$_1Id red mint

This curious article appeared in 1908 in the St. Martin’s-le-Grand Circular. Before the days of perforation, and when penny postage labels were of a bright brick-dust red, the “adhesive matter” was starch made from potatoes. It was laid pretty thickly, not merely on the stamps themselves, but on the enclosing margin.In those days, single stamps, or strips as required, had to be cut off the sheet with scissors, and you might hear a facetious “window man” say to a fair purchaser “Shall trim ’em for you, miss, or would you like ’em with the fat on?” – that is, the margin.