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Foxing: An imprecise term for spots, stains and tanning found commonly on the pages and covers of books. Colors range from brown to reddish-brown to yellowish-brown; shapes range from distinctly circular to irregular blotches or general discoloration; sizes range from tiny spots to stains (or tanning) covering entire pages. Most typical locations for foxing are on the endpapers, especially those in direct contact with the boards; pages facing an illustration, bookplate (figure 1), or inserted newspaper clipping; and any area where moisture has been introduced and allowed to remain over time.
Infestation can occur anywhere, however, including the edges of the text block itself (figure 2).
Most susceptible is paper with a high iron and/or acid content commonly found in American publications of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, due in part to the introduction of iron paper-making machinery and use of rag-content papers. The term "foxing" derives from the coloring of a fox's coat. Causes are remarkably unclear despite a century's-old identification of and struggle with the problem. There is some consensus that the culprits are either fungal or mineral or both in origin. Spots with a dark, distinct center and lighter, concentric halos almost certainly contain an iron fragment (figure 3), though fungus may still play a role.
Those lacking a central point appear to be largely (if not exclusively) fungal in origin. Foxing requires a warm, humid environment to spread. Previously clean books stored in rooms at 60 to 70 degrees with a relative humidity under 50% will not develop foxing. Also, development of additional foxing in books already infected will be largely arrested. To the extent that temperatures and humidity rise above these levels, to that extent will the risks of foxing increase, as well as the rate of infestation, though some books seem unusually resistant under even extreme conditions. A dehumidifier is a relatively inexpensive solution in otherwise temperate conditions; an air-conditioner, which also extracts moisture from the air, may be required if temperatures become excessive.
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