Stamp Hinge

A stamp hinge is a small rectangular piece of glassine or thin paper, gummed on one side, folded so that one short section attaches to the back of the stamp while the longer section adheres to the album page. For more than a century, hinges were the universal method for mounting stamps in albums, and they remain a perfectly acceptable option for used stamps and for collectors on a budget. However, for mint never-hinged (MNH) stamps — particularly from the 20th century onward — the use of a hinge is now considered damaging and significantly reduces a stamp’s value.

History

Stamp hinges have existed almost as long as adhesive stamps themselves. The earliest hinges were simply small pieces of paper moistened with paste or glue; by the late 19th century, purpose-made peelable hinges coated with water-soluble gum were widely sold by philatelic suppliers such as Hawid and Dennison.

The critical historical distinction is between peelable and non-peelable hinges. Before the 1930s and 1940s, many hinges used a gum that dried very firmly, making removal difficult. These old-style hinges often left a hinge remnant (HR) — a piece of the hinge still stuck to the stamp back — or caused thinning (a layer of paper removed along with the hinge). Both hinge remnants and thins are noted in catalogue descriptions and reduce a stamp’s value. From approximately the 1940s onward, improved peelable hinges became standard; these are designed to be removed without damaging the stamp or its original gum, though some original gum disturbance is almost inevitable.

The Hinge Versus Mount Debate

In modern philately, the choice between a hinge and a stamp mount depends entirely on the stamp being mounted:

Used stamps (those that have been through the post and have no original gum) can be safely hinged. The hinge does not damage a used stamp, and the cost savings over mounts are significant when dealing with large collections of used material.

Mint stamps with original gum should never be hinged if the collector intends to preserve their full value. The philatelic market clearly distinguishes between MNH (mint, never hinged), MH (mint, hinged — showing some gum disturbance), and HR (hinge remnant present). The premium paid for MNH stamps over MH examples can be substantial, particularly for 20th-century definitive and commemorative issues.

How to Use a Hinge Correctly

1. Hold the hinge by its edges to avoid transferring oils from your skin.
2. Fold approximately one-third of the hinge back on itself, gummed side out, at the short end.
3. Moisten the short (folded) section very lightly — a touch of moisture is sufficient. Over-moistening creates excess gum that can stick aggressively.
4. Press the moistened short section onto the top centre of the stamp’s reverse, about 1–2 mm below the top edge.
5. Allow the hinge to dry slightly before mounting the stamp in the album.
6. Moisten the longer section of the hinge lightly and press the stamp down onto the album page.
7. Leave the stamp to dry flat before closing the album — pressing a wet-hinged stamp can cause it to stick permanently.

Cost Considerations

Hinges are dramatically less expensive than stamp mounts, and for collectors building large used collections or working with inexpensive stamps, hinging is a practical choice. A packet of 1,000 peelable hinges costs a fraction of what a comparable number of mounts would cost. For valuable mint stamps, however, the saving is false economy: a single mint stamp devalued from MNH to MH status by a hinge may lose more in catalogue value than the cost of a proper mount.