Musty Smell On Scott International Pages

Hi Folks,

I'm a pretty experienced stamp collector. I've also searched here first.

I received about 100 Scott International pages today, no stamps,, 1955 version.

There was a strong "Musty" smell when I took them out of the envelope. The pages are in solid good unused shape. There are no spots or marks, just the smell.

The very tops of these pages are toned about 1-16 of an inch, but that could be cut off.

I usually use the Scott specialty pages and albums, But can't get those for everything.


Opinions please on my description above? Should I not use these?

Many Thanks,
George

I wouldn't use them. Why take a chance?

Wait till a nice sunny hot day above 86 degrees and place the pages out in the sun for a few hours.

Otherwise, put them in a box with a box of baking soda, sometimes this works and sometimes not.

Throw these away. It's a sunk cost or get your money back. Don't do it.

I've bought a few old Minkus stockbook binders---probably made 50 years ago that have the musty smell and having a difficult time eliminating the smell. I supposed the smell could transfer to the pages. Someone suggested putting in plastic bags with baking soda. After a full month they still stink. The hazard of buying
box-lots without knowing the history of the items. One box lot was tagged: "caution:smell of tobacco" but fine tobacco sure doesn't smell like musty mold. I wanted the binders with the striped dust jacket like I had as
a kid. Bottom line---I wouldn't use stamp pages with any odd or musty odor.

Thanks guys, I'm going to return them. They came from Florida which is a humid state. Many times I've bought collections on old Scott international pages that were just fine, no smell at all.

I would not use those pages.

Even if there were stamps on those pages, I'd return them too. I hate smelly pages!