newshane

Four weeks....

Keep them coming. Can't wait to see mine.

I wish all dealers would come to this realization. And yes, I expect raws to come with a bag and board.

I can only hope....

Yes, paper degradation is something that happens over many years, unless the paper is directly exposed to sunlight, water, pests, or any other environmental exposure that would exponentially increase the rate of decay. Some have mentioned comics from the early 1980s that are still fresh despite less than ideal storage conditions. That's not long enough to tell much of a difference. This sort of thing happens on a much longer timescale. As mentioned before, your comics will age far better than you will, even if they are stashed in polypropylene instead of Mylar. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't take advantage of the best possible methods of storage, especially for expensive, rare, or "antique" comics. Like I said, our comics will likely outlive us. But I feel a responsibility for the preservation of my comics for future generations. I am the caretaker. If a few more bucks will extend the life of my comic for an additional 200 or 300 years as opposed to half that amount, then why not? Is it overkill? Maybe. That's for you to decide. But facts are facts. Your paper is in a state of steady entropy, much like yourself. Extreme shifts or peaks in temperature and/or humidity will shave years off the life of your comics. Throw in off-gassing, acidification of the paper, the breakdown of inks and adhesives, rust - there is more to a comic than just paper you know - and you have a host of things working against your best attempts at preservation. The OP is trying to claim that Mylar damages the books that are contained therein, but Mylar would be the very least of his worries. I can't imagine any legitimate conservation expert would make the sort of claims he described. Yes, it's true that many companies who make and sell "collecting supplies" aren't afraid to exploit the paranoia inherent in comic nerds like us. Some charge more than they should. Others take advantage of people's ignorance on the subject and twist words and technical terms for their own selfish benefit. Of course there are money-grubbers in that part of the hobby. They proliferate throughout every hobby. But that doesn't mean that the basic good-sense and scientific concepts behind the principle of the matter aren't fully sound. As stated by others in this thread, Mylar is the most superior material, to date, for the long-term preservation of comics. It's also important to have a backing board for the physical protection of the book. It's very important to make sure they contain a calcium carbonate buffer throughout. This maintains a neutral pH. Without this feature, the acids in the stock used to make the backing boards would be introduced into the book's "micro-climate", which would be very bad, of course. Things like acid-free tape (GO EASY) and microchamber paper (to fight the acidification of interior pages) don't hurt! My problem with the OP's claim is that it goes against every bit of scientific evidence and expert advice that I've ever seen or heard, and not all of it has come from companies trying to sell me stuff. Just use the bags and boards that fit within your budget and find a place of zen with things. Your books will likely be just fine unless you stash them in a soggy basement, shed, or garage. People DO take this stuff too far, but like I said in my post above, preservation and storage is a fun part of the hobby for me. I spend as I see fit more my collection. In the end, I have a rather libertarian view. People can store their comics however they wish. I've made my decision based on my research, I can afford to spend the extra, and I do.

I know. I have a customer waiting.

Reholder seems to be taking forever these days. I had one come back after 6 days a few months ago. Now I'm sitting at three weeks in...

As far as I know, they only encapsulate comics, magazines, and concert posters. He could call the CGC and ask them if they would encapsulate it. I doubt they would, but perhaps they wouldn't turn down the money if there was someway to profit from it. I will say that I've never seen or heard of it being done. I don't see why anyone would want it done. I'd prefer to have the piece professionally mounted and framed at an art store. If the OP is interested in encapsulation and grading, the services for which CGC is best known, I recommend buying a "blank cover" and having the artist work on a comic-sized canvas. You will need to arrange to have a witness handle and submit your book. I recommend reaching out to Rich_Henn or dscott - both of them are regulars on the board and have numerous references. Do a search for them or send me a PM for more information. If the OP will be at the show, he can arrange all of this at the CGC booth. But the 11X17? Nah. Have it framed and put it on the wall. Enjoy it for what it is. Blank cover comic commissions verified by the CGC are a whole 'nother world. The good news is that they are generally cheaper than 11x17s. I suggest reading the CGC webpage. Explore and learn what services are offered...browse the forums for examples...and just soak up some knowledge before diving in. The number one mistake made by newbies is to approach this end of the hobby with high expectations, little experience, and too high a willingness to blow too much money. At least that's how I jumped in. I wish I would have found these boards first. Good luck and welcome to the boards.

Short answer? No.

This is actually one of the worst materials to use for storage. I've written extensively on the topic. If anyone is interested in learning the results of my research, they can read all about it by clicking on the spoiler tags below. I've used a ton of professional sources to write an article on comic storage materials and methods. I hope you enjoy the read.

...and a reach-around.

FOR SALE - one copy of Uncanny X-men 266 in CGC 9.8 Universal Grade with white pages. Slab was received by me today freshly graded and encapsulated by the CGC. Nearly perfect wrap on this one - a rate feat for this issue. Overall, a very nice example. 1st full appearance of Gambit. $325 VIA PAYPAL SOLD! Free priority shipping to the USA included in the asking price. While I'm usually up for offers, please do not ask me to deal on the price with this particular comic. DISCLAIMER - this book was pressed by the CCS.

I went to eat at a crappy Chinese Buffet today for lunch. My fortune cookie said: The purpose of argument should not be victory, but progress. I laughed and thought about this thread.

MY BRAIN! WHAT ARE HAPPEN?!

All I can say right now is... I'm hungry all of the sudden... with all the talk about sausages sauteing in beer, Dr. Pibb, and all of the popcorn...

Yes. This isn't his first rodeo.

Ever heard of the second law of thermodynamics?

I'm not sure it's board policy (I will check), but it's generally frowned upon. I do know that it's breaking PayPal rules if you advertise an extra charge for using their service. If they catch you, they take down your account. Just FYI. It's a cool book! GLWTS!

I will look into adding a rider to my home insurance. State Farm has been fantastic over the years. I've been rolling with CIS for the last few years because it seemed like a cheaper, legit option. Everyone here has always backed them up...until now. Disconcerting to say the least. My only advice is: READ AND UNDERSTAND YOUR POLICIES!

Disappointing to hear. And it's renewal time to boot.

Yep. I elected to pay it. At the time, he never did signings, and I didn't think he would do many more. I always had a "price-no-object" attitude towards completing the Spawn run, so it was part of a larger sickness for sure. As with nearly any corner of this hobby, or any other, now that I think about it, one can save a boatload of cash with a little patience. It was a risk I wasn't willing to take at the time. Hindsight is too easy. As much as I hate the cliche, it is what it is. In full disclosure, I was offered a little salve to ease the burn, but since it involved spending even more money, I elected to pass. Getting the books done was truly thrilling at the time...I remind myself of that feeling every time I look back. But it was an expensive feeling. ha

I feel such shame for buying three at that price.