Free of all harmful chemical agents, softeners or stearates

Special adhesive provides safe and solid bond with album pages

Large selection of sizes to fit virtually every need

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One of the most common methods of mounting stamps in an album page is to use plastic stamp mounts that enclose the stamp.

The required elements for preparing a stamp mount to display a stamp on an album page:

a package of stamps mounts,

a guillotine cutter to cut the mount neatly,

a ruler for measuring both the stamp and the mount,

and Stamp Collecting Tongs to hold the stamp and properly insert it into the mount.

One big consideration in choosing between Stamp Collecting Hinges and Lighthouse SF Stamp Mounts is cost. Stamp Collecting Hinges are cheap. Lighthouse SF Stamp Mounts cost considerably more.

Mounts are different from hinges. Mounts offer superior protection for stamps. Mounts are the preferred method of placing stamps into albums for collectors who want to retain perfect gum on mint stamps. Applying a stamp hinge to a mint never hinged (MNH) stamp automatically changes the stamp's condition to mint hinged (MH). This usually significantly diminish the resale value of the stamp.

Some collectors opt to use hinges for a MNH stamp with minimum catalog value. But if you are mounting expensive MNH stamps, then mounts are the best way to go. They are also a good choice for expensive MNH stamps and used stamps, because they give superior protection to both the front and the back of the stamp.

Mounts also add to the bulk of a stamp album. If you use mounts for all of your stamps in all of your albums, you will require more binders for the pages. There are many different sizes of mounts to accommodate the many different sizes of stamps. Mounts are sold in long strips that must to be cut to size. You match the height of the stamp to the mount, and then cut it to the appropriate width.

There are two main types of mounts. One type is sealed only at the bottom, and the top and sides are open.

This kind of mount allows the stamp a little more "breathing" room, but it also means that in some instances the stamp could fall out.

The other type of mount is sealed at top and bottom. The back of the mount is split in the middle to allow insertion of the stamp.  These tend to be larger mounts for larger stamps or blocks of stamps.  You can tell these mounts by the small "d" after the size in the name.

Mounts are available with black backgrounds or clear backgrounds. Some collectors like how the stamps look against the black background. Others prefer clear mounts because it is less obvious if the mount is not cut perfectly square, or if a stamp shifts position within the mount.

Mounts are sold by sizes, measured in millimeters from top to bottom. Select a mount that gives the stamp a little wiggle room. A close fit can jam the stamp perforations against the mount's sealed edges. If you are using the long strip kind of mount, measure the stamp from side to side and cut the mount a few millimeters wider than the stamp. Some collectors use scissors when making the cut, but I prefer to use a small guillotine type of paper cutter.  Always place the sealed side of the mount into the guillotine so that it is cut first.

Never cut a mount with the stamp already in it. It is too easy to miscalculate a cut and accidentally slice into the stamp. Even a tiny slice through a perforation tip is considered damage.

Once the mount has been cut to the appropriate size, use tongs to insert the stamp. This is a simple process if the mount is sealed only on the bottom. Just pop the stamp in the open side so that it faces outward into the clear ungummed side of the mount. Split-back mounts that are sealed top and bottom are a little trickier. Hold the mount between your thumb and fingers to gently squeeze the top and bottom of the mount to make the gummed split pucker outward. Insert the bottom of the stamp into the mount with the printed side of the stamp facing the clear ungummed side of the mount. Bring the top half of the mount over the top of the stamp.

It is not necessary to moisten the entire back of the mount to achieve good adhesion. Whether using split backs or single seal styles of mounts, just a little moisture at the top of the mount will keep it in place and make eventual removal of the mount and the stamp a lot easier. Excess moisture can defeat the purpose of using a mount. Don't use so much that it leaks through the slit at the back of the mount and disturbs the stamp gum.

Another option is to use what are called hingeless albums. These are printed album pages that come with stamp mounts already cut to size and affixed to the pages. These albums can be very attractive, but there are a few drawbacks to using them. First, they are expensive. You are basically paying to have someone else measure and cut your mounts for you, and that is not an inexpensive proposition. Also, the mount on the page might not exactly fit your particular stamp. This can happen when you have an example with extra large margins, or with attached selvage that you want to keep attached and unfolded. Another consideration is that most hingeless albums use the type of stamp mounts that are closed only at the bottom. If you prefer the type of mount that is closed at top and bottom, then these aren't for you. Most hingeless albums also use clear plastic mounts, so if you prefer black, these pages might not satisfy you.

Ultimately, whether you use mounts or hinges is up to you, and will depend on your budget, personal preferences and collecting goals. Whichever method you choose, use care, caution and good materials to mount your stamps in albums. Be a good curator and your stamps will give you pleasure for as long as you own the collection.