I have just got a lot of paper Kodak, Ilford and Agfa. Most expire 2006. It has been stored at constant temperature, but not frozen. How long will it be good for ?

These are the types of paper:
Ilford MG IV RC De Luxe
Kodak Proffessional Polymax II RC Lustre and Glossy and semimat
Agfa Multicontrast Premium MCP 310 RC Glossy

I think you will find that if the paper does develop some fog, it can be treated in benzotriazole.

Many years in a cool dry place, it just gets a little slower4 and less contrasty. I've never found I've needed to use Benzotriazole.

My oldest paper is about 40 - 50 years old and fine.

Ian

In my experience (note, I said MY) the fiber based papers go first...

That's weird... in my experience RC papers go first... I have bought very old fiber paper and never had a problem. Many RC papers are developer-incorporated and don't last long, in MY experience.

Some keeps for decades, some dies in months. In my experience AGFA gets slowly foggy, Kodak dies completely, and Ilford is almost good as new - these are papers from the 1980's that I'm still using (or trying to use, in the case of the AGFA).

It depends on the formula of the emulsion and the paper type. In general, FB papers go first but there are exceptions. In general, papers with incorporated developers go first. I have given a test here for ID papers that is simple to run. The ones that test strongly positive go more rapidly than those that test weakly (black vs gray).

Simon Galley insists that Ilford papers do not contain a developing agent, but they do test positive. Something in the paper allows development to take place when treated with 4% Sodium Hydroxide.

PE

I just printed 10 - 11'X14" Ilford MG Fiber prints from a box that was given to me by an Ilford sales rep some 15 years agofor a special project I was doing. A fellow by the name of Phil Nielsen who used to be an Ilford rep in Western Canada (B.C.).
It worked great! I didn't need any Benzitriazole. I didn't get any fogging and the contrast was amazing. The tones were beautifully creamy and the separation between tones incredible. I was so impressed. I didn't have any new paper and I was desparate to print some images for an upcoming juried show.