The Distinction between Non-Restorative Pressing and Pressing as Restorative Technique

[SW3D]

The Distinction between Non-Restorative Pressing and Pressing as Restorative Technique...

 

Allow me to say, in the following journal entry, I am in no way accusing the CGC of any kind of misconduct or misrepresentation or any intentional or unintentional Pressing during the encapsulation process of comic book grading and encapsulation. And I will go further to say that in no way, am I qualified to make a statement in regards to the grading and encapsulation processes undertaken by the CGC, for I have no knowledge of the techniques and processes they utilize for such endeavors. I will further state, it is in my opinion, the CGC provides an invaluable service to all Panelologists and Comic Book Collectors looking to achieve, at this present time and juncture, the very best in Third Party Grading, Conservation, Preservation, and Archival services. And I will further declare: I support their efforts wholeheartedly, in every way, for doing their due diligence in achieving the very best results for unbiased Third Party Grading, Conservation, Preservation, and Archival services.

 

Allow me to also apologize to fellow Collectors Society member Tnerb, if, for any reason, in the following journal entry I am posting, I accidentally misconstrue, misrepresent, or take out of context, his thoughts and comments as he has previously posted in his journal entry "Pressing the Virgin Snow", as already seen on the Collectors Society portal.

 

In regards to "Pressing the Virgin Snow", Tnerb has postulated a very interesting point. Is pressing taking place during the encapsulation process? For background I will sample a snippet from the aforementioned journal entry "Pressing the Virgin Snow":

 

"I don't know but I was curious so I asked around about how that could have been done and one person came up with a most interesting aspect, that when the book is slapped they get pressed.

 

How could that be? But have you ever open a slab? Inside the well is another plastic that is sealed shut. How was it sealed shut without pressure and heat. IS every single slab we purchase being pressed during the encapsulation process?"

 

Now that is very interesting point Tnerb has brought up, one that never dawned upon me. It is a valid question that I cannot answer and only the people behind the encapsulation process can shed light on.

 

I will say this... if pressing is indeed involved in the encapsulation process, it is in my opinion, done not with the intention to restore or alter the condition, grade and or appearance of the comic book fitted into the well and slab, but done to fulfill the necessary steps to Conserve, Preserve, and Archive said comic book, and therefore should be termed as Pressing as Non-Restorative Technique.

 

Many of us will agree, intentional Pressing, through Professional or Amateur means, is undertaken to achieve a desired modification in condition and/or grade for the purpose of enhancement or restoration. This shall be termed Pressing as Restorative Technique.

 

So these distinctions shall be noted as:

 

Non-Restorative Pressing (NRP): Pressing as a result of Conservation, Preservation, Archival, and Encapsulation.

 

Pressing as Restorative Technique (PRT): Pressing through Professional or Amateur methods, undertaken to achieve a desired modification in condition and/or grade for the express purpose of enhancement or restoration.

 

Once again I must state, I do not know if pressing is indeed taking place during the encapsulation process, but if it is, then it must be disclosed and noted in the labeling. As a result, if a minimal degree of pressing has occurred due to the encapsulation process, by default, modifications in the current labeling system are in order.

 

So I thought this through and have come up with some suggestions on how this may be achieved:

 

ALL color labels will carry a default denotation: NRP (short for Non-Restorative Pressing). This is across the board for all label colors.

 

However, the Purple Color labels will have some variant distinctions:

 

All comic books that have Restoration work done minus Pressing as Restorative Technique will carry the following denotation: RNRP (short for Restoration, Non-Restorative Pressing).

 

All comic books that have Pressing as Restorative Technique done, but no other Restoration, will carry the following denotation: PRTNRP (short for Pressing as Restorative Technique, and Non-Restorative Pressing).

 

All comic books that have Restoration work done along with Pressing as Restorative Technique will carry the following denotation: RPRTNRP (short for Restoration, Pressing as Restorative Technique, and Non-Restorative Pressing).

 

I believe this is fair since it addresses all the Pressing concerns once and for all. Yes, many comics which have been intentionally pressed to enhance condition and/or grade, will be subject to a new Purple Label designation. And I know this will upset many collectors. I am sorry about that, but it is the correct thing to do.

 

And I also understand this will change the entire industry and cause ripple effects, but I believe in the long run it is for the greater good.

 

Final words: I believe everyone is entitled to opinions and suggestions, myself included, and with that I ask, if you are going to submit comments in response to this journal, do so with an open mind and with the intentions of contributing something useful, practical and thought provoking to further the discussion.

 

I thank you for reading, your understanding, and support.

 

SW3D

 

See more journals by screenwriter3d

[bagofleas]

I personally feel that pressing of a comic can occur in a number of ways, some intentional and some as a side effect of normal collecting.

 

Putting a comic in a tight box for long periods of time can cause a pressing effect. Granted, not necessarily as profound as professional pressing might achieve but similar nonetheless.

 

I have cracked slabs and spoken with CGC personnel and I tend to agree with TNerb that the process that CGC uses with their machines that heat-seal the comics into the stiff, tight plastic sheets that contain them within the outer hard plastic casings can cause a pressing effect on par with, if not even more effectual as the "tight box" scenario.

 

I can see why die hard purists may frown on professional pressing to some degree or another, but when the final result of doing such an act can also be achieved due to other normal conservation techniques, I simply fail to see the reason for considering it as a detrimental procedure that would reduce the value or purity of the book.

 

If you ADD something to it, or REPLACE something on it, or use any kind of chemical on it, then I completely understand. But regardless of any precise definition of the word "restoration", I personally can't justify applying such a term to pressing.

 

As far as I'm led to believe, pressing does not remove color breakage due to bends or creasing. It just smoothes out the warps or bends themselves. So there is still only so much that can be achieved through pressing. While grades can be increased by doing this, there are many things that can't be fixed by simply pressing the item.

 

Really, what it all comes down to is that CGC, by default, has approved of pressing as a non-restorative process by integrating CCS into their grading and not applying any difference to the labeling procedures.

 

You don't have to agree with it, but it is what it is and you will either continue to buy slabbed comics or not because of it.

 

But THAT is a personal decision. I have no problem with the current situation CGC has on pressings (whether I choose to take advantage of it or not), but I would ALSO have no problem if they chose to change their labeling or label disclosures for pressed comics.

 

[TJ Watson]

Amen . I believe restoration is adding a foreign agent to something , not heat or weight . And things should remain just as they are. And profit is not why I'm saying this, I do not sell or trade my books. If someone would buy a book that said it was pressed as opposed to an older copy that didn't but also could be pressed ( and there a thousands out there) how would that be fair. Just saying TJ

[etanick]

the amount of pressure put on a book during the encapsulating process is minimal...nothing remotely close to a press. In my opinion, there is no more or no less than sliding a book into mylar.

 

It takes a tremendous amount of pressure to remove a bend. You can take a book with a small bend and lay it under 50 lbs of books and likely that bend will still be there after hours.

 

 

[etanick]

depend on how tight a box is packed...I agree that books can be pressed naturally to a certain point.

 

I packed many of my box extremely tight for decades and I can tell you a substantial amount of my collection are flatten where the "plump" of the the spine is gone.

 

There have been many misconceptions of people about this "sign"..... "if spine is not plump, then the book is pressed...."

 

yes, naturally pressed in a tight box but to try to link that to professionally pressed is pure speculation.