Foxing in book condition

Book conservation ghosting and sunning and foxing, oh my. Mint m this means that the book is in near perfect condition. Our photograph of book foxing illustrates foxing stains on the page edges of the book discussed in this article. For some booksellers, a grading of fine equals handled, but flawless source. Notes on the causes and prevention of foxing in books jstor. Condition problems in modern papers and the role of inorganic additives additives in paper react. It has been many a day since i read a regency romance and i had no idea of what to expect, therefore im glad to say i enjoyed this one. A guide to book conditions the hobbit first edition by j. The book may have been opened and read, but there are no defects to the book, jacket or pages. Foxing is a common type of mildew found on vintage paper that has been sitting for long periods of time. Last week the blog was pretty quiet because i flew home to manila, this week i havent been able to. Removal of foxing comic book grading and restoration. Our copy is bound in full vellum and is in good condition except for dark smudges, brown stains thought to be foxing, and worm damage throughout.

Foxing is a descriptive term for scattered spots commonly reddishbrown in color, but also applied to spots of other coloration ranging from yellow to black. Identify, prevent, and remove mold and mildew from books book collecting guide. The name may derive from the foxlike reddishbrown color of the stains, or the rust chemical ferric oxide which may be involved. Poor p a comic that has been used and damaged to a point where it is often not even considered worth collecting. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide. In all cases, the lack of a dust jacket is noted if the book was issued with one. Point the book away from you and brush the mildew away toward a garbage can or the ground outdoors. Cover shows significant wear, and may be loose or even detached at one staple. Book club copies must always be designated as such no matter what the condition of the book. Book plate an ownership label, usually placed inside front cover. The best way to prevent initial or further foxing on your rare books is to store them properly.

In their investigation of foxing in books, ligterink et al. This is the equivalent of mint condition in numismatics. High humidity and damp conditions are the main causes of foxing. Not only will this allow the novice to correctly describe a book, this page will provide an easy reference to unknown book words allowing an intelligent decision before purchasing or describing a book to sell. When this aging process happens to the paper in a book it. When it comes to restoring vintage paper prints, foxing buildup on the paper can be a major obstacle. We provide and cite an extensive list of authoritative references about foxing.

Abaa glossary of book terms foxing antiquarian booksellers. The value can increase from 20 to 50 percent depending on the rarity of book. It may not be apparent in the photograph at left, but the book was not merely tipped for purposes of the picture. Amazons guidelines apply across the board with no exceptions because a book is older. The term foxing is used to denote the reddish or tannish spots, speckles, or bloches that discolor the paper of some older books. The first indication of iron gall damage is a brown halo around the ink lines. It is a wellknown fact that books and manuscripts stored under improper atmospheric conditions are likely to become moldy. Books in this condition generally have all pages and most of the covers, although there may be up to 14 of the front cover missing or no back cover, but not both. Foxing has been variously attributed to a microorganism, iron particles in the paper, a high acid content in the paper, or a fungus reacting to metallic residue or other conditions of the paper.

I do not believe the quality of the paper is an issue as several of the most expensive private press books with handmade papers have this blight. How to describe the condition of a used book toughnickel. Whoever comes up with the formula to remove foxing will be a billionaire. The overuse of the term fine in online bookselling circles has caused some grumbling. For generations used book dealers and collectors have described the physical condition of a used book using certain terms, as follows. A term indicating a given book is in the same condition as when originally published. Foxing is weird in that it affects books differently and to varying degrees.

I have seen moderns in long boxes that were covered in foxing, and the book next to it was pristine. Rather, if foxingforming conditions are present in an environment, some books, depending on specific paper and ink and other book materials and their chemistry, will be affected more than others. Book terminology or book terms are the vocabulary used in book collecting to describe the many different parts of the book. May i know if foxed book could contaminate other books. The condition of a rare book and its dust jacket if applicable are the most important factors affecting its value and pricing. Minor corner wear, minor foxing, a light accumulation of spine stress that may include colorbreaks, a light accumulation of dents, and slight bends or folds note that on a vf copy, some colorbreak is allowed in a bendfold.

Severe stains, mildew, creases, folding, foxing, and pencil or other markings dominate the cover. If it is summer, turn up the air conditioner for a few hours, or until the wallpaper is completely dry. Moulds feed on the paper itself, as well as any dirt or organic material on it, for example, finger marks, food stains and squashed insects. It is made worse by damp conditions and while dry conditions will slow the process down, they cannot prevent it. Tape and other forms of amateur repair are more common. Removing foxing stains on books, papers, photographs.

Rating books with foxing, agetoning or tanning help for. The set of terms below were proposed in 1949 by ab bookmans weekly. Tolkien when considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value. Foxing is an agerelated process of deterioration that causes spots and browning on old paper documents such as books, postage stamps and certificates. Ioba book terminology independent online booksellers. Identify, prevent, and remove mold and mildew from books. They are the cheapest way to keep books you value in good condition.

The 2 reputable thirdparty professional grading services both begin with c use the same scale, but not exactly the same criteria, but overstreet has collaborated with them for their newest grading guide. Many have become collectible due to the designer or owner. Rather, i believe it is caused by the conditions under which the book s are housed or shelved. Please move your mouse over any pictures to get overall condition number that i. A fr copy will have virtually no eye appeal and will display major damage. Exlibrary and book club books must always be designated as such, no matter their condition. Fine f the book appears to be in excellent condition. It is most likely caused by lack of ventilation andor chemical reactions between the paper and microorganisms. Click to enlarge any image article series contents. Fair a book in very worn condition, but all of its important parts and dust jacket if one was issued must be present.

Foxed foxing brown spotting of the paper caused by a chemical reaction, generally found in 19th century books, particularly in steel engravings of the period. Book terms and book conditions used by book collectors. Brown spotting of the paper caused by a chemical reaction, generally found in 19th century books, particularly in steel engravings of the period. You may also notice listings that mention foxing, which is discoloration and browning on old paper documents.

Mold and mildew forms on paper, including books and wallpaper, when they are exposed to damp conditions for several months or years. I recently read a book that i bought in 2007 and it was in excellent condition because of the cling wrap. It can start building up in as short as a few months, and continue damaging paper for years to come. May 21, 2014 book conservation ghosting and sunning and foxing, oh my. The reason for foxing in a particular book is often difficult to discern. We routinely hear from customers who want to know the best way to store collectible books. This could be the description for a book that has been lost in a warehouse for years, never shelved, thumbed or even opened yet may still be some years old. Some basic descriptive terms are used by booksellers to communicate book condition. A comic book in fr condition may have nonstory elements such as.

The term foxing is derived from the rusty red color of reynard the fox and its use was first noted in 1848 meynell and newsam 1979, 567. So foxing, tanning, and environmental factors should be reflected appropriately in the condition rating of the book. Cures for foxing on paper, books, photographs gas bleaching. Rare and antiquarian book dealers often painstakingly describe a books condition because its. The term foxing describes disfiguring small yellow brown spots or blotches on paper. The name may derive from the fox like reddishbrown color of the stains, 1 or the rust chemical ferric oxide which may be involved. When describing a used book, mint is an ideal condition and very rarely a reality.

If slight foxing is allowed, then very light small scuffsrubs should be too. A number of factors can affect the scarcity of a book, including printing history, the number of copies printed or sold, the quality of the paper and binding the more fragile the book, the less likely it will survive in fine condition, any controversy surrounding the book, its popularity or lack of it and its genre. Foxing is the age related browning, or brownyellowish spots, that can occur to book paper over time. Some collectors use the term foxing for all discoloration, but others find the terms tanning or toning useful. Home rare books book collecting guide a guide to book conditions. A fine book approaches the condition of as new, but without being crisp. Foxed foxingbrown spotting of the paper caused by a chemical reaction, generally found in 19th century books, particularly in steel engravings of the period. Bauman rare books first editions, signed and inscribed.

As new means that the book is in the state that it should have been in when it left the publisher. Foxed foxingbrown spotting of the paper caused by a chemical reaction. The condition of the dust jacket should be graded independently of the book. It s rare to find a book from the eighteenth or nineteenth century that doesn t show signs of foxing, and some modern books may also be foxed. Novice book collectors and sellers want to learn the meanings of the jargon antiquarian booksellers use in their quotes and catalogs to describe the physical condition of books. It is nearly perfect, except for the pervasive, dank smell that comes along with it.

A comic book in fr condition may have nonstory elements such as coupons, ad pages, or marvel value stamps cut or torn out of the book. A copy of a comic in this grade has all pages and most of the covers. Unless noted, prices listed are without dust jackets. Foxing has been variously attributed to a microorganism, iron particles in the paper, a high acid content in the paper, or a fungus reacting to. A book in fine condition is complete and shows little to no wear. As new means that the book is in the state that it should have been in when it left the. To learn more about terminology used in rare book sales, the abcs for book collectors is a fantastic resource. Foxing is the name for the splotches, spots, and specks you often see on older books. The book and paper group annual 34 2015 presented at the book and paper group session, aics 43rd annual meeting, may 16, 2015, miami, florida sarah bertalan foxing and reverse foxing. Title page the page that gives important information about the book, i. I dislike the appearance of foxing intensely and consider it a nonstarter for purchasing any book. Please move your mouse over any pictures to get overall condition number that i assign to each book.

Bowed covers may turn inward toward the leaves or outward away from the leaves. You just came across a wonderful book in your favorite used book or thrift store, and it seems to be everything that you were looking for to add to your shelf. Usually, the earlier the book, the greater the percentage. A book in poor condition will be worth far less than the same book in fine condition. Bauman rare books first editions, signed and inscribed rare.

In library book repair, tipped in means gluing the edge of a loose page, using wax paper on either side and replacing the loose page, closing the book and rubber banding it to curedry overnight. Foxing is very common in antique books due to the paper used and can certainly be found in contemporary books as well. This book has seen much better days and tends to be heavily worn and tattered. Collectors condition comic book raw grading labels. Often the condition of a comic that has been used and read by children and later collected. The book shown actually cannot stand straight unless closely propped on.

Book length creases, tears and folds may be present. Rare and antiquarian book dealers often painstakingly describe a books condition because its such an important aspect of the books value. Jul 17, 2017 mold and mildew forms on paper, including books and wallpaper, when they are exposed to damp conditions for several months or years. The term refers to ferrous oxide, or iron, that becomes attracted to paper and leads to the unwanted discoloration. My lack of photography skills is compensated by my enthusiasm. Two main causes are mould and iron contaminants in the paper. Its more likely that the conditions that caused foxing or mold growth on a book would affect. A shelf cocked book is one that cannot stand perpendicular to the shelf. Its rare to find a book from the eighteenth or nineteenth. Shoot that book combines my passion for books and my tendency to become trigger happy with a camera. Plant extract and paper amendment treatments for foxing. The condition generally results from a rapid change in the level of moisture in the air and is caused by different rates of expansion or contraction of the pastedown and the outer material covering the board. A condition of the covers or boards of a hardcover book. When considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value.

Most of us have seen descriptions of book condition which read like scattered foxing, rubbing at corners and extremities of spine, weak hinge, otherwise very good condition or dust jacket with minor chips, rear free endpaper lacking, signature on title page but really much better condition than it sounds. They were adopted by the bookselling community and are still in use today. Sadly, even more commonly, we hear from customers who have inadvertently stored their books improperly, eroding the value of their beloved book collection. Rather, i believe it is caused by the conditions under which the books are housed or shelved. When a book has just been flawlessly printed and flawlessly bound and has not yet been handled, it is in mint or pristine condition. It is possible to lessen, or even remove foxingthe spotting at the top of your book from paper fibers depending on the severity and condition of the paper itself, but it will always garner a restored label since it involves various forms of wet washing. Binding copy describes a book in which the pages or leaves are perfect, but the binding is very bad, loose, off, or nonexistent. Thats why when i buy books and theyre still wrapped in plastic, i dont remove the plastic sheet until im about to read the book. A book in this condition is worn, ragged and unattractive. A fine condition comic book appears to have been read a few times and has been handled with moderate care. I dont know if the genre as a whole has moved forward in the concept of what readers are willing to accept, but i think the author janet woods succeeded in producing a novel with a lighter, slightly more modern feel while keeping the novel within. Discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor to moderate soiling is allowed. Fine f a book that has no defects in book or jacket, but not as crisp as it was when new.