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Previously, we’ve covered color guides for stamp collectors. Today, it’s time to delve deeper into stamp theory. We’ll take a look at how you can handle your stamp collection with care using DAVO mounts.
I won’t say anything new by stating that philately is the hobby of collecting and organizing stamps. To do this, you'll need at least some basic accessories, with the most common being stamp albums, stamp tongs (tweezers), and a magnifying glass (loupe). There are also other items such as catalogs and reference books, a perforation gauge, a watermark detector, a UV lamp, a stamp cleaner, stock sheets, and more. However, our focus today will be on mounts and hinges.
We’ll be mentioning DAVO frequently today, so let’s start by saying a few words about it.
“Uitgeverij Davo is a Dutch company, based in Deventer and founded in 1945 as a publishing company of pre-printed one-country stamp albums. The first album published was on The Netherlands with the ‘Nederlandsche postzegels in den oorlog’.
Over the years, DAVO has completed its assortment of products for the collector with Stamp albums, Mounts, Blank pages, Stock pages/ leaves, First Day Cover albums, Kosmos system, Coin articles, Various albums, Stockbooks, Tweezers, Magnifiers, etc.”
DAVO GARD double welded mounts
“DAVO GARD double welded mounts is the latest innovation of DAVO after the hit of their EASY mounts. The GARD strips are double welded mounts, with the insert in the middle on the back, to protect your stamps, blocks or optimally protect booklets from falling off your stamp album for instance. The strips are plasticizer free and pH-neutral, helping your stamps keeping their value and condition.”
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so please take a look at the image before I explain what mounts are (in fewer than a thousand words). This video might also be very helpful:
In short, mounts are transparent, archival-quality plastic holders used to store and display stamps. They safeguard stamps from physical damage, such as bending or tearing, without the need for adhesives. Collectors commonly use mounts to maintain their stamps in top condition while ensuring they are clearly visible.
“The DAVO single welded mounts consist of two joined synthetic foils on the bottom of the foil, between which you can safely accommodate your stamps in the album. The lower of the two plastic foils is provided with gum, so you can attach the mounts to your album page, by moistening lightly.”
The question then is why use mounts instead of albums. The brief answer is flexibility and a more professional presentation.
Unlike traditional albums with predefined spaces, mounts allow collectors to arrange their stamps in any order or layout they prefer, offering greater customization for their displays.
DAVO EASY self-adhesive mounts
With a range of sizes, DAVO mounts can accommodate stamps of different shapes and sizes, including oversized or irregular formats such as miniature sheets and souvenir sheets. Because DAVO mounts are transparent, they offer a clear view of stamps from both sides (if the mount is double-sided), showcasing every detail of the stamp without obstruction.
I’ll also highlight a few advantages that stamp albums have over mounts. Firstly, and most importantly, they are easier to use because they are pre-designed, which saves time compared to using mounts. Additionally, they are generally less expensive.
However, if you’re serious about philately, using mounts would be the way to go for at least part of your collection.
Today, we explored how you can effectively care for your stamp collection using DAVO mounts. While you wait for the next article, feel free to check out our previous piece on 'stamp theory' and philatelic accessories.
Colour Guides for the Stamp Collectors: Shades & Tones in Stamps
