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  • November 13, 2021 11:44
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November 13, 2021 11:44
Hello everyone, I have a question. In the catalog data of a stamp you can indicate different options for gum. Brownish, yellow gum, greenish gum or self-adhesive is clear to me. But gummed, smooth gum, synthetic, white gum and more a few other options are a mystery to me. Can someone explain this to me?. Kind regards, Frageria
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  • November 13, 2021 14:43
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November 13, 2021 14:43
Well, Charles, such matters are so specialized that I usually have to fit in there too. However , there are a number of things that I think are basic .

1. Stamps have been issued without gum. Previously, in tropical regions, gum was not really suitable for pre-applying to the reverse side. Later, a process was developed with gum that was more resistant to environmental conditions: Tropical matte gum. This species is difficult to detect, and sometimes appears rather ungummed.
The very early issues also often had no gum because there was not yet a good way to gum the (stamps) stamps in advance. they are therefore not gummed: ' Without gum '. That is already clear.

2. In more modern times, a self-adhesive layer is often chosen. In some countries (Italy, Belgium, Spain, ...) a nightmare because a kind of self-adhesive film was chosen that is not soluble in water.
In the Netherlands, the postal service was a bit more inventive. Most of the stamps I have can be soaked off perfectly with water. I think the stamps were first covered with soluble gum and then that self-adhesive layer was applied. A blessing for the collector: at least you can still deviate from the used ones. The self-adhesive gum layer itself was only functional temporarily. Many used Christmas stamps simply peel off after a few years from the fragment on which they were stuck. Unfortunately, the 'MNH' also ...
These stamps have the ' adhesive ' property for gum.

3.. All others are initially ' Gummed '. As soon as there is a (lick) layer on the back (with MNH). That gum can then be further broken down into its many types.

In group 3 there are those that are recognizable by the color. A number of tax stamps from Belgium, for example, have a greenish gum (Davo sheets are also available for this).
The other species, that's specialist work. You can sometimes find this in the (technical) description of the stamps in a (specialised) catalog or in a folder or promotional booklet of the postal services. Or on the back of certain FDS sheets that are also issued by postal services.
Reportedly you can also taste certain types by licking them ... but of course you never do that with MNH stamps that you keep in a collection :)
Some species are visible to a trained eye.

Conclusion:
1. there are 3 main types that an ordinary collector can best detect. Too bad that simple format is usually forgotten when adding an item (stamp);
2. more specialist: if you don't know, limit yourself to the main type (gummed - not gummed - self-adhesive). A specialist can always further specify this later;
3. Leaving the property at '<Select a value>' (ie don't make any effort) is a pity.

Real specialists are always allowed to correct and/or supplement.
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  • November 13, 2021 15:36
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November 13, 2021 15:36
Hello Raoul, this info helped me a lot. Thanks for this.
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