When considering the purchase of antique prints and maps, it is very useful to understand the specialized terms used to describe the condition, the coloring, the printing process, the paper, etc. In this, our second newsletter, we will attempt to describe for our valued customers, two of the most commonly used terms found in our item descriptions.
FOXING: This term refers to orange/brown spotting seen on vintage paper documents such as prints, maps and books. It is believed that the name derives from the fox-like reddish brown color of the stains and paper so affected is said to be "foxed." The causes of foxing are not well understood and one theory is that it is some kind of a selective mold growth while another theory is that iron particles deposited within the paper as it was made were rusting and that caused the reddish spots. Since foxing can only be successfully treated by professional paper restoration experts and is quite costly, it is wise to avoid purchasing paper items that have highly visible foxing marks.
AGE TONING: Often a print or map is described as having "overall age toning." This statement refers to the overall, very uniform, light brownish tint on the paper. Sometimes the edges are a little darker than the paper. Since the terms just denote age, it often contributes to the "antique quality" of the print and is considered a feature.
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