Age can cause toning, in some cases the toning can be quite marked. Toning is sometimes referred to as tropical stains. The easiest way to restore the stamp is to add a light chlorine solution, this will bleach out the stain or toning are restore the stamp to its original fresh color.

To prevent damage to the stamp the chlorine should be very lightly diluted and the stamp must be rinsed after treatment. Better to undertreat than undertreat. Damage, due to over-chorlinization will not be obvious right away but will soon show as time passes, chlorine destroys paper fibers, so be careful. Practice on a few worthless toned stamps before attempting it on anything valuable. This treatment works great for toned covers to.

Orange colored older stamps have a tendency to oxidize, the classic example is the 6d Prexie Garfield. Careful treatment with peroxide, applied lightly with a cotton swab will restore the color. You can obtain hydrogen peroxide (H202), pure peroxide has the ability, if not handled right, to blow a hole in your ceiling. Hydrogen Peroxide is obtainable from any drugstore.

That musty smell that you get when you open that old album is the smell of bacteria (microscopic protozoans called infusoria). So yes, you can be thrilled about inheriting grandpas old collection, but at the same time, if you do not move to protect it, it will dissapear before your eyes. It's a slow process but bacteria will eat away at the paper and gum. Most bacteria feeds off the gum and the simplest way to stop the decaying process is to soak off the gum. But for most of you this will be a drastic course of action.

If you do see that your prized stamp is indeed disentegrating, layer by layer, then formaldehyde vapors will arrest the decay. Stamps should be exposed to the vapors from this chemical, dried and then rinsed with a celluloid solution mixed with 1,000 parts of acetone. Make sure the room is well ventilated whilst doing this. The process should be repeated two or three times.

You can buy formaldehyde from Carolina Biological Supply Co., 2700 York Road, Burlington, NC, 27215. 1-800-334-5551. As for celluloid solution, maybe your local photography store can lead you in the right direction. Acetone is nail polish remover.