst conditions for stamps. Keep them in a cool, dry, steady indoor space.
Because acids in ordinary paper and plastics react with stamps over time, discolouring and weakening them. Acid-free, archival materials keep stamps safe for the long term.
Cool, dry, and handled with care
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Founder and stamp dealerLast updated June 2026