Preservation and Care of Philatelic Materials
Subsidiary Page
27
Paper and Wax Seals
Postal historians are interested in the wax and/or paper seals on the backs of many of their
older covers. There are two types of seals: gummed paper seals and wax seals.
The wafer or gummed paper seal is much like a postage stamp and should be looked upon
in the same way. The adhesives used in affixing them to a cover vary widely. They are
generally marked in ink with a printed monogram or initial. Some of the larger wafer
seals are sensitive to moisture.
Very occasionally, the chemicals in wax seals will migrate and can present a threat to the
face of the cover. In such cases, it is often best to place several thicknesses of acid free
paper inside the cover to absorb any migrating materials from the seal. Such papers
placed inside the cover should be examined periodically and changed, if necessary.
Wax seals contain bee's wax, shellac, and often a pigment. They are hard, brittle,
and adhere to the surface of the paper. Care should be taken to prevent them from
being broken or crushed. Otherwise, they present little problem in conservation.
END OF SUBSIDIARY PAGE 27
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