[LewisM]

I finally found my dream scope. The price is RIGHT, and all is there, but only 1 issue - there is a patch of striated / filamentous mould behind the first element of the objective (a 4 element refractor). The patch is roughly the width of the first finger tip.

Naturally, this would need to be cleaned off, but being a 4 element design, this could well throw collimation off unless I marked the position of the lens first. BUT, if there is mould already, is there every chance it has "eaten" through the coatings (it is ED glass)? Realistically, how much degradation could occur from such an instance?

Attached is a shot of the objective. Dusty outside, but note the mould striation at 1 o'clock.

I want it badly, but is this a deal breaker? Would UV tend to thwart this one?

It's an UNCOMMON scope, rarely seen any more.