Browning/discoloration of sets in boxes??

Rudedawg

I recently picked up a complete set of 1984 Donruss from an eBay auction. Got it at a really good price and it was from a West Coast dealer with great feedback.

Got the set today and it was in a standard white card box. The second I opened it, I noticed the top edges of cards were brownish, more than I thought was normal. The first card is the Robin Yount Diamond King and the back of the card was facing out. It was very brown and the next card's back was completely white. All of the browning is on both edges of the set. Otherwise, the conditions of the cards were very good and there was little discoloration outside the edges.

The cards and box don't smell like smoke or mold at all. Curious as to how common this is for white edged sets or other opinions. I don't have a lot of experience with this.

Thanks

wrongleg

Not sure what the cause is. Both my 1981 Fleer and Donruss set had the same thing happen to them. I hand collated them myself in 1981 and they were in the same controlled temperature as my other cards and none of my other cards/sets have had this happen. About 2 years ago, I opened the boxes for the first time in about 25 years and thats when I found it.

digicat

The cards I collected as a kid and that remained at my mom's house until I came to get them 10 years ago exhibited the same phenomenon.

Due to the strong stench of cigarette smoke (mom smokes), I had assumed that the staining and the smell were related. The lack of a smell from you cards could mean that they were sufficiently aired out and re-boxed, or that the staining is caused by something else.

Rudedawg

Thanks guys. My first reaction was that it was from a smoking environment, but if it was, it certainly doesn't smell like it. I'm a little irked about it not being in the description of the auction, but will likely just keep the set.

Exodus

Same thing happened to my white boarder 1990-91 OPC hockey set. We don't smoke. They were kept in those white boxes, and the white borders turned yellow.

DCanfield

Do you think it could be acid in the paper stock of the box? I know you need acid-free mats for photos.

dennis07

They could've been stored in an area that gets a wide range of temperature and humidity such as the attic or a basement. I brought a box of '94 Topps commons down from the attic
recently. They had been there for about 10 years. The edges of the white stock had turned brownish.