Comics that have a musty smell - damaged? 0

[joe_collector]

Put in a container with an open box of baking soda. I had a musty book once that I wanted to give as a gift (bought it on ebay) and the baking soda trick worked really well.

 

Definitely, and the clay kitty litter example is intended for multiple books. If you've just got one, baking soda would probably work better.

[Wally's Comics]

Not the musty kind, but I like the smell of old comics...

 

I went to a Con this weekend and I was over an old couple of boxes and Man!

that old smell of old ink and paper sent me way back in the old days of going to

the Flea Market and dreaming of having the nice books I have today.

[Red Hook]

I was thinking of sealing it in an air tight box with a bunch of cedar blocks for about a month... perhaps the cedar will absorb the remaining musty smell and leave it cedar fresh. If I do my experiment, I will report back.

 

Try clay-based kitty litter.

 

Make sure the comic is protected (cardboard between it and the litter, bagged but open, and then seal it in a box with the kitty litter.

 

Just make sure the kitty doesn't get near it.....

 

 

[OldGuy]

The single most telling smell. in my opinion, is not "musty" but "vinegary". A vinegar smell indicates acetic acid. Acetic acid is the stuff cast when paper begins to acidify. A bad thing. It means the book is already rather acid and, even with proper storage, will break down sooner than non-acetic acid smell books.

 

And if anyone here knows about the long term effects of acid it would be POV.

[OldGuy]

I bought a Mile High from a guy who smoked cigars. Guess what the Mile High smelled like??!?

 

Makes me greatfull I don't smoke in the house.

[burntboy]

The single most telling smell. in my opinion, is not "musty" but "vinegary". A vinegar smell indicates acetic acid. Acetic acid is the stuff cast when paper begins to acidify. A bad thing. It means the book is already rather acid and, even with proper storage, will break down sooner than non-acetic acid smell books.

 

And if anyone here knows about the long term effects of acid it would be POV.

 

why? did he used to "drop" back in the day?

[goldust40]

The single most telling smell. in my opinion, is not "musty" but "vinegary". A vinegar smell indicates acetic acid. Acetic acid is the stuff cast when paper begins to acidify. A bad thing. It means the book is already rather acid and, even with proper storage, will break down sooner than non-acetic acid smell books.

 

And if anyone here knows about the long term effects of acid it would be POV.

 

why? did he used to "drop" back in the day?

 

By the looks of things, yes.

[PovertyRow]

The single most telling smell. in my opinion, is not "musty" but "vinegary". A vinegar smell indicates acetic acid. Acetic acid is the stuff cast when paper begins to acidify. A bad thing. It means the book is already rather acid and, even with proper storage, will break down sooner than non-acetic acid smell books.

 

And if anyone here knows about the long term effects of acid it would be POV.

 

why? did he used to "drop" back in the day?

 

Moi? Not at all!!!!

 

WHOAH!!!!!!! Did you just see THAT??? COOL!!!!!

[PUNYHUMAN]

Happy Trails to you!!!

[MareB]

Luckily none of my comics smells like vinegar; just that old slightly musty smell....no mildew is evident either. Thanks again for all the input. Really enjoyed reading your answers.

[Artboy99]

17 year old thread!

Is a seller that attends local comic conventions and his comics all have a strong cigarette smell to them. I wont buy books from him anymore because of the smell. Is to bad as he has a lot of golden age books.

[FoggyNelson]

I tried putting a musty comic book into the freezer for a week , I think it helped a little bit , I tried using a dryer clothe inside a musty comic , I don’t think that one works, I dislike musty comics , they are deal breaker for me, they make a whole room smell😡😡😷

[ThothAmon]

Must admit my comics don’t all smell alike. Kinda like the way this pile smells. 
 

[FoggyNelson]

5 minutes ago, ThothAmon said:

Must admit my comics don’t all smell alike. Kinda like the way this pile smells. 
 

Looks like a barn find? What titles are they ?

[ThothAmon]

Not really sure what’s in there. I’ve been stacking low grade/cover less books in those piles for 20 years. 

[ThothAmon]

This book (and the other 79 or so from the oo collection) have a subtle  mothball smell.  CGC didn’t make note. Smells good. 
 

Edited January 30, 2021 by ThothAmon

[Gaard]

Even though I don't want my comics to smell, I like the smell of old paper.

[OuterboroGuy]

I tried the kitty litter method this past summer.  In one bin I had the comics in a single layer (so only 4 comics) and in the other bin I had 4 piles of about 15 comics each.  Worked pretty well with the 4 comics, not so much on the others, even after being in the bin since July.