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I received a small lot in the mail today that I won on eBay. When I opened the envelope, the smell of cigarette smoke was so strong that it burned my eyes. Right now, I have them airing out on my porch, but I'm afraid to leave them outside too long due to the humidity. Does anyone know of a safe way to get rid of the smell on these stamps? Thanks!

IF you can wash them.....that would be my first option. Apart from that, a good airing and then put them in a cupboard with some moth-balls for a while. Unfortunately, in a humid atmosphere the stink seems to intensify.

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FORESTS OLD, PASTURES NEW
(An expert is one who knows more and more, about less and less, until they know absolutely everything about nothing at all)

There's a product in Australia called nilodor. A concentrated enzyme based odour remover.

I wouldn't put it on the stamps directly, but shut them in a box or tin with a drop of nilodor for a while should do the trick.

Lots of information on the internet, and probably available in other countries, but maybe with a different name.

being written nilodor instead of nilodour, I suspect it might have USAmerican origins anyway.

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A man might as well marry ... if he finds a good wife he will be happy ... if not, he will become a philosopher.
Collecting Greater New Guinea & Macropods (Kangaroos & Wallabies).

Quick and easy way to rid yourself of the odour.
Pop into an envelope. address them to me,and the smell will be gone forever,

But I know what its like,,, I am looking at a few new Units,as I may have to move soon,
Looked at one last week.it ticked ALL the Boxes,right size,right price,right location.but it STUNK of cigarette smoke.
so I am not going to follow up on that one.

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Nunawading Stamp Fair
Last Sunday of Every Month - Jaycees Hall Silver Grove - Nunawading.

This has happened to me on more than one occasion recently.

Just leave them spread out on a table/bench/bed or something similar for a couple of days. The smell does fade rather quickly.

Cheers,

Robert

Dump some baking soda into a tray, put a grate over it and
place the stamps on the grate for a few days.

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Jay Carrigan
http://www.jaypex.com

Thanks for the great ideas, everyone!

I have a similar dilemma, but on a larger scale, the collection I inherited was from a heavy smoker, some stamps at the edges of pages are even stained. I'm mortified. A bit reluctant to look at the rest. He had been sick the last year or two, and left stamps lying around, ready to sort, these may be history.
With some of the older stamps, with a bit of browning around the edges, outside the frame, could I try bleaching maybe, weakly at first. I know the smell will go, eventually.
Any tips, thnx
Matt

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Why Facebook when you can Stampboard?

Having been a smoker for 50 years, adhere to Jay's advice, it works.

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If it erupts, don't blame me!!

wow, didn't know that stamps can absorb the cigarette smell ... Good that I don't smoke inside