Found Mildew Spots - How Do I Know If Its My Fault?

BTW, I failed to indicate, the biggest single thing you can do
to protect your stamps, is place your albums in slip cases.

Dust is the vehicle that transports toning, if you don't
believe me, try turning on a torch at night
in your bedroom, and shake a blanket.....:)

I know when I spent some years living in Thailand
air borne pollutants were absolutely incredible,
a layer of fine muck was always building on window ledges etc,
mainly due I think to farmers, burning the rice stalks in the paddy's.

If you live in a built up area in India, I might imagine
the same occurs there.
All albums should live in a slip case. :)

Rod222, very wise advice, one can never learn enough about inadvertent Philatelic damage. In the past my guests upon entry told me they could detect a musky odour, even though we could not. Sure enough when I checked my Silica Gel it had turned pink, so a slow 2hrs of drying the Silica gel crystals in an old oven outside on the lowest setting and the crystals are back to dark blue. During my apprenticeship we were told that drying Silica Gel gives off a poisonous gas so it should not be done within the home oven.

That's unusal finches,
was your home "musky" or your stamp collection?
If your home has traces, perhaps
your gutters are blocked and water is getting in the eaves ?

Our neighbors have just returned from Brisbane,
and they are saying everything is damp and mouldy
over there at the moment after a season of heavy rains.

I am fortunate, I have allergy to dust and pollen
as soon as I come within cooeee of dust or pollen
my eyes water like taps.
My home is always dry and warm, as best I can make it.

(Albeit a curse when I go out cycling in a Northern wind)

I've found that a small safe with dehumidifier makes for a good storage solution. Here in the States, small gun safes are relatively cheap, and they can be equipped with mini-dehumidifiers. So you get security from theft, fire protection, and protection from the humidity.

Another suggestion is to move to Canada. Never too hot, never too humid, and with good heating system and air conditionig, you can keep indoor temp between 22 and 24 all year around

Ros222, Only the interior corridor area is where guests have commented, brick home with limited beneath floor ventilation is not a blessing even if dry. My small limited collection within the 1050KG steel box has Blue Silica Gel (1.5 litre volume) spread within a open plastic container. Takes about 3 weeks for half to turn pinkish.

From experience most people do not smell muskiness within their own home until they come home after a few days away.

Mint stamps from my youth were fine in the southern part of Australia but in Queensland sub tropics destroyed all the gummed stamps in 5 years of neglect. Luckily they were Australia Decimal stamps so they were all used sending material to dealers. Still lost a lot of value even by using the stamps for mailing.

Now I have won many lots of KGV stamps with a mixture of mint and used, with rust described as a problem with the lot. I really like buying these lots, they are very cheap and they will clean up mostly, to spot on.

My background in horticulture has made me use a quality detergent with heaps of antifungals in it. I do not wash the detergent out of the rust affected stamps and I have stamps that were treated like this 10 years ago and they are still perfect.

For over 12 years now all I have collected are used stamps only. It has taken a while but out of depression of a fine mint collection destroyed has been born a lovely collection of used stamps and a handsome lot of mint no gum.

It is our own choice but!
Always Happy Stamping! Rust destroying KGV!

I would like to thank Rod222 for taking his time out and counseling me. Rod222 your posts helped me a lot and I am still trying to get over the anxiety I am suffering from over this issue. I have been reading your post many many times. Trying to console me and trying to make new strategies on the collection.

Thanks everyone else for taking their time to post.

If this issue was not contagious, well then there was nothing to worry about. But then I realized the fact, and life is too short to worry about such things. I would better collect stamps that would give me a relaxation instead of stress.

KGV collector, gum is worst enemy in hot and humid climates. It is great that you are enjoying the hobby now and so do I wish to get out of this depression or crisis and start enjoying the hobby.