[samosa4u]

Originally Posted by Brian B@rry

Hi -

I have begun collecting Parkhurst hockey from 1952-55. Why do so many of these cards exhibit “foxing” - a brownish discoloration, usually on the borders?

I rarely notice it in Topps baseball from the same era.

Is it because of the paper stock? Canadian winters?

Any explanation would be appreciated!

. . . And then there are tape stains . . .

Thank you!

When these cards were first issued to the public, they were WHITE (like Matt Damon's teeth!) However, over the decades, some of them started suffering from what is known as "oxidation." Cheap paper stock has higher acid content and it starts to break down over the decades. Of course, you can slow this process down depending on how you store them.