1matej_barc1993
Hi guys,
I am looking for a piece of advice as I am growing increasingly desperate over my foxing problem that is ruining my library. Let me preface this by saying that throughout nearly my whole life I was mentally and physically abused by my father who saw my book collection as a convenient tool to tyrannize me so he made regular threats that he would burn it as a thing he saw no value in etc, etc. What I want to say by this is that the pitiable state my books are in now is not as much a result of my negligence than it is of the athmosphere in my parents' house where, from a very young age, I learned to hide my books and make them as "invisible" as I possibly could and that included not mentioning any problems related to them. When foxing started to spread over them around the year 2012 I didn't tell anyone, because I did not want to draw attention of my "beloved" father to the matter. Also, I din't really know anything about the phenomenon at the time and at first hoped that it would just "go away." Unsurprisingly, it didn't. My parents' house was very humid and cold and my room was right next to the bathroom, so now I can see the core of the problem. Later, as I was starting to become financially independent from my parents I started to take measures to protect my collection as well (various kinds of dehumifiers, isolating books in vacuum bags etc.). Sadly, it was to no great effect. In december last year I could finally move out most of my books to another place - dry (as I was told) and relatively warm cellar. Today I took out one book from the box and was saddened by realizing that the plight had moved on and it has started to cover whole pages with yellow and brownish spots.
To sum up, my foxing problem can be described as follows: a) very fast spreading of the thing not just on the edges of the pages but inside the books as well, as if "eating them away" b) infection spreads equally on new books and the old ones.
Today I was advised to pack the "plighted" books in paper envelopes so that they can "breathe" for one and the plight won't spread from them to the other books for two. Does that sound like a good idea to you?
I would like to ask people in this community if a) they have any experience with foxing and that includes every practical information, especially on how to fight it b) how do they protect other books from it, or better worded: how can one prevent it from spreading (if one can)?
Thank you for your advice.
I am adding some of the pictures of damaged books:
I am looking for a piece of advice as I am growing increasingly desperate over my foxing problem that is ruining my library. Let me preface this by saying that throughout nearly my whole life I was mentally and physically abused by my father who saw my book collection as a convenient tool to tyrannize me so he made regular threats that he would burn it as a thing he saw no value in etc, etc. What I want to say by this is that the pitiable state my books are in now is not as much a result of my negligence than it is of the athmosphere in my parents' house where, from a very young age, I learned to hide my books and make them as "invisible" as I possibly could and that included not mentioning any problems related to them. When foxing started to spread over them around the year 2012 I didn't tell anyone, because I did not want to draw attention of my "beloved" father to the matter. Also, I din't really know anything about the phenomenon at the time and at first hoped that it would just "go away." Unsurprisingly, it didn't. My parents' house was very humid and cold and my room was right next to the bathroom, so now I can see the core of the problem. Later, as I was starting to become financially independent from my parents I started to take measures to protect my collection as well (various kinds of dehumifiers, isolating books in vacuum bags etc.). Sadly, it was to no great effect. In december last year I could finally move out most of my books to another place - dry (as I was told) and relatively warm cellar. Today I took out one book from the box and was saddened by realizing that the plight had moved on and it has started to cover whole pages with yellow and brownish spots.
To sum up, my foxing problem can be described as follows: a) very fast spreading of the thing not just on the edges of the pages but inside the books as well, as if "eating them away" b) infection spreads equally on new books and the old ones.
Today I was advised to pack the "plighted" books in paper envelopes so that they can "breathe" for one and the plight won't spread from them to the other books for two. Does that sound like a good idea to you?
I would like to ask people in this community if a) they have any experience with foxing and that includes every practical information, especially on how to fight it b) how do they protect other books from it, or better worded: how can one prevent it from spreading (if one can)?
Thank you for your advice.
I am adding some of the pictures of damaged books:
2Taphophile13
You might want to check out this group:
https://www.librarything.com/groups/bookcareandrepair
Good luck.
https://www.librarything.com/groups/bookcareandrepair
Good luck.
