MrBedrock

Some folks around here know me as a hard core Timely fanatic. You have really hit the spot the last few days. My favorite Timely books are the tryout anthology titles...Daring Mystery, Mystic, the first five issues of USA. I like the fact that each issue has a new line-up of characters and most have great covers. I can't pick a favorite cover as it changes for me month to month. If you could add some of these at the bottom of your (now long) to do list it would be much appreciated.

 

I am curious how people got in touch with you? There is no address or phone number.

 

Smoke signals, Tom-Toms, mesaages in a bottle.

 

I responded to all.

Obviously you have amazing communication skills! Were you ever able to talk anyone down to less then a penny on those (practically new) pre-1963 comics?

I am curious how people got in touch with you? There is no address or phone number.

Would one or more of you storage experts please comment on how the CGC holder stacks up to these recommended mylar/mylite storage methods. In other words, from a storage conservation standpoint, is there any reason to crack the CGC slab and reholder the book in a mylar and mylite?

 

Also, is a slabbed book sealed in a 100% air-tight sleeve inside the outer CGC holder? As you can tell from these questions, I haven't cracked any of my slabs yet.

 

Peter,

 

Several questions/issues here.

 

1) Archival quality of the CGC slab and inner well. While Barex 210 (the material used for the CGC inner well) is not listed by the Library of Congress as one of the five "approved" plastics for storage of paper artifacts, that is because it has not been tested by the LoC. I confirmed this with Carrie Bayer of the Preservation Directorate of the Library of Congress a few years ago. Barex is desirable for its inertness and chemical stability (and resistance to chemicals), and is also an excellent oxygen and moisture barrier. Barex 210 also meets all of the criteria that Ms. Beyer identified as the important elements of a storage film approved by the LoC - inertness, chemical resistance, and not being heavily plasticized. There are also no UV inhibitors added to the inner well, which is good from the LoC's perspective, because added UV inhibitors can leech out of the plastic into the item being stored.

 

2) Safety of a book stored in the CGC inner well from an "archival" perspective. Even if a storage film is an approved plastic, you need to have an alkaline reserve inside of any enclosure if you are going to seal an unbuffered paper artifact inside of it. CGC uses Microchamber paper, which is designed to act as an alkaline reserve within an enclosure such as the CGC holder.

 

3) Airtight/not airtight? The CGC slab is not airtight. The ultrasonic seal will prevent ready exchange of "new" air in and out of the slab, but the Barex inner well is not a 100% barrier to oxygen or other gases. But it does the job as well as or better than any other plastic used for storage of comics.

 

4) Is there any reason to crack the slab and store the comic in Mylar? Other than "so you can read it," there are only two reasons I can think of - the first is "SCS" (shaken comic syndrome). This refers to the slab damage that can occur when a comic bangs against the inner walls of the inner well and causes blunting of the comic's edges and corners. The other is to replace the Microchamber paper when it loses efficacy. CGC suggests reholdering every 7 years. The literature from the manufacturer of Microchamber paper suggests that it will actually remain effective for quite a bit longer than that. Eventually, the alkaline reserve in the Microchamber paper will give out and it will need to be replaced. I suspect that the length of time that a piece of Microchamber will retain efficacy depends upon the acidity of the book being stored inside the slab with it, so pinning down its efficacy to a given number of years is not something that you can just spit out as an exact number as to all books.

 

A Full Back, which has a lot more alkaline material in it than Microchamber paper, will probably last longer. (It is thicker, and 3% of it is pure calcium carbonate.) But if your comics are stored in proper conditions (cool, dry, mostly dark, and stable environment) and started out with good paper quality, the book should be fine in the slab for many years.

Scott,

That is just about the most informative post that I have read yet. Thank you!

Sorry about that, just trying to line up some of my favorites!

Kinda my own BZ slide show, if you will.

Ok here's one. (Sorry I'm too lazy to post scans.)

 

If you could have them for the same price would you rather have:

 

The Action 1 CGC 2.5 with the chunk out of the top left cover that has been talked about on the boards so many times, or the Mastronet Action 1 CGC 1.8 that has incredible eye appeal for the grade but has brittle pages?

I am also turned off immediately by brittle pages. It is so bad to me that (and I'm embarrassed to admit it) even if i'm looking at someone's collection for fun and come across a book with brittle pages I kinda make that snooty face like when someone farts at a dinner party!

Steve, what are you doing over here in the timely section?....are you crossing over ,too?

gator

 

....more like tip toeing over...bought my 1st Timely this week ...

high grade unrestored Young Allies #10, and negotiating on a Human Torch #1

 

never too late to acquire good taste.

Oh great. Here come's that arrogant SOB, Parker, again. You, sir.....well,

you have no heart!!!!

(My third graemlin, somebody stop me)

ok, I am little nervous here...BZ, I know we have only known each other for a very short time, and while I am already married with 4 kids...(gets down on one knee)...I was , um, wondering....if...well...you would do me the honor of...um...

(sorry, my hands are a little sweaty, and my heart is beating a little to fast)...

 

there was another GA thread about trading your wife for comics!...I think I found my answer!

 

gator

I'll take you, Rick. Imagine our collection if we were a couple!

(Only my second use of a graemlin!)

Yo Rich! You might have to find a better copy, surfers is gonna give yours a run for the money.

Remember, Paul...It isn't a competition. Please, no wagering!

Plus, someday I might have a book that Surfer wants.....on that day, LET THE BARTERING BEGIN!

A little better scan, this is going straight to CGC.

Wow, congrats Surfer! Pretty book.

This is phenomenal. And if you get a chance please show the back cover. It is even better. The Black Hand will love you for it.

hello all...

well, Tec 27 is my "grail" and all the timely's in china can't change that (but change is good)...so, I'll stick with the old, and collect the new!

however, some change is forthcoming... from here on out, I sign off as "gator" (around these here parts of North Fl, that's what I be known as ,because about the only thing i am more passionate about than comics, is my florida gators!)

gator

 

i claim responsibility for the nickname; introduced it in mississippi.

I thought you like to call me "...tiger" (or should I have kept that between you and me??)

gator

 

not exactly; what i like to call you is related to a tiger--different kind of cat, tho'. starts with a "p."

(ok, you one upped me on that one)

gator

 

So not a Tiger, but a Pa Pa P...uma, yeah a Puma..thats a cool cat.

 

I thought it was puddytat. But I stayed away from that part of the house while they were coming up with those love nicknames!

 

Ahh...Thats right, you were on Bills lap in the Den!

zing!

gator

 

That's how I got the Cap 3. Why do you think it was cleaned......OOPS. I hadn't disclosed that. Sorry, forget I said anything......

 

Does that mean I have to sit on someone's lap to get the Cap 3? Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Nah, I think the deal we worked out is okay. But next time you get a book off of eBay see if that will work.

hello all...

well, Tec 27 is my "grail" and all the timely's in china can't change that (but change is good)...so, I'll stick with the old, and collect the new!

however, some change is forthcoming... from here on out, I sign off as "gator" (around these here parts of North Fl, that's what I be known as ,because about the only thing i am more passionate about than comics, is my florida gators!)

gator

 

i claim responsibility for the nickname; introduced it in mississippi.

I thought you like to call me "...tiger" (or should I have kept that between you and me??)

gator

 

not exactly; what i like to call you is related to a tiger--different kind of cat, tho'. starts with a "p."

(ok, you one upped me on that one)

gator

 

So not a Tiger, but a Pa Pa P...uma, yeah a Puma..thats a cool cat.

 

I thought it was puddytat. But I stayed away from that part of the house while they were coming up with those love nicknames!

 

Ahh...Thats right, you were on Bills lap in the Den!

zing!

gator

That's how I got the Cap 3. Why do you think it was cleaned......OOPS. I hadn't disclosed that. Sorry, forget I said anything......

hello all...

well, Tec 27 is my "grail" and all the timely's in china can't change that (but change is good)...so, I'll stick with the old, and collect the new!

however, some change is forthcoming... from here on out, I sign off as "gator" (around these here parts of North Fl, that's what I be known as ,because about the only thing i am more passionate about than comics, is my florida gators!)

gator

 

i claim responsibility for the nickname; introduced it in mississippi.

I thought you like to call me "...tiger" (or should I have kept that between you and me??)

gator

 

not exactly; what i like to call you is related to a tiger--different kind of cat, tho'. starts with a "p."

(ok, you one upped me on that one)

gator

 

So not a Tiger, but a Pa Pa P...uma, yeah a Puma..thats a cool cat.

I thought it was puddytat. But I stayed away from that part of the house while they were coming up with those love nicknames!

I've always been curious why the kids are driving a truck full of cigarettes and the Young Allies are protecting them. I guess the thugs didn't want the kids selling smokes to other kids on rival school turf!?!

hello all...

well, Tec 27 is my "grail" and all the timely's in china can't change that (but change is good)...so, I'll stick with the old, and collect the new!

however, some change is forthcoming... from here on out, I sign off as "gator" (around these here parts of North Fl, that's what I be known as ,because about the only thing i am more passionate about than comics, is my florida gators!)

gator

 

i claim responsibility for the nickname; introduced it in mississippi.

I thought you like to call me "...tiger" (or should I have kept that between you and me??)

gator

GGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Bang,

can you post some more photos of your cool posters sometime?

(I really love your Supey 3-sheet)

 

 

Crowzilla, I don't know how much interest there is on these boards for movie posters, but for those who care - here's a photo of one the posters in my collection.

 

Freaks 3-sheet (41x81")

 

BZ,

Thanks for finally posting the theme poster for the CGC boards!

I think the guy who made fun of your couch is pictured at bottom right.

Hopefully he will be wearing that get-up to ChicagoCon when he helps work

my table. Booyaa!

would it bother anyone if I changed my handle to MarvelMysteryKid ?

rick

 

 

I'm just saying.....

Bill,

You can change your name to CioCaptainAmericaGirl.

Has a nice ring to it!

would it bother anyone if I changed my handle to MarvelMysteryKid ?

rick

 

i would embrace it. it would help diminish the stink from gatorfandom as well.

I proudly stink of gatorfandom!...but since I have been "overwhelmed" by this timely thread, and my main focus these days are MMC, I am considering a name change...now parker, to me , you are "mr" timely (no offense West), closely followed by the Bedrocker, so I don't want this DCist to step on anyone's timely toes, so I figured I would ask first!

rick

Well, since Billy is the "MarvelMysteryMan" I don't see a problem.

Way to go Paul!

Here's a choice to make...

 

Marvel Mystery Comics #5 CGC Universal 8.0

 

or these six books...

 

There are two copies of Marvel #5 in 8.0. The Larson and Chicago. Both owner's value them very highly. I wish there was some way to do a reverse auction so we could see which one would get low enough for us to make a purchase. The Larson is in the lead at present!

I would take the six books.