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For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations October 15-16, 2005:

Safety First

The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries. 

All the recent news about natural disasters may have you worried about your collection's 
safety. 

"Stamp collections really hate water. Everybody always worries about theft, and that's 
the first question we get. We pay way more claims for water damage and for fire damage 
than we ever do for theft."
RUNS :13

Simon Codrington of the Hugh Wood agency runs the American Philatelic Society's insurance 
program. The other, competing program is Collectors Insurance Agency.

A fireproof safe may discourage a thief, but it's not a good idea, Codrington says, because 
it releases water.

"What you end up with is a collection which has been nicely steamed for 40 minutes at 400 
degrees."
RUNS :05

Codrington says another enemy of stamp collections is disorganization - leaving albums and 
boxes lying around on the floor.

"All that needs is a washing machine next door to just break whilst you're out, a quarter 
of an inch of water to come through the house."

...and no more collection.

That's Stamp Collecting this week. 

I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News. 

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