90. Mounts - Hints

A Few Hints and Tips for Purchasing and Using Mounts.

When purchasing mounts remember that the measurement is WIDTH i.e. along the bottom followed by HEIGHT i.e. along the side.

There are generally two types of mount:

1. "open at the top" (Standard)
2. "sealed top and bottom and open in the middle (GARD)".

The choice is yours - it is a personal preference and depends on how they will be used - if you are unsure which type to purchase, ask me.
The latter is particularly useful for the recently introduced self-adhesive stamps if you want to retain the backing paper.

1. From a display perspective, choose one colour of the mount and stick to it - i.e. don't switch from black to clear (at least within albums).
2. Avoid something known as "crystal mounts" they have destroyed more stamps than the post office.
3. Whatever you do - don't use too much glue - you can always re-stick the mount.
   You will never remove it from the stamp it has become attached to without damaging it.
4. It is probably more cost-efficient if you buy certain accessories from the country you live in;
   as postage charges to send them outside the country of origin are increasingly prohibitive.
5. GARD tend to be slightly more expensive than STANDARD and CLEAR is more expensive than BLACK (go figure!!).

Some example size mounts to purchase for UK stamps:

• 21x24mm - Low-value definitives and regional stamps;
• 24x21mm - Postage Dues (excluding 1994 series);
• 24x41mm - Vertical Commemoratives to 1970;
• 41x24mm - Horizontal Commemoratives to 1970;
• 30x35mm - Machin high values up to 1999;
• 30x41mm - Vertical Commemorative stamps post-1970;
• 41x30mm - Horizontal Commemorative stamps post-1970;
• 36x36mm - Square Commemorative stamps post-1970;
• 44x27mm - Castles, High Values 1955-1963;
• 78x98mm - Blocks, Imperfs, Cylinder Blocks, some Miniature Sheets;
• 123x90mm - Blocks, some larger Mini Sheets.