Observations on the foxing of paper

Foxing is a fonn of brown spotting which frequently develops on old paper. Ninety-one samples of paper of varying ages and showing varying degrees of foxing were analysed for iron. Although the amount of foxing was not independent of iron concentration the relationship was inverse rather than positive. Viewed under ultra-violet light some further spots appeared and many brown spots showed fluorescent margins. The evidence is consistent with the suggestion that foxing is biological in origin producing a fluorescent effect. Later the older centres of the fluorescent areas become brown which mlults in the typical brown spots of foxing visible under normal light.