Staples discoloring??

[gradejunky]

Hi, this is my first post so bear with me. It seem that I can't keep the bottom staples on my new books from spotting/tarnishing. Even after just a few days sometimes the bottom staple starts to discolor!! I just purchased a dehumidifier a few months ago during summer because I thought it was probably moisture causing the problem. Now the winter is here, it is dry in the room naturally and some of the books still fall victim. I always bag and board the books right away and put them in a box for easy grabbing to read. The doubles I buy I put straight into their permanent box and they usually fair a little better but sometimes this happens to them too.

 

Now here's an even bigger brain tease. A store that I was buying from in Florida would bag and board their books with re-sealable bags right out of the box before they shelved them. These books have mirror-like staples still. Does the books destination from the Distributor play a roll in this maybe?? I have looked everywhere for something that could be gassing or putting off some invisible chemical that is reacting to the metal but nothing seems to be doing this. Are the staples just cheaper now that the publishers are puuting out so much product or what? And why just the bottom staple??

 

In the overstreet grading guide, 9.8 and up says the staples have to be clean. What is clean?? The pics don't show the staples close up enough. Would a comic that looks like a 9.9 judging by the rest of the book be downgraded because of spotting or tarnishing on just one staple. Any help would be great from anyone, and maybe this happens to others and not just me. Thanks...gradejunky

 

ps. Tried to put a very close scan of staples in post but you still can’t see it.

[CW]

Hi. can you be very specific about the conditions in the room where you store the books (ie: any appliances or items in the room that release anything, smokers in the house, rooms above below or next to the storage area that may contribute, weather and humidity conditions in your area?) Also what kind of bags, boards, and boxes you use? You can PM me if you don't want to post the info. I have made it somewhat a hobby of mine to learn about staple changes rust and corrosion: What causes it. etc. and your case sounds very puzzling. Hopefully somebody can help.

-CW

[gradejunky]

I live in NH so the climate is not too humid in the summer for very long. I keep the books upstairs in my room where there are no appliances next to over or under me. However, the upstairs does get very warm in the summer due to the fact that the window ac unit has to be in the next room over because of a fire escape on my window. Before I bought the dehumidifier, the rh in the room was around 75 to 80 % and temp 75 degrees. Not great I know. After purchasing said dehumidifier, I reduced the rh to around 50 to 58%. But he unit puts off some heat and the ac unit in next room just can't really keep it much cooler up there than around 72 to 75 when it is really hot outside. Now even with cool dry weather some books still have the bottom staple tarnish/spot.

 

As far as bags boards go, I was using a relatively unknown bag and board from a company called Classic(sivler age size). The books thaqt where kept in these still have great staples. I can't afford the great mylars or mylites due to the amount I spend on comics( maybe it should be the other way around huh?). I am now using Ultra Pro bags and boards because that is all anyone in my area sells and those crappy single thick short boxes. Most of the boxes I use though are the double thick 15.5 inch long short box when I special order them. Regardless though, as I said in post, the books I bought down in my hometown of Orlando for a year were put in Classic bags and board and the staples look great still. The books I buy I up here have spotting on bottom staple in a few days sometimes and they are bagged and boarded with Ultra Pros as soon as I get home. The problem has lessened a little due to the cool weather but it still happens. And I have to say again, why just the bottom staple. Hope this helps and thanks for the reply.

[CW]

Hmm..

Is there any rust or just the color going from that bright polished sheen to a mute gray. Also is there any blooming of white green or brown? Has it happened since you got the dehumidifier into the room. Finally does it happen to books specific to any one publisher?

 

If you have the time and cash I would recommend getting a couple of thermohygrometers and placing one on the floor and one on a table in the room to see if there is any humidity change at different levels.

 

From reading your post it sounds like the frequency of the problem has decreased with more level weather?

 

Sorry for all the questions but I am trying to come up with something that sounds like the cause.

[gradejunky]

Thanks again for your interest. Mostly just losing that mirror sheen to a dull grey. Though sometimes I will see some small dark(almost black) spots that you can feel if you rub a finger nail over them. Yes the problem has lessened since the dehumidifier but has not went away completely. I wish I had a room to store the books in that I could build just for that reason and make it the perfect environment. The room right next to mine is the computer room that I am in now. Will the static from the machines/monitors possibly play a roll?? Should I maybe use the plastic corrugated "anti static boxes"??? The comic boxes are stacked on the floor due to room size constraints, should they be elevated maybe off floor. Like I said though there is no appliance or pipes below me so I did not think this the prob. Glad to see someone takes an interest in the staple issue, I thought I was going to lose my mind for awhile. No white green or brown spots though.

[CW]

I think the issue is most likely related to temperature and humidity. If the problem lessened noticeably when the temperature cooled and the humidity dropped this seems like a good indicator.

If you are using a dehumidifier I would recommend backing it up with an independant hygrometer. Just to make sure it is doing its job properly and maintaining a level that is below the mold threshold

 

As for the black spots... that sounds like mold or mildew rather than metal corrosion but I can't be certain. At first thought I want to say metal shouldn't show mildew so quickly but my shower is metal and it has mold and mildew on it so it can't be out of the realm of possibilities. You said that the bottom staple was the affected one in all cases and that you store the boxes on the floor all the time? If that is correct then perhaps (hypothesis here maybe somebody has a better one) heavy stagnant humid air is collecting near the floor but this seems unlikely as the dehumidifier will pull moisture out of the air and the air that is still more humid should try and equalize.

 

How often does the air get turned over in the room? And is there any foxing or mold growth on the paper of the books, back boards, or boxes? Any on the walls or windows in the room? Also in the morning do you find condensation on the windows of that room? Can you scrape the black spots or the dull graying off with your fingernail?

[gradejunky]

I would say the "big two" tend to discolor more often. Most of the higher end indies stay nice and shiny!!!!

[gradejunky]

Wow man all very good q's. If I rub the staple with a dry q tip(no solution added of course), if there is any spotting it will usually turn to the dull grey. Almost like a slight film??? No foxing on books boards or bags. Absolutely no foxing going on. No condensation on the inner side of window or walls. I checked all of these possibilities and nothing pans out except outside climate and my ability to control it inside. I am trying to upload a copy of a nice book of mine just to show my stringent buying standard, but I can't seem to get it on the site even though I resized it like 4 times. Any suggestions?

[gradejunky]

another try

[CW]

I am going to be out until about noon PST but I will give you somemore Ideas then.

-CW

[CW]

I saw the scans but they don't really help because one can't see the staples. So the Black spots rub off without much trouble?

Can you go into detail about your dehumidifier? What brand, size (capacity), features and how it displays the Rh or temp? Also if you go onto the internet and find out what the temperature and humidity are for your area right now or even better an average for the last few months including now.

 

I have a couple of things I would do so far to help identify the problem better. From what you told me.

1.) Get a hygrometer or better a thermohygrometer.- This will tell you what your room is reading and either confirm that your Dehumidifier is reading correctly or show a discrepency in the desired setting and the actual setting. (You said that the humidity with the dehumidifier was between 50-58% according to an article I am about to post 65% is the danger line. If your Dehummidifier has a error range of 7% you could be in this area.)

2.) Ventilation- Make sure that the air in the room gets changed from time to time. If the room feel dank or is holding an odor open a window for a half hour when the humidity is at its lowest. Make sure you shut off the dehumidifier before doing so. When finished close the room again and turn it on.

3.) Elevate your comics- If nothing else this may stop damage if there is a leak that soaks the floor. It may also help solve your problem a bit.

 

That's what I have so far. Eveytime you give me more info it helps coming to a conclusion. So far I am leaning towards a mold or mildew. I can't rule out corrosion because it is on the metal and not the paper but the idea that it forms rapidly and that black spots appear and are easily removed has me moving in that direction. Keep the info coming! Maybe we'll save those staples yet.

-CW

[CW]

Here is an article by Tracy Heft that was brought to my attention by Board member FFB. His knowledge on comics and there ailments is far greater than mine.

In its entirety:

 

Here is Tracey Heft's article on molds and foxing. Great reading.

 

==================================================

 

This article is copyright 1994 by Tracey Heft. This article was

originally published, in edited form, by Overstreet Comic Book Monthly.

Permission has been granted by the author for electronic distribution of

this document for personal usage provided it remain intact, unedited and

unaltered. No commerical usage or publication in other media is permitted

without the expressed written consent of the author.

 

 

Molds and Foxing

by

Mr. Tracey Heft

 

 

Imagine if you will, an average collector with a fairly substantial

collection of comic books spanning in age from the forties to the present

era. Let's assume this average collector has not looked through the

collection in quite some time, since he/she spends most of their time

purchasing and acquiring new items. One day, our collector decides to

examine the copy of Superman #38 that he/she bought at a local convention

last year to see if it really is as near mint as he/she remembers it to be.

He/she roots through the boxes of books that have accumulated through the

years and finally finds the item in question. He/she takes it out from

amongst the other books located in the same box and gingerly removes the

mylar sleeve that's been protecting it since it was first acquired. The

collector then flips open the near mint cover to behold it's creamy pearl

colored pages and ...

A small group of rusty looking patches that was never there before,

occupying a 1/4 inch area at the top of the comic.

As promised in my last column, this time we will examine molds,

"foxing" and the importance of "good housekeeping" in safeguarding your

collection from attack by microbiological organisms.

I can think of nothing more heartbreaking than to behold a high grade

copy of a comic or similar collectible that has since become damaged due

to improper environmental storage, especially since the appearance of mold

or fungi is easily prevented. In order to better understand the danger

that molds pose to a collection, we need to examine the life cycle of

these micro-organisms.

During the life-cycle of a typical fungi (and this includes molds)

the organism reaches a point where reproduction occurs. In order to

reproduce, fungi will create spores (basically the "seed") that will

spread and help in the dispersal of the organism to new habitats. A

single mold will produce large amounts of these spores in order to

increase the odds of successful germination. Spores, once released,

are carried by circulating winds until they land on a surface that

contains conditions suitable for their incubation and subsequent growth.

Since these spores can survive for an indefinite length of time, they

pose a constant source of danger and are in the air around us at all

times just waiting until conditions favour their growth.

These conditions generally include the following: oxygen to breath

(although there are molds and fungi that do not need oxygen in order to

survive), a food source large enough to maintain the life-cycle during

the growth period, a temperature that is suitable to a fungi's specific

requirements and an area that is sufficiently humid. If these factors

are present in an area, then mold will grow. If these factors are not

present, then the reverse is also true - the fungi will not incubate.

Because a fungi needs such specific requirements in order to sustain

it's life-cycle, there are some very simple steps that the average

collector can take in order to prevent an infestation from occurring

in the collection.

While it is reasonable to assume that the average collector is

unable to limit the amount of oxygen available, and any "food source"

needed by the organism is contained within the comic itself, only the

environmental factors of temperature and humidity are within the ability

of most collectors to control.

To begin with, the mold that can be readily found on paper has a

narrow temperature range in which it's life-cycle is optimized. If

temperatures are lowered or, for that matter - raised, beyond the limits

of this optimal range, then the growth of the fungus is altered and/or

rendered impossible. Research has found that most of the fungi

responsible for the infestation of paper and cellulosic materials

requires an optimal temperature range of 65-860F. Any temperature

outside of this range will generally serve to protect your collection

from biological attack.

One problem, as readers of the previous columns will immediately

recognize, the optimum range for mold growth covers the same temperature

range recommended for ideal storage of paper and cellulosic materials

(68 -72 Fahrenheit). And what's worse, some species of mold are active

at temperatures lower than 650F! By maintaining a constant temperature

in your storage area of 720F or lower, you are still providing favourable

conditions in which certain species of mold will flourish.

This leaves only one factor that can easily be controlled by the

collector: relative humidity.

As mentioned in previous columns, relative humidity is a major

factor in the degradation and subsequent browning of paper fibres.

Relative humidity levels above 65% readily contribute to the germination

of spores. It is therefore in the collectors best interest to control,

as much as possible, the relative humidity levels within the storage area.

By keeping the relative humidity to the recommended 50%, spores are

prevented from establishing themselves within the collection. If

relative humidity is ever found to be above the 50% recommendation

(for example a flooded basement or damp storage area) then mold will

begin to propagate. Put another way, the mildew you smell is the mold

you cannot see. If you are unable to easily control the relative

humidity of the storage area (for example, after a flood or during a

spring thaw) then installing a fan to promote air circulation will also

help to prevent mold damage from becoming widespread. Air circulation

can act to prevent the spores from landing long enough to infect the

damp paper fibres and at the same time will help to dry out the damp

areas.

If an infestation does occur, it is most likely to be in the

form of "foxing". This term "foxing", is ascribed to the appearance

of reddish-brown areas, encircled by a lighter-brown ring. And while

it is a problem found mainly on books and older prints, it can also

be found on comic books. It is encountered more often than any other

mold or fungal infestation and usually it's appearance is restricted

to a small area and is not wide-spread over the pages of the comic itself.

Interestingly enough, it's exact origins have not been proven

conclusively but two theories exist:

 

 

1) The reddish-brown spots are fungal in origin and under damp

conditions germinate and the life-cycle begins

or

2) The brown stains are caused by the formation of metallic salts

from stray metallic compounds located in the paper fibres themselves.

 

 

In addition to those two theories, there is a third hypothesis that

suggests the conversion of metallic ions into metallic salts occurs due

to the life-cycle of a fungal infestation - basically a combination of

the two previous theories.

Experimental data from around the world (most notably from

researchers in Germany, Britain and Canada) shows traces of iron,

copper and zinc within the regions of the staining. Also, it has been

discovered that the pH of the stained areas is dramatically more acidic

than the surrounding paper support. Heavily "foxed" books, prints and

comics, all suffer from embrittlement, degradation and if the damage is

severe enough, complete perforation of the stained areas. Foxing, whether

caused by micro-organisms or the formation of metallic salts, will

eventually result in a weakness and loss of strength and fibre structure

irreparably damaging the comic for life.

In order to safeguard collections from harm, a systematic routine

of cleaning and maintenance that monitors the condition of the collection

is needed. By randomly selecting books from the collection and

investigating them thoroughly cover to cover, the collector can effectively

monitor the state of his/her books. How often a random search through

the collection occurs, depends on the environmental conditions of the

storage area in which the collection is housed. If the environment is

below recommended levels then spot-checks should be undertaken more

frequently.

If you do discover a mold growth on a book or have purchased a

book with mold or foxing already present, there are several things you

should do immediately. First, panic! Mold and spores are always active,

all they require are the proper conditions in order to grow. They never

die. Ever. So, if you discover a problem, consider it an indication of

wide spread infestation and a harbinger of worse things to come. If

detected early enough, the damage caused by mold and fungi can be reduced

and the contaminated books can be saved from irreparable harm. Without

giving away any trade secrets, I heartily recommend the following course

of action:

 

 

1) remove the books that are contaminated to an area away from the

rest of the collection. This will prevent the spread of spores to

books not yet contaminated.

2) change the environmental conditions of the storage area so that

spore growth cannot readily occur. Lower the temperature and the

relative humidity to within recommended levels.

3) take your contaminated comics outside and gently brush over any

visible areas that are present. Throw away the brush when you are

finished as it will be contaminated with spores.

4) store the contaminated books in a separate storage area away

from the rest of the collection. Make sure that environmental

conditions within this second storage area are within recommended

levels.

5) keep air within both storage areas circulating. Stagnant air

allows spores a chance to land and germinate if conditions are

favourable. Do not consciously create a micro-environment where

mold spores can incubate. (For more information on micro-climates

see the previous "Conservation for the Collector" column.)

6) after an extended period of time, check the contaminated books

again for further activity. If no further activity is noticeable,

then the books can be returned to the main collection. However, if

maintaining a separate storage area is feasible, then the

contaminated books should remain quarantined.

 

 

Fungi and mold damage can occur very easily to a collection, in spite

of the diligence of the collector to prevent such damage from occurring.

Through the application of sound and archivally safe storage methods and

the implementation of a regular schedule of examination, the appearance

of mold and other fungi will be kept to an absolute minimum and damage

to the collection, from these sources, will be eliminated. Remember, the

appearance of mold and fungi on a comic is a danger sign that cannot be

ignored as it is symptomatically indicative of a larger problem - high

relative humidity.

Until next time, when we'll look at rodents, pests and things

that go "munch" in the night, keep on collecting.

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tracey heft, author of the Overstreet "Bag and Board" columns, is a

professionally trained paper and artifact conservator and a member of

The International Institute for Conservation - Canadian Group.

Tracey has worked extensively for the Canadian federal governement on the

restoration and preservation of priceless historic documents. He is also

working in the field of comics and collectibles restoration. Some of

the books Tracey has worked on include: Amazing Spider-Man 1, Fantastic

Four 1, Showcase 6,8, 11 and 14, Adventure 74, Captain Marvel Adventures 3.

Tracey may be reached care of Eclipse Paper Conservation (613) 230-6181 or

email at a...@freenet.carleton.ca (until Tracey gets a net connection of

his own).

 

 

Photos and scans of sample work available on request.

 

This may be of some use in explaining the symptoms you see if indeed there is mold or mildew. It is apparent that your situation is slightly different from those described because it is on the metal and not the book,but that may be explained by the fact that new comic paper is very glossy and seems coated by the glossy ink. If anyone has ever seen a new book with foxing or mold I would be intrested to hear if it happens or if the new paper in not ideal for mold.

[gradejunky]

The spots do slightly diminish after thorough wiping with qtip but I will still be left with a tarnished staple. Some tarnish, some spot, and some just stay nice!! I actually do have a thermohygrometer on the wall directly above comics so I am not relying on the dehumidifier for readings. Sorry, I would have already told you that but I just called it the humidity gauge. I am pretty sure that the problem is just some corroding and not fungal, but I am stumped. Like I said, during the summer when it was at it's worst I can only keep the room so cool due to the ac unit being in next room. I bet if I could keep the room much cooler, the problem would lessen. The dehumidifier I use is a gold star 35 pint unit. It was the cheapest one at home depot at $150.

[CW]

No rust though?

[divad]

Move to Arizona . . .

[Mr. Zipper]

This is really strange. It's only the bottom staples?

 

To me this indicates it has something to do with the surface the books are sitting on. If it was the atmosphere or the bags it would affect the top and bottom staples equally.

 

Does the floor in that room get cold? Is there an unheated garage or something like that below the room? If the floor is much cooler than the air in the room, perhaps the floor is conducting cold or dampness into the bottom of the comics, thus affecting the bottom staples worse than the top.

 

Try placing the comic boxes off the floor... like on a milk crate or something and see if it makes a difference.

[gradejunky]

No rust CW. Thanks for all the info. Since the weather has really cooled off and become dryer the staples are fairing much better. I think I just need to find a way to keep the room cooler and dryer during the summer and will definately elevate them and see if it helps. Thank you everyone.

[CW]

Good Luck! Hope the staples stop doing that. Keep us updated.