The rounded, spade end patterns are the most satisfactory. These are to be used for all handling. Dexterity and ease come with practice and the acquisition of the necessary simple skill will be well repaid. Stamp Hinges are round cornered oblong pieces of tough, thin paper, gummed on one side and designed for the neat mounting of stamps in the album. The careful use of good quality hinges, peels easily when required, leaving little or no trace on either stamp or album leaf.
Hinges are available in various sizes.
Some are sold, folded, ready for use. Hinges are cheap and probably best for beginners, juniors and the average collector. But there is an alternative method of using Mounts, for the collector who wishes to preserve the unused stamps in mint condition. These are gummed plastic 'envelopes', some open on three sides and some on two, with black or clear backgrounds and transparent fronts. Mounts are available in stripes or in cut-style sized for all normal and popular sizes, definitives or commemoratives, giving the stamps maximum protection in the album.