How Do I Store My Stamp,
Coin or Medal Collections?

The reason philatelists need an effective storage method for stamps is because you’re working with thin paper and foil. The designs and watermarks on them can easily deteriorate without proper handling and storage. For example, light and humidity are powerful enemies and of course you need to keep away critters like rodents. Here’s all you need to know.

Equipment You Need to Store Your Stamps

The good news is the equipment you need to set up an effective stamp storage system are easy to come by. Here’s a checklist relevant to both novice and seasoned collectors:

• Paper: Any paper you use must be acid free. You can make your own binder or invest in a stockbook with quality paper.
• Tongs and tweezers: Avoid using your hands so you don’t transfer moisture or skin oils. An effective tweezer will have a thin tip that easily slides underneath a stamp.
• Containers: Containers can range from envelopes to storage boxes. Make it easy to organise your stamps by using tabbed storage boxes or bins with tabbed dividers.

6 Important Things to Know About Storing Your Stamp Collection

Not sure where to start with pursuing this hobby effectively? Here’s the most important topics to consider:

Temperature

You can’t risk extreme temperatures or fluctuations, so don’t leave your collection in an attic or basement. Even a garage is prone to sudden shifts in heat levels, so rather obtain a space elsewhere. This is where Spacer comes in handy with the wide array of storage options. In many cases a first-floor closet in someone’s home will suffice.

How to Measure Temperature

With stamps you need to aim for temperatures between 18 - 22 degrees celsius. Make sure you have an efficient thermometer in place so you can easily check whenever you’re busy with your collection.

Humidity

In humid conditions you risk your collection collecting mildew or mold. It can even warp. To prevent this, the storage option you pick is your first line of defense but you can also use additional strategies like:

• Placing silica gel near your collection
• Installing a dehumidifier for environmental control
• Adding a fan, vent or indoor house plant

How to Measure Humidity

The goal is to keep humidity levels lower than 55% and higher than 25%. On the modern market you’ll find compact humidity loggers that are affordable too.

Light

Light is dangerous because it can cause colours to fade or even a stamp to crack. This is why it’s best to place it inside an album and inside a cupboard.

Height

Storing your stamp collection up high has multiple benefits, such as less risk of pests like rodents gaining access to the stamps and leaving their droppings or gnawing through them. Also, accidental flooding won’t put your asset at risk.

Storage Material

Think twice before purchasing just any storage item. A cardboard box could attract and give access to pests.

Attachment Options

When organising your stamps, research methods thoroughly. Not all techniques you’ve heard about are practical or beneficial to protect a stamp’s value. You can attach a stamp to an album using one of the following:

• Directly: Fix—stick—the stamps directly onto the pages of an album. This isn’t appropriate for valuable stamps, since they will lose some of their value. But it’s handy if you’re simply collecting for your own enjoyment.
• Mounting: This is a more expensive option, but it preserves stamps and don’t damage them in any way. These strips are gummed on one side to keep the stamps secure.
• Hinging: With transparent tape you can also secure stamps onto a page. It prevents damage to watermarks but can still leave a residue, lowering the value of the item.

You may be interested in alternative stamps such as wooden and rubber stamps. For rubber stamp storage you need to prevent the following damage:

• Becoming brittle from sunlight
• Stamp being twisted or bent when in storage
• The stamp outline getting damaged if something presses into it continuously, like a ridge on the surface of a shelf

This shows the value of plastic storage boxes in which you can place stamps on smooth surfaces, one beside the other.

Also, to easily find the stamp you want, clear plastic through which you can view the images on the stamps, are most practical for wooden stamp storage.

When investing in your storage equipment, there’s no perfect way. It has to work for your specific purpose while protecting the stamps. For example, stockbooks and albums work for many collectors and the market’s wide range of options caters for all budgets. However, know that not all these albums will have the same quality of materials and papers inside. A cheaper album may lead to unnecessary deterioration.

Also consider the outcome before you buy. Will the stamps look better on black or a lighter shade of paper? This is purely up to personal preference. Try each option in store before you buy.

Albums are handy but using them carries the risk of putting stress on pages and the stamps. To limit this stress and distribute weight evenly, don’t put too many stamps in each stock book and store these books upright rather than lying flat.

With a 19th century coin like the Proof Half Sovereign being valued at $1.5 million, it’s easy to see why correct coin collection storage is important and why it’s a popular hobby. If you want to get in on this, whether as an investment or because you’re fascinated by history, these coin storage facts will help you get started.

Equipment You Need to Store Your Coins

Overall, managing a coin collection isn’t too difficult or complex, with much of the equipment being easily obtainable:

• Gloves: These should be cotton or nitrile gloves
• Work area cover: Always cover your work area with a pad or a towel
• Holder: You can decide what will be the most practical holder for your collection:
• • Envelopes
  • Flips
  • Folders
  • Albums
  • Coin boxes

Important Things to Know About Storing Your Coin Collection

While stamps and coins carry general value, medals have personal value for an individual or for your family. All the more reason to protect them, so both you and future generations can remember a certain achievement.

Equipment You Need to Store Your Medals

You may showcase your medals for all to see, but remember they can just as easily damage as other metal objects like coins. You can have them mounted by a professional, or simply keep them safe for others to look at by investing in:

• Acid free paper: Wrap medals in tissue paper. Newspaper won’t suffice because its acid will tarnish metals like silver.
• Gloves: Cut down on skin oils damaging medals by rather handling them with gloves.
• Storage containers: Protect medals from pests by using appropriate boxes. Use metal rather than wood or cardboard.

Note: even substances like rubber, which contains sulfur, can damage a metal silver object, so consider every item you place with or near medals when in storage.

Important Things to Know About Storing Your Medal Collection

Similar to storing coins, with medal collection storage you need to manage temperature and humidity. Therefore, it’s smarter to rent appropriate storage space for this asset, rather than placing it in your attic or garage.