diff --git a/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Compact_mesh_cell_base_3.h b/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Compact_mesh_cell_base_3.h
index 3c52eb24769..e8393e20e55 100644
--- a/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Compact_mesh_cell_base_3.h
+++ b/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Compact_mesh_cell_base_3.h
@@ -261,7 +261,6 @@ public:
     , next_intrusive_()
     , previous_intrusive_()
 #endif
-    , time_stamp_(-1)
     , surface_center_index_table_()
     , sliver_value_(FT(0.))
     , subdomain_index_()  
@@ -298,7 +297,6 @@ public:
     , next_intrusive_()
     , previous_intrusive_()
 #endif
-    , time_stamp_(-1)
     , surface_center_index_table_()
     , sliver_value_(FT(0.))
     , subdomain_index_()
@@ -323,7 +321,6 @@ public:
     , next_intrusive_()
     , previous_intrusive_()
 #endif
-    , time_stamp_(-1)
     , surface_center_index_table_()
     , sliver_value_(FT(0.))
     , subdomain_index_()
diff --git a/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Mesh_cell_base_3.h b/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Mesh_cell_base_3.h
index 0db08cb3329..e565a3e738b 100644
--- a/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Mesh_cell_base_3.h
+++ b/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Mesh_cell_base_3.h
@@ -149,7 +149,6 @@ public:
     , next_intrusive_()
     , previous_intrusive_()
 #endif
-    , time_stamp_(-1)
   {}
   
   Mesh_cell_base_3 (Vertex_handle v0,
@@ -164,7 +163,6 @@ public:
     , next_intrusive_()
     , previous_intrusive_()
 #endif
-    , time_stamp_(-1)
   {}
   
   Mesh_cell_base_3 (Vertex_handle v0,
@@ -183,7 +181,6 @@ public:
     , next_intrusive_()
     , previous_intrusive_()
 #endif
-    , time_stamp_(-1)
   {}
   
   // Default copy constructor and assignment operator are ok
diff --git a/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Mesh_vertex_base_3.h b/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Mesh_vertex_base_3.h
index 1801c1f7e97..9661194be06 100644
--- a/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Mesh_vertex_base_3.h
+++ b/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Mesh_vertex_base_3.h
@@ -136,7 +136,6 @@ public:
     , next_intrusive_()
     , previous_intrusive_()
 #endif //CGAL_INTRUSIVE_LIST
-    , time_stamp_(-1)
   {}
 
   // Default copy constructor and assignment operator are ok
diff --git a/STL_Extension/include/CGAL/Compact_container.h b/STL_Extension/include/CGAL/Compact_container.h
index af65d886e3d..78b1d63312d 100644
--- a/STL_Extension/include/CGAL/Compact_container.h
+++ b/STL_Extension/include/CGAL/Compact_container.h
@@ -921,6 +921,7 @@ void Compact_container<T, Allocator, Increment_policy, TimeStamper>::allocate_ne
   for (size_type i = block_size; i >= 1; --i)
   {
     EraseCounterStrategy::set_erase_counter(*(new_block + i), 0);
+    time_stamper->initialize_time_stamp(new_block + i);
     put_on_free_list(new_block + i);
   }
   // We insert this new block at the end.
diff --git a/STL_Extension/include/CGAL/Time_stamper.h b/STL_Extension/include/CGAL/Time_stamper.h
index 1c19f3686a5..57c58f5ce58 100644
--- a/STL_Extension/include/CGAL/Time_stamper.h
+++ b/STL_Extension/include/CGAL/Time_stamper.h
@@ -32,8 +32,14 @@ struct Time_stamper
   Time_stamper(const Time_stamper& ts)
    : time_stamp_(ts.time_stamp_) {}
 
+  static void initialize_time_stamp(T* pt) {
+    pt->set_time_stamp(std::size_t(-1));
+  }
+
   void set_time_stamp(T* pt) {
-    pt->set_time_stamp(time_stamp_++);
+    if(pt->time_stamp() == std::size_t(-1))
+      pt->set_time_stamp(time_stamp_++);
+    // else: the time stamp is re-used
   }
 
 
@@ -66,6 +72,9 @@ public:
     return p_t1 < p_t2;
   }
 
+  static void initialize_time_stamp(T*) {
+  }
+
   static std::size_t hash_value(const T* p) {
     return reinterpret_cast<std::size_t>(p)/sizeof(T);
   }