Mylar bags for CGC Magazines finally available!

[Rune]

Just saw that it is now possible to buy protective mylar bags for CGC magazines:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/20-CGC-Magazine-MYLAR-Bags-Sparkling-Resealable-for-CGC-Magazines-/190813139268?pt=US_Comic_Books&hash=item2c6d597144

 

Personally I have monitored E. Gerber and BCE Mylar for years, but they never offered such bags, so great to see them from another seller!

[comix4fun]

At almost $1.50 per bag with domestic shipping factored in it seems a bit expensive for less than 2 mil of mylar.

[Rune]

I have tested a few of these bags, and of course you can get thicker Mylar, but if it gets too thick you may have a problem stacking the books. I read somewhere that for optimal preservation experts recommend flat storage of larger paper documents, so all my magazines are stored horizontally, about 10 magazines on top of each other. The CGC holder is made so that the holders nearly "click in" on top of each other preventing them from sliding when stacked horizontally - and these bags do not interfere with this mechanism, as thick Mylar would.

 

So I am quite happy with these bags - also it may seem silly to triple bag a magazine (first the inner Barex bag, then the hard CGC holder and finally the Mylar), but if the holder gets damaged, larger sites like Comiclink will send the book to CGC for a new holder at your expense, so in this perspective I think these bags are a cheap way to protect the hard CGC holder from damage (ok, do not drop the book ;-) And the Mylar does make the book look great and shiny! :-)

 

[Batko-migration]

I'm big on condition and preservation of my mags, and each collector is free to do what he thinks is best. However, in my opinion, the use of mylar bags for protection of a hard CGC holder is ridiculous.

The damage that could occur to a CGC holder would not be prevented by a thin mylar bag. You would have to drop it (more than once) or give it a really good whack to cause any damage, and a mylar bag is not going to help protect it from that. It might help protect against scratches, but handling your CGC holder with some care would do that just as well. This just sounds like another ploy to part collectors from their hard earned dollars.

Regarding stacking mags or comics one on top of the other, this should be done only as a temporary measure. And, if you have to store them this way for any length of time be sure to alternate the spines. One facing left, the next in the pile facing right. Otherwise, you will wind up with spine roll and deform the mags.

 

CGC slabbed comics or mags can be stored this way since there is no pressure on the book. The hard CGC holder takes the pressure from CGC holders on top of it. Even so, I would store them standing up.

 

I don't know which experts you are referring to, but they may be talking about "flat storage of large paper documents" such as maps, posters, large photographs, etc. I do not believe that they would recommend flat storage of comics or magazines.

 

- Mike

 

 

 

[comix4fun]

I'm big on condition and preservation of my mags, and each collector is free to do what he thinks is best. However, in my opinion, the use of mylar bags for protection of a hard CGC holder is ridiculous.

The damage that could occur to a CGC holder would not be prevented by a thin mylar bag. You would have to drop it (more than once) or give it a really good whack to cause any damage, and a mylar bag is not going to help protect it from that. It might help protect against scratches, but handling your CGC holder with some care would do that just as well. This just sounds like another ploy to part collectors from their hard earned dollars.

Regarding stacking mags or comics one on top of the other, this should be done only as a temporary measure. And, if you have to store them this way for any length of time be sure to alternate the spines. One facing left, the next in the pile facing right. Otherwise, you will wind up with spine roll and deform the mags.

 

CGC slabbed comics or mags can be stored this way since there is no pressure on the book. The hard CGC holder takes the pressure from CGC holders on top of it. Even so, I would store them standing up.

 

I don't know which experts you are referring to, but they may be talking about "flat storage of large paper documents" such as maps, posters, large photographs, etc. I do not believe that they would recommend flat storage of comics or magazines.

 

- Mike

 

 

 

 

 

I think the #1 reason people buy these is none of the above.

 

From the people I speak it the consensus seems to be a tie between 1) "SHINY!!" and 2) "IT MAKES 'EM LOOK PURTY!"...which are essentially the same thing.

[Batko-migration]

I'm big on condition and preservation of my mags, and each collector is free to do what he thinks is best. However, in my opinion, the use of mylar bags for protection of a hard CGC holder is ridiculous.

The damage that could occur to a CGC holder would not be prevented by a thin mylar bag. You would have to drop it (more than once) or give it a really good whack to cause any damage, and a mylar bag is not going to help protect it from that. It might help protect against scratches, but handling your CGC holder with some care would do that just as well. This just sounds like another ploy to part collectors from their hard earned dollars.

Regarding stacking mags or comics one on top of the other, this should be done only as a temporary measure. And, if you have to store them this way for any length of time be sure to alternate the spines. One facing left, the next in the pile facing right. Otherwise, you will wind up with spine roll and deform the mags.

 

CGC slabbed comics or mags can be stored this way since there is no pressure on the book. The hard CGC holder takes the pressure from CGC holders on top of it. Even so, I would store them standing up.

 

I don't know which experts you are referring to, but they may be talking about "flat storage of large paper documents" such as maps, posters, large photographs, etc. I do not believe that they would recommend flat storage of comics or magazines.

 

- Mike

 

 

 

 

 

I think the #1 reason people buy these is none of the above.

 

From the people I speak it the consensus seems to be a tie between 1) "SHINY!!" and 2) "IT MAKES 'EM LOOK PURTY!"...which are essentially the same thing.

 

I can't argue with you there. Mylar does make mags, comics, and photos shine. I put my FMs and other mags on Gerber Fullback acid free boards and then into Mylites2 magazine size bags. I don't collect CGC slabbed FMs, so maybe I'm missing something here. But, I just can't see doing that with a slabbed mag. I have one CGC 8.5 graded FM mag (1965 Yearbook) and to me it looks very sharp and cool just in the CGC holder.

 

Hey, there is nothing wrong with what you're doing and I'm not criticizing you on the mylar. However, I would consider rethinking your horizontal storage method for the sake of the longevity of your mags that are not slabbed.

 

- Mike

 

 

[comix4fun]

I don't have a horizontal storage method. Maybe the OP does.

 

I only have a few magazine mylars. I do have some other bags that fit better than the CGC bags, but I normally won't spring for the mylar.

[Boba]

I got mine from Hotflips. They had a bunch and that's where I found them.

They fit tight, and you don't end up with plastic flopping all over the place.

[Rune]

Yes, Mylar does make your magazines look fantastic and will indeed prevent the holders from being scratched :-) Regarding the flat storage of larger paper documents, and I consider magazines and smaller comic books belonging to this category, I found this statement:

 

"Just where exactly the belief originated that comic books are subject to less stress when stored upright and will inevitably show spine rolling if kept flat is hard to tell, but in all probability this point of view goes back to the era of pre-conservation consciousness when comic books were kept in the loose stacks mentioned at the outset. In such circumstances (for instance with large piles or comics of different sizes and weight) the fact that the spine side is thicker (accentuated by the two staples used to hold the comic book together) can create a lopsided U which will eventually roll the indivdiual comics into the same shape (hence the term "spine rolling"). There is, however, ample and informed information available which dispells the myth of the absolute imperative for vertical storage.

The Northeast Document Conservation Center (a non-profit regional conservation center in the United States, founded in 1973 and counting amongst its clients the Boston Public Library and Harvard University) advised that although vertical storage in office files or in upright flip-top archival document storage boxes is acceptable for legal-sized or smaller documents, any objects larger than 15" x 9" should be stored flat. This is due to the pull forces which documents stored in an upright position are subject to, and it is safe to assume that what is best practice for larger size documents works out well for comic books as well."

Source: http://www.panelology.info/StoringComics.html

 

And some more nerdy stuff - namely that Mylar bags may help to keep an airtight environment for our dear magazines. According to E. Gerber, one of the leading manufacturers of Mylar, it seems that airtight encapsulation is preferred:

 

"Isn't it bad to completely seal off the comics and make them airtight? The reality is that an airtight environment is the proper environment and by far the best one for preservation. By keeping out the oxygen, moisture and insects, and by keeping the temperature reasonably low, you can provide an environment in which your comics will become "Golden." For example, go to any library that has older volumes. Open any book and figure out why the pages are always browner at the edges and get lighter and whiter as you move towards the middle of the page. The inside of that book has not been in contact with any moisture, fresh re-circulating oxygen or light".

Source: http://www.egerber.com/aboutpreservation2.asp

 

Then there is the great stuff about temperature and humidity, should be about 18 degrees Celcius and about 30 to 40% humidity (better safe than sorry even with the Mylar), I can try to find a few sources on that also if needed :-) And of course the books should not be exposed to UV light - I try to treat mine as vampires, no direct sunlight! ;-)

 

Guess we will see in another 50 years how different methods of comic book preservation hold up - especially on maintaining those pure white pages - and not moving too much down the ladder to OW-W, OW and worse...

[Batko-migration]

That was an excellent article.

 

However, regarding stacking neither the poster, nor his source have an argument that makes much sense, in my opinion. Horizontal stacking is going to create tremendous pressure on the comics from the middle to the bottom of the stack - much more pressure and stress than the gravity from vertical stacking.

 

Also, in a partially filled box of vertically preserved mags the same methods to prevent movement can be employed as in a horizonntally stacked box.

 

You can cite the "Mile High" story or any other, but I believe my own eyes when it comes to stacking. Take any 10 or 15 magazines or comics and pile them up one on top of the other without alternating the spines, and you will see the bend that will eventually cause dreaded spine roll!

 

In any case, the article was well written and researched. Thanks for sharing it with us!

 

- Mike

[magelsa]

Horizontal stacking is what I do with my magazines with no problems. They remain perfectly flat with no spine roll. Here is what I do:

 

Each magazine has a Gerber Fullback and a Mylites2 Mylar bag. I start with a single fullback as a base, and then place a magazine (in a fullback and Mylites2) on top of that. Then I place a halfback on top, followed by another magazine until a pile of six or seven magazines has been reached. On top of the pile is a halfback and then a fullback. My shelves are about 3 inches apart so I can get many stacks of 6 or 7 magazines on a shelving unit. Absolutely no spine roll with this method and easy to take a stack out and sift through without any of the falling backwards or forwards that storing vertically in a box would inevitably cause.

 

I

[Rune]

Using thick (4 mil) Mylar and good quality backing boards, I also have seen no spine rolling on my non-CGC magazines, even 20 placed flat on top of each other - without such protection I would never store magazines flat (in agreement with Mike/Batko's previous post).

 

But again, this thread is primarily about CGC magazines, and these magazines are fully protected against spine rolling by the hard CGC holder. I do find it reasonable to assume that (in theory) gravitational forces will be much easier on the delicate corners (slow friction against the Barex bag during many decades), when magazines are placed horizontal instead of vertical. If I should go for any kind of long-term vertical arrangement, then I guess the spine should be placed down, in order not to subject the spine (or any staples if that is relevant) to gravitational forces...

 

But who knows, if there really are any differences to storing CGC magazines horizontal or vertical, maybe it will take 1000 years to show! ;-) I guess I just sleep better at night storing them flat... And using the Mylar bags, they are much easier to pull in or out of a stack without scratching the CGC holder. (If I *long dry cough!* have to admit it, yes I do keep all my CGC books stored flat, including normal-sized books, and now they are all in shiny near-airtight Mylar too! :-)

 

[Batko-migration]

Horizontal stacking is what I do with my magazines with no problems. They remain perfectly flat with no spine roll. Here is what I do:

 

Each magazine has a Gerber Fullback and a Mylites2 Mylar bag. I start with a single fullback as a base, and then place a magazine (in a fullback and Mylites2) on top of that. Then I place a halfback on top, followed by another magazine until a pile of six or seven magazines has been reached. On top of the pile is a halfback and then a fullback. My shelves are about 3 inches apart so I can get many stacks of 6 or 7 magazines on a shelving unit. Absolutely no spine roll with this method and easy to take a stack out and sift through without any of the falling backwards or forwards that storing vertically in a box would inevitably cause.

 

I

 

Six or seven magazine protected the way described should be no problem.

 

In addition to the Full Back board in the Mylites2 bag, I put the mag in an Ultra-Pro hard top loader. If you did this you would totally reduce any pressure on the mag and not have to put a half back board between each one. Just line up the edges of each Ultra-Pro and any pressure will be on the edeges of the hard top loader. Also, the hard top loader is great in case you accidently drop or bang your mag.

 

Regarding the falling back and forth falling of a partially filled box, this can be prevented by crinkling up heavy paper and putting it in the empty space where there are no vertically stored mags. The paper will gently prevent the mags from falling when the box is moved. As you fill the box up you remove some of the balled up crinkled up paper.

 

- Mike

 

My FM collection runs through the main part of the box. My collection of "Number Ones" is placed along the side. In addition to keeping my valuable mags in one place, the "Number Ones" prevent any sideways movement when I pull the box off the closet shelf. Everything is stacked vertically and protected with Gerber Full Back totally acid free boards, Mylites2, and Ultra-pro hard top loaders.

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[Batko-migration]

Using thick (4 mil) Mylar and good quality backing boards, I also have seen no spine rolling on my non-CGC magazines, even 20 placed flat on top of each other - without such protection I would never store magazines flat (in agreement with Mike/Batko's previous post).

 

But again, this thread is primarily about CGC magazines, and these magazines are fully protected against spine rolling by the hard CGC holder. I do find it reasonable to assume that (in theory) gravitational forces will be much easier on the delicate corners (slow friction against the Barex bag during many decades), when magazines are placed horizontal instead of vertical. If I should go for any kind of long-term vertical arrangement, then I guess the spine should be placed down, in order not to subject the spine (or any staples if that is relevant) to gravitational forces...

 

But who knows, if there really are any differences to storing CGC magazines horizontal or vertical, maybe it will take 1000 years to show! ;-) I guess I just sleep better at night storing them flat... And using the Mylar bags, they are much easier to pull in or out of a stack without scratching the CGC holder. (If I *long dry cough!* have to admit it, yes I do keep all my CGC books stored flat, including normal-sized books, and now they are all in shiny near-airtight Mylar too! :-)

 

As I've said, I don't collect CGC slabbed mags or comics, so I don't know much about the fine points of CGC cases. However, the books are in a virtual fortress of protection and I would guess that you could store at least a dozen of them horizontally forever without any problem.

 

Considering that for decades no one could get any of these protective materials, whatever one does today to preserve their mags and comics is a huge improvement!

 

- Mike

[burntboy]

 

Considering that for decades no one could get any of these protective materials, whatever one does today to preserve their mags and comics is a huge improvement!

 

- Mike

 

Which makes the Edgar Church collection so absolutely amazing.

 

Many of the approx 22,000 books were stored naked and horizontally for 30 - 40 years before being discovered.

 

And that discovery was about 40 years ago...

 

Just shows what the right set of circumstances can do without any conservation techniques.

[Batko-migration]

 

Considering that for decades no one could get any of these protective materials, whatever one does today to preserve their mags and comics is a huge improvement!

 

- Mike

 

Just shows what the right set of circumstances can do without any conservation techniques.

 

That is so true! Get a load of this Roman peasant after 2,000 years. I hope my mags can look this good after two millennia.