Poor quality gilding on Outlaws of the Marsh

Has anyone else found poor quality gilding on the upper edge of Outlaws of the Marsh? I don't mean that it is inconsistent from new, but that it doesn't adhere properly.

I noticed on my copy that there seemed to be an excess of 'gold dust' so I ran my finger across to brush it off.

Imagine my surprise when I could see white striations exactly where my finger had been. Thinking that they must have been there, unnoticed, all along I LIGHTLY drew my finger across another part of the page top - white striations again! I was literally rubbing it off by just touching it.

I switched to the other volume and noticed the same excess 'gold dust' so decided to just blow it off: faint small white patches appeared at exactly the areas I blew. Nowhere near as prominent as the touched volume, I had to tilt it in the light to see the removed gilt, but it can even be blown off.

>1 Thwack: I think this is fairly common. I recall my first experience of this was on my FS Kelmscott Chaucer.

>3 Pax_Romana: It must be the case that every single book I've handled with gilt edges is gold foil. I've never had this happen to any other volume.

I wonder if there is some time required for the gilding to set?

I just tested my copy, and didn't notice any loss when I drew my finger across the top. I tried a few times, and it seems resistant to any issues.

I ordered my copy June, 2021, so it has had a while to sit on my shelf.

It's probably due to the gilding. Currently SubPress is facing a drama with their Malazan reprints. The first book had to be entirely re-done and now it's the same with the third, that is going to be at least a year late.