Antique Prints and Foxing

by Jeremy Sewell

Of the many ways that antique prints can stain, age and become generally grubby, those annoying brown speckles which appear on old paper are the most common. Known as foxing, it is a problem specific to antique prints and books published in the late 18th and 19th centuries.
 
Foxing is absolutely a sign of aging, although the exact cause is as yet unknown and not all paper from the period is affected, indeed of two similar engravings published and printed in the same print run, one may be badly foxed, yet the other may well be clean and fresh looking.
 
The example shows an antique print from around 1870, a fairly typical item from the mid Victorian era, the engraving has been printed from a steel plate onto what would be described today as a mid weight cartridge paper ... meaning, that this was a reasonably good quality item in its' day.
 
The foxing can be seen clearly, several marks have appeared independently across the page. From the golden brown color of the marks it is easy to see how the name foxing originated, although some historians have also suggested that the term came about because the marks often form in the shape of a fox's paw print. 
 
It is generally thought that foxing is caused primarily by fungi of some sort, although there are clearly other factors at work, damp and warm conditions certainly seem to make matters worse. It is almost certain that a trace of iron is also required in the paper, which neatly explains why early hand made paper very rarely gets foxed - yet as soon as paper manufacturing machinery with iron parts comes on the scene then foxing becomes common, it being supposed that traces of iron residue are left on the sheet paper in the production process.
 
Naturally most people want to know if the foxmarks will spread and how to get rid of them. So, yes you can get rid of them, literally by bleaching the paper, which is completely effective although this comes at a cost - which is that there will be a general overall lightening of the entire sheet.
 
I would not recommend splashing household bleach all over your prize but foxed prints! There are specialist reducing agents which restorers use when dealing with foxed prints.
 
I would say, however, that a little foxing does not detract unduly from an antique print, indeed some would say it gives a little character and old world charm. Generally speaking, if a print is matted, framed and kept away from damp, then even if it is a little foxed originally, it should not get any worse.
 
by Jeremy Sewell
Antique Prints and Vintage Art