One of the biggest challenges for this project was finding appropriate paper for the stamps.
Since I was going with a traditional booklet design, my first choice was old fashioned lick-and-stick paper. The more technical name for this paper is "water-activated gummed" (WAG) paper. No matter what you call it, you can't buy the stuff anymore.
There is no supplier for WAG stamp paper in the USA or Europe. In fact, the USPS cited difficulties in obtaining WAG paper as one reason they completely eliminated WAG stamps back in 2015. Most stamps were already made with peel-and-stick pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) by 2002.
Since I was going with a traditional booklet design, my first choice was old fashioned lick-and-stick paper. The more technical name for this paper is "water-activated gummed" (WAG) paper. No matter what you call it, you can't buy the stuff anymore.
There is no supplier for WAG stamp paper in the USA or Europe. In fact, the USPS cited difficulties in obtaining WAG paper as one reason they completely eliminated WAG stamps back in 2015. Most stamps were already made with peel-and-stick pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) by 2002.
I investigated using kraft paper carton sealing tape but that didn't work because it curled too badly to print on.
This isn't too surprising given how often the flatness of the gummed paper features in the advertising of manufacturers historically. |
I looked into coating my own stock but this was a daunting task.
I would have to buy and learn to use expensive coating equipment and then find or make an appropriate dextrin gum. I (probably) could have figured it out eventually, but I wasn't sure it was possible in time. The ship sailed on March 7th, 2020 whether the stamps were done or not. |
Pricing from the Coast-to-Coast Label website, current as of 24 Feb 2020. They have both papers in many other sizes.
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If I couldn't find any new old stock gummed paper, my fall back was to use "dry gummed" paper. Dry Gummed paper is available from places like Coast To Coast Label and Steadfast Paper.* Both of these distributors get their stock from Troy Laminating and Coating in Troy, OH.**
This is a modern lick-and-stick product with a very thin, but still strong, adhesive that is almost invisible on white paper. Functional, but lacking the aesthetic I was looking for. *Don't be fooled by the claim on the Steadfast website that they have dextrin gummed paper. They don't. They really need to update that page. **Don't be fooled by the claim on the Troy website that they have dextrin gummed paper. They don't. They really need to update that page. |
As I was out of other options, I resigned myself to either climbing the mountain of making my own gummed paper or using modern dry gummed stock.
I was very lucky to have a friend come to my rescue. I related my tale of WAG woe to Eric Johnson, proprietor of Iota Press and printing godfather of the gang at North Bay Letterpress Arts in Sebastopol, CA. |
Eric showing off a slightly larger project we worked on together: 12" tall laser-cut Masonite type! (That'd be 72 line for you purists.)
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At the time, I was stunned by this amazingly generous act. This material is irreplaceable and Eric makes stamps of his own on occasion. Now he'll run out even sooner!
Upon reflection, though, I realized this was just the most recent way I've benefited from Eric's seemingly bottomless kindness and generosity. Without his previous infusions of energy and enthusiasm, I probably wouldn't have started printing in the first place. |
Of course, now the pressure was really on. There was no way I could do less than my best work when it came time to actually print on this precious paper. (Okay, this might not be saying much for someone whose only been printing for a bit over a year, but still.)