joeypost

Always a risk on older books like this. A lot can be done to improve the look of this book without a full press, but if it were my book, I would press it.

Roughly 10 months. So in reality economy books from June of last year should be getting finalized. Anyone see any movement on their June economy books?July?

They require additional work, but they can be pressed out nicely.

Just the time I am working.

Especially when done by individuals with hours and hours of experience.

Tanning, especially heavy tanning to the outer cover doesn't always equate to brittle pages. What you need to be aware of when trying to work on a book like this is spine splits and issues with how you hydrate the book. I have personally pressed many books with heavy tanning and most of the time its fine, but every now and then something does happen. There is always a risk involved when pressing a book. Heck, we have seen lately that there is a risk involved when shipping, grading or even storing books.

Anyone see any movement on economy books?

Yes, they can be pressed out nicely. Yes, they can be dry cleaned but the person handling the book has to be familiar with the process, especially on older pulp paper. Pages can tear easily if manhandled. No, it is not considered restoration unless the pages are washed or if tears are glued shut.

I'm in the 4.0 to 4.5 boat.

Pressing will not improve page quality. Already signed books can be cracked out and pressed. You need to contact CGC about that.

On-Site pressing as the great idea?

Just older.

so far. Keep em’ coming folks.

I got you beat 8/21. Anyone who can top that? How old can you go?

You can see how easily this could happen. Someone used to cracking out slabs that have the inner well could easily forget these old “creep engine” slabs only had a thin piece of plastic covering the book and a screwdriver could easily slide in and damage the book. While that is one of the issues the bigger one is the person who damages the book without speaking up.

I'd rather my work speak on my behalf.

Page quality only affects the grade once you get past CRM/OW since I see many 9.8's with that page designation. You start to get into trouble with PQ when you hit cream, light tan, tan and brittle. As far as the cover goes tanning has a major impact on the grade of the book. I get a lot of books in that structurally are in the 9.4 and better range, but tanning drops the book down considerably.

Based on this video, I can guarantee most pressing services done mysteriously behind doors are better than these guys. If they handle books this harshly WHILE BEING VIDEO TAPED, imagine what they do in private. Cracking out a book is an art in itself. In most cases the damage done to books is in the dry-cleaning process or when liberating the book from the slab, not while they are in the press. I had offered on-site pressing at shows many years back. I lugged around 15 presses to WW Philly and Chicago due to the on-site grading. I stopped doing it.

Dangerous

7.5/8.0

I literally have no words...

Doesn't affect the story so I understand the universal label. 3.0 was a little on the generous side with that much missing from the cover.

4.0