"The Malay Archipelago" by Alfred Russel Wallace

• Marbling - A descriptive term for a finish applied to plastic, ceramics, glass, plaster or wood to imitate the colours and characteristic markings of various marble types. For moulded items such as the first three above, the marbling is within the item.
  
  Interiors and furniture were marbled from from the early 17th century to the late Victorian period. The craft was practiced by skilled decorators using a combination of brushes and sponges. Some of the finishes achieved were so realistic as to make it difficult to distinguish the marbled surface from the marble surface.
  
  Marbling is also a term applied to a finish for paper as often seen in the front and endpapers of old books. The marbling is achieved by floating the colours on water and then transferring them to paper. However the marbling finish on paper, as with the marbling finish on plastics, with its multitude of colours has little resemblance to naturally occurring marble.
• Foxing - Foxing is a type of discoloration or staining that occurs on the edges or pages of old books, manuscripts, and other paper-based materials. The term "foxing" comes from the reddish-brown color of the stains, which is similar to the color of fox fur.
  
  Foxing is caused by a variety of factors, including exposure to moisture, high humidity, and oxidation. Over time, these environmental factors can cause the paper to yellow and develop the distinctive brownish stains. The discoloration can also be caused by pollutants in the air, such as smoke and chemicals, or by the presence of certain types of mould or mildew.
  
  Foxing can have a significant impact on the value and appearance of old books and manuscripts, and is often considered a defect. However, some people consider foxing to be a sign of the history and aging of the paper, and view it as a desirable characteristic.

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• historical documents - other 612