Made popular by stamp collectors who have found glassine to be economical, as well as archival safe due to glassine paper being pH neutral and acid-free, glassine envelopes are the preferred means for safe storage of duplicates in a stamp collection. Both recyclable and biodegradable, glassine’s unique properties make it a preferred primary and secondary packaging solution for many industries including apparel, medical, food and beauty. Made from smooth translucent paper, as durable as it is economical. few materials can so effectively display and protect its contents like glassine. Glassine bags are certified for direct food contact and can be safely sterilized for medical and pharmaceutical applications.
Glassine Bags are used for protecting items against grease, water, and moisture making them a popular choice for baked goods.
Glassine is even used to pack firecrackers, as it is moisture resistant. It is used for its transparent qualities to fold origami tessellations. Also, ideal for protecting documents, original drawings, photographs and negatives, and plates from electron microscopes. Glassine envelopes are a safe way of storing butterfly specimens (with wings folded) until you’re ready to pin them in a collection. The #4 Glassine envelopes are ideal to use when collecting, storing or shipping large-sized butterflies like Monarchs and Swallowtails
And an acknowledgement to law enforcement, Glassine Evidence Envelopes are perfect for collecting, packaging, and preserving small pieces of evidence such as hairs, fibers, paint chips, and fragments found at a crime scene. Glassine envelopes eliminate static electricity and are breathable, transparent, and have a flap to seal evidence.
At iHobb.com our focus is on the use of glassines for stamp collecting. Our humble beginning was in the sale of packets of inexpensive stamps, sold in glassine packets; 100 all-different stamps of France for $3.00 for example.
Economical and semi-transparent, glassine envelopes are the ideal solution for organizing and storing those duplicates that are a part of every stamp collection. The small #1 glassine works for storage of individual stamps, all the way to the #12 envelope for full mint sheets. Size #4 will fit most U.S. plate blocks, size #5 will fit small postcards, and size #6 will fit regular sized U.S. First Day Covers.
The #3 glassine envelope is the same size as a Dealer-102-Card such as you see in the red boxes on dealer’s tables at stamp shows. A shortcoming of the standard 102-Dealer Card, with more than a few stamps in a set, the bottom gives out and stamps can pass through and may be lost. #3 Glassines are the solution in these instances as the glassine envelopes fit the 102-box uniformly.
We use the Size #4 Glassine when sending out a group of stamps in 102 cards. For storage or shipping, glassines do the job, and I like that I can write on the envelope with a common felt tip pen.
We do sell red boxes to accommodate 102 cards, and so also #3 glassines. But the lighter weight of glassine compared to the dealer stock cards of paper, allows for use of a lighter weight box, which are available for envelopes from size 1 to size 7.
So, as you archive your duplicates and organize your collection you will find the glassine envelope to be versatile, economical, and archival safe.