Stains

Stains pretty much come with the territory when you are buying stamps from old collections.

There are several different kinds on the paper of stamps and covers.
 * dusty grayish black is probably mildew and/or mold. If you aren't sneezing now from allergies, you will be.
 * reddish brown is mold, known as foxing. See that page.
 * Brown stains around where hinges are applied are from chewing tobacco.
 * dried spots from a liquid like coffee, cola or strong tea.

Assuming you have used stamps with staining, a soak in cold clean water is the only treatment you should attempt. Everybody and his brother have the perfect stain remover, usually some kind of bleaching agent. But chemicals like that

[[Category:S]]