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Foxing or Mold?
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RyhopeWood
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Post Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2024 5:21 am 
 

Hello

I recently purchased a box set of Mind Lords of the Last Sea for the Dark Sun setting (AD&D 2E). The box and its contents were in excellent condition. However, one panel of the back of the poster map has what appears to be foxing (see attached photo).  There are no blemishes on any of the other rear panels or on any of the front panels.  Is this foxing or mold?  I have isolated the map from the rest of the contents in a zip lock bag.

All thoughts appreciated,

Ian

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RyhopeWood
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Post Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2024 5:26 am 
 

Quick update. There are a few isolated spots elsewhere on the back panels, but nothing like the panel in the image. Nothing on front of the map, nothing in any of the booklets or the inside/outside of the box.

I am going to keep it sealed for now with some acid-free tissue paper and a silica gel packet.

Thoughts still appreciated,

Ian
  

Tszii
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Post Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2024 7:13 am 
 

Some tend to think foxing is mold. They may not be the same, but are caused, and treated the same. Stored properly, it wont get worse.

Edit: This reminds me of a mold or "plume" question you would see about cigars. "Plume" was made-up-voodoo-urban-legend-tribal-"knowledge." It was mold, all of it. The oils in cigars didn't crystalize over time to form...its mold. I believed in plume from 1991 to about 2012. :)

Foxing has a designation and is real. I would just treat it the same.
  

red_bus
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Post Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2024 2:14 pm 
 

Is my book DANGEROUS? (Foxing vs Mold) - YouTube

I think this video gets it about right. As paper gets older some of the constituent components of it can oxidise (foxing) or be eaten by mould spores. Like the book in the video I think that at the minor level there is little harm in an item being stored with others and book collectors, I have found, are quite sanguine about this. The smell I think is tell tale. a sharp vinegary smell that is quite offputting (then to the recycling bin!).

Edit: I have heard it said that all paper products have some mould spores on them (it just floats about in the air) and - large infestations notwithstanding - what is really important is keeping any paper products in stable, relatively low humidity environments, with good ventilation. Not sure if that is the case though.


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RyhopeWood
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Last Visit: Jul 29, 2026

Post Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2024 3:53 pm 
 

Thanks for all the advice and especially the link to the video, which was very informative.

I spoke with a friend about it, who qualified as a conservator (not a paper specialist though).  She said it is foxing, probably acid damage to the paper.  She thinks the inks/finish of the booklets may have reacted with the poster map paper when the humidity was a bit higher than it should be.  This sort of makes sense as the faint markings are almost all on the top panel of the poster map, which is the one that was in contact with the other booklets. She suggested separating each item with acid-free buffered paper / boards between them to prevent further damage (in addition to the inclusion of a silica gel sachet in the box).
  
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