Book condition foxing definition

Rare and antiquarian book dealers often painstakingly describe a books condition because its. The book should be clean, tightly bound and square. As a seller, i would list it no better than very good. Book terms and book conditions used by book collectors. Foxing brown spots thought to be caused by impurities in paper e. Foxing is very common in antique books due to the paper used and can certainly be found in contemporary books as well. 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. Whether were buying in person or online, we only accept books that we consider to be in good condition. Using a reducing agent, such as sodium borohydride, on the paper. The name may derive from the fox like reddishbrown color of the stains, or the rust chemical ferric oxide which may be involved. The condition is commonly found on items produced in the 18th and 19th centuries. Just curious as im not in the book selling business, what is foxing of the page edges. A book in which the text block, including illustrations, is complete but the binding is lacking, or in such poor condition it is beyond realistic restoration efforts. 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.

Although these cutouts dont damage the cd or liner notes, they are visible. A spine split of up to 23 the length of the book, a missing back cover provided the front cover is still attached, severe water damage or residue damage. Amazons guidelines apply across the board with no exceptions because a book is older. The reasons for the flaws age, nearby oceans are irrelevant. For example, the term foxing is used to describe a condition where spots resembling rust or mold appear on the page edges. This book has seen much better days and tends to be heavily worn and tattered.

A copy of a comic in this grade has all pages and most of the covers. A fine condition comic book appears to have been read a few times and has been handled with moderate care. It is useful to note that the term foxing, used to describe brown or reddish brown discoloration appearing on books, papers, some photographs, derives its name from the f and ox in ferrous oxide, or iron oxide deposits that are attracted to areas in the paper substrate. Tape and other forms of amateur repair are increasingly common in silver age and older books. 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. Condition problems are the number one reason we pass on books. Mold and mildew forms on paper, including books and wallpaper, when they are exposed to damp conditions for several months or years. 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. A book remainder mark is usually made with a stamp or permanent marker on the bottom edge of the book, though it may be on the back cover or another edge.

Describes a book that shows some small signs of wear but no tears on either binding or paper. Must always be noted as such no matter what the condition of the book. Foxing changes the ph of the paper, and additional acid can cause further degradation. Very fine to near mint vfnm back to top general wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc a beautiful book. This grade carries a little age related room, it does allow for some loss of freshness and commonsense in relation to the books age. Foxing is more likely to be encountered in older books. 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. Rating books with foxing, agetoning or tanning help for. Foxing is an agerelated process of deterioration that causes spots and browning on old paper documents such as books, postage stamps and certificates. Experts may choose one of two approaches to reverse foxing.

Book conservation ghosting and sunning and foxing, oh my. Foxing is a term describing the agerelated spots and browning seen on vintage paper documents such as books, postage stamps, certificates, and so forth. Foxing is the name for the splotches, spots, and specks you often see on older books. The exact cause of foxing is not known and methods of foxing restoration are subjects of debate. I dislike the appearance of foxing intensely and consider it a nonstarter for purchasing any book. Information and translations of foxing in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on. But mold does occur on paper and books and book bindings and may be mistaken for foxing.

The value can increase from 20 to 50 percent depending on the rarity of book. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. Rather, i believe it is caused by the conditions under which the books are housed or shelved. Winning a race has ultimately evolved around the trainer and horse relationship, along with strategically planning a proper entry for the horse to have an increased chance of winning. But throughout the book, it becomes clear that each family member has developed their own condition or way of existing that is just as much a part of their identity. The book may have been opened and read, but there are no defects to the book, jacket or pages.

Definition for bumping in the glossary of book collecting terminology at. It is most likely caused by lack of ventilation andor chemical reactions between the paper and microorganisms. Overstreet grading definitions 2014 gemstone publishing, inc. A fine book approaches the condition of as new, but without being crisp. Two main causes are mould and iron contaminants in the paper. In all cases, the lack of a dust jacket is noted if the book was issued with one. Even the first sign of foxing must be mentioned if it is present. On 20180902 by mod paper containing acid sulfite pulp not only contains cellulose.

The set of terms below were proposed in 1949 by ab bookmans weekly. A book, usually bound in leather, with elaborate or tasteful tooling and decoration. The book shown actually cannot stand straight unless closely propped on. What can help remove foxing or dust soiling from edges of. Some accumulation of minor bindery defects is allowed. The term foxing describes disfiguring small yellow brown spots or blotches on paper.

They were adopted by the bookselling community and are still in use today. So foxing, tanning, and environmental factors should be reflected appropriately in the condition rating of the book. A condition of the covers or boards of a hardcover book. 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 no longer looks the way it did when it came from the printers. The reason for foxing in a particular book is often difficult to discern. I have seen moderns in long boxes that were covered in foxing, and the book next to it was pristine. A guide to book conditions the hobbit first edition by j. Whoever comes up with the formula to remove foxing will be a billionaire. Cd remainders are usually marked by cutting the spine of the case or punching a hole through the upc barcode. 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. A nontraditional book condition description that generally refers to a book in good or very good condition, although no standard exists for this term, and the word can be used to describe a wide variety of actual book conditions. If youre new to the world of book collecting, youve undoubtedly encountered plenty of jargon already. The term foxing is used to denote the reddish or tannish spots, speckles, or bloches that discolor the paper of some older books.

The term refers to ferrous oxide, or iron, that becomes attracted to paper and leads to the unwanted discoloration. A shelf cocked book is one that cannot stand perpendicular to the shelf. How to prevent and reverse foxing in rare books in 2019. Please move your mouse over any pictures to get overall condition number that i.

The antiquarian booksellers association of america. Book terminology or book terms are the vocabulary used in book collecting to describe the many different parts of the book. The clear objective of any horse racing trainer is to win. May have a spine split between 2 and 23 the length of the book. A book with foxing, or with yellowed or tanned pages, is not like new. Rear free endpaper front and rear blank pages added by the binder. We grade the condition of the book and its dust jacket separately. Unless noted, prices listed are without dust jackets.

The condition of the dust jacket should be graded independently of the book. Foxing is a light brown to rustcolored spotting on aging paper, often identified as being of biologic origin. If exceptional in other areas, could have six of the following at least three must be. Usually, the earlier the book, the greater the percentage. Book club copies must always be designated as such no matter what the condition of the book.

The novels title, the condition, seems to refer specifically to one child in the family who has been diagnosed with a rare medical condition called turners syndrome. A book in this condition is worn, ragged and unattractive. Many camps believe it is fungal in nature, some like myself suspect it to be a bacteria. Removing foxing stains on books, papers, photographs.

The dust jacket should be free from loss or tears and any real faults or blemishes. Describes a book in which the top, fore edge and bottom of the outside of the. Foxed foxingbrown spotting of the paper caused by a chemical reaction, generally found in 19th century books, particularly in steel engravings of the period. 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. If youre selling your books online and they do not meet our condition standards, we may change our. A trade association of booksellers established in 1949 with over 450 members located throughout the united states, specializing in fine and rare books, maps, documents, autographs, illuminated manuscripts, ephemera, and prints spanning the economic spectrum. Ioba book terminology independent online booksellers. 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. It is believed the problem is best managed by controlling humidity and contact. Binding copy describes a book in which the pages or leaves are perfect, but the binding is very bad, loose, off, or nonexistent.

As new means that the book is in the state that it should have been in when it left the. Foxing is a term that refers to rustbrown colored flaws on paper. It may not be apparent in the photograph at left, but the book was not merely tipped for purposes of the picture. Bowed covers may turn inward toward the leaves or outward away from the leaves. Foxing is weird in that it affects books differently and to varying degrees. Small orange or brown discoloration spotsareas oninside a cover or pages. A subjective indication of condition, generally taken to mean a fresh, largely unimpeachable copy of a book, with perhaps the merest trace of use. Removing the marks of foxing should generally be left to a skilled book conservator or preservationist. 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. Mild foxing drops a book grade by at least onehalf of a grade, and many.