Stamp tong

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stamp tweezers or stamp tongs are tweezers used to handle postage stamps. They are universally used by philatelists, as they are a reliable way to get hold of the small pieces of paper without damaging or getting skin oils on them. They can also be very efficient at handling large numbers of stamps.

Stamp tongs are nearly always made of metal, with lengths ranging from 4-8 inches. The tip is usually thin, so as to slide under a stamp easily, and may come in several different forms. The "shovel" tip is a broad spatula shape, often bent at an angle. The "pointed" tip tapers down almost to a sharp point; while useful for precise positioning, as when mounting the stamp on a page or picking a particular stamp from a pile, the sharper tip can also tear a delicate stamp.