Another Is this mold? question.

Hey, guys so I have this tobacco card and I must know if this looks like mold or dirt? It does not smell and doesn't have the usual mold spotting I usually see. If it was mold is it fine to store with my collection of other tobacco cards? I know I am paranoid about this stuff but I do my best to keep my collections safe!

 

https://www.moldbacteria.com/mold/how-to-distinguish-mold-growth-from-other-discolorations.html

I would brush it lightly with a small brush. If it brushes off easily but leaves a small stain behind...then it is worth getting a magnifying glass out. Mold spores can travel in a collection ...but conditions have to be right for growth. Humidity is the critical factor.

 

I tried brushing it and it did nothing, nothing came off, overall the card is just much dirtier than the others which is leading me to believe it's just dirt stains.

 

doesn't sound like mold...

 

Thanks for the input! I'll try brushing it again To make sure and I'll get a magnifying glass out.

 

Hi,
Wipe it with a slice of CHEAP white bread. The bread crumbs will clean a lot of dirt of the card. I learned the trick from the MET in NYC. They clean a lot of paper using "Wonder" bread. They sell expensive clay ball cleaners but the bread does a better job and for less than a cent.
greg

 

Greg, you are a fountain of useful information, you have so many of these tips for us

 

The local store just got to four bucks for a loaf of their cheap stuff

 

With all the gold you're finding, that shouldn't be a problem !!!

 

Hi Terry,
What kind of store do you go to? We have Aldis and their white bread is 90 cents a large loaf. we also have an Entaimens day old bread and pastry place. The white bread is usually 40 cents a loaf, the pies are 1 buck and cookies that sell at the name stores for 4 bucks are 80 cents at the discount store.
greg