Off Topic - rescuing a valuable book

Hi, I don't really frequent here so please apologise if my question might seem new or recurring, but I need some advice on whether I can save this book that's on auction. There is some foxing but no mention of mold on the listing and from the picture, it looks like mold, I think. I'm going to see it personally on Monday but until then do you think it can be saved or am I wasting my money. I don't know much about rare books, but I understand condition is everything but then you will have to pay a premium. I'm trying by experience.

Hope you can help.

Maybe,this article in the internet will be useful for information, you have to decide whether the suggested method of getting of "foxing stains really works.You decide.

http://inspectapedia.com/mold/Foxing_Stains.php

I think that you are wasting your money and putting the rest of your library at risk.

My collection of Sinclair Lewis suffers from many condition problems, tobacco odor, dust jackets with thin spots, chips, small (and not so small) tears, and some jackets that are mismatched. But I would never put a book with mold in my collection.

As I look at the photo, I wonder if this is actually mold. It could be a paper cover that was attached by glue to the spine and was irregularly torn off. In many European countries, it was common for a book to have a temporary paper cover and the purchaser was expected to take the book to his/her binder to have it bound in a manner consistent with the rest of his/her library.

It seems to me that the auctioneer should be able to tell you. I'm glad you able to inspect the book in person before the sale? If it is not a paper cover remnant, smell it carefully to see if it is mold. Start by moving your hand to waft any odor towards your nose. Don't just stick your nose close to the book and breathe in deeply. Many molds are harmful to your health.

Agreed that most books with damage are easier to replace with a better copy than repair. Don't imagine that you can resolve foxing. Mold can certainly spread to other books so should not be introduced to the rest of your library at any cost.

James

Let me add another voice to the Chorus of Caution. Just for curiosity, have you compared notes on this particular volume with other people who've actually seen it?

Thank you all for your advice! The volume in question is a first edition Kierkegaard: On the Concept of Irony with Continual Reference to Socrates, 1841, His dissertation as published, 550 copies. If anyone knows more about this edition please let me know.

When I saw the first picture online at auction I too thought as you did Keeline that it was a worn and teared out front page/cover. So I've bid on it, thinking I could rebind it. The auctioneer is reputable and the listing only mentions foxing. If there was fungi, they would have mentioned it. But at a closeup it looks fungi, however I did some research and found some pictures and one of the original editions, if I am not mistaken, were bound in blue paper/card. So it could be as you temporary paper cover. Alas I will inspect it at auction and report back

I for one think it looks much more like the remains of glued torn off blue paper than mould.

I agree with others - appears to be glue and the remains on blue end-paper to me.

I looked at it on another screen, my ipad, and now I am leaning toward blue cloth. However having a look in person is the only path to certainty.

Yes I'm also thinking blue cloth. Will find out on Monday evening for the preview. Thanks

Let us know what you find out.

It's hard to believe that the auctioneers would have allowed what would be a very exuberant growth of mould to remain before they scanned or photographed the book ;-)

Just checked the book and it seems in very good condition. The blue growth is actually paper. It's stuck/glued to the front page. I believe the book originally had blue card as binding (which corresponds to what I have researched) which was later probably rebound to what it has now. What really was weird was that they had attached a rubber-band around the book. Is that normal? I was horrified to find that.

I don't think I will bid for this, I can find another copy in better condition if I'm patient.