When I began collecting stamps in the 1950's, stamps were primarily collected by mounting them in albums with stamp hinges. Crystal mounts were available for special stamps, but their cost prohibited using them extensively; besides, stamps could slide out of mounts and mounts made album pages less flexible. I decided to use hinges for my collection.

In the 1970's investors got into stamp investing. They demanded pristine stamps with no hinge marks. The price of unhinged stamps went up. The art of regumming stamps was revived. Showguard and other clear mounts thrived. I questioned whether I was willing to lower the value of my stamps by hinging them. I preferred buying hinged stamps so I would not be the first to mar their gum. I used mounts for some of my mint stamps but I preferred hinges for most of my collection.

In the 1980's the “no hinge” craze drove most hinge makers out of business. It became difficult to find hinges that did not stick either too well or not well enough (i.e. stick firmly but were easily peeled off). I used stock books for some stamps but bought good hinges when I could find them.

By the 1990's the price of stamp albums had gone up significantly. The demand for hinges brought out new sources. Good quality hinges are available again. The album prices led me to look for used albums. Albums that have held hinged stamps are reusable after the stamps are removed. Albums that have had stamp mounts, I find, are more difficult to reuse. The mounts are not as removable as hinges. Removing them frequently damages pages. Black mounts obscure the stamp picture or descriptiion underneath. I have decided that the mounts’ damage to the expensive album offsets the value decrease to the stamps by hinging.

My final decision is to hinge my general collection. I do use mounts for blocks of stamps, some souvenir sheets, and covers. But I am not willing to pay more for unhinged stamps–I’ll wait for a lower price on hinged stamps.

What about other Club members? A show of hands at the next meeting could give everyone a better idea of what is the most common way of collecting. Probably most collectors use both mounts and hinges so I would suggest not to ask if one hinges or not, but to simply ask Club members if they are willing to pay more for unhinged “mint” stamps.