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Leave in sealed poly bag, or have graded and slabbed?
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Started by Ash-migration,

24 posts in this topic

deathlok

deathlok

Posted
Posted

The bag that it is sealed in will degrade the book over time. I would suggest you liberate the comic from the bag and put it in a mylar with backing board. If you want to submit it to CGC that is your choice also.

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(un)cooldude

(un)cooldude

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This is a good question, Ash. I'm actually rather curious to see what others say about it myself.

 

I've got 2 comics that are still in the orignal poly bags they came in; 'Superman' #500, and a book I just got yesterday, '303' by Garth Ennis.

 

I've heard people say that leaving them in the original poly will eventually hurt them, and that some have even pulled the books out, only to find that they were damaged (Superman #500). The copy of '303' that I have, is in a clear poly bag, so you can see everything inside. I'm going to pull this one out, because it's a 'retailer copy' that's got a platinum-foil cover, and a poster that's been signed by the entire creative team. All accompanied by a COA from the publisher. I have no plans to sell this, so for me, taking it out of what could be a destructive bag, and putting it into a fresh bag, for future inspection, makes more sense to me at this time.

 

The 'Superman' #500 that I've got is probably one of the most MASS produced books ever, so as far as I know, there really isn't any HUGE collector value in this thing from an investment perspective. So, because of the stories I've heard about damage, I think I'll be opening this baby up, and seeing what's inside.

 

In regards to the whole 'slabbing' issue; if you just want to keep a copy in as good a shape as possible, then yes, breaking it out of a potentially destructive poly bag, and having it 'slabbed' sounds like a good choice. You'll have a guaranteed grade, and you'll be able to store it away for future sale/trade if needed.

 

Now, if it's your only copy of this particular comic, it becomes an issue of 'do you want to be able to READ it', versus, 'do you want to SELL it'?

 

I view the CGC services twofold thus far; as a service to give a professional grade to a comic, and sealing it to protect it, as well as ensuring that a potential buyer will know EXACTLY what kind of comic he's buying.

 

Would I slab a comic I wanted to read? No.

 

Would I slab a comic I wanted to preserve for a long period of time, OR, possibly sell later on? Yes.

 

Now, that's just my two cents...

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deathlok

deathlok

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Ummm....if you have a book that is NM or higher and want to preserve it, you wouldn't read it. For the books that are in high grade that you want to read, go out and buy a cheap lower grade reading copy. That way you won't have to risk damaging your HG book.

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The Brain

The Brain

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Posted
I have a spider-man #1 silver macfarlane cover in absolutely perfect condition still bagged....what to do, what to do......

 

I want it slabbed so there would be no chance of it getting a spine crease or dented corner...

 

All well and good but they forgot "WELCOME TO THE BOARDS!!!!" 893applaud-thumb.gifthumbsup2.gifheadbang.gifyay.gif

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Ash-migration

Ash-migration

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Posted

Thanks fellas. I think I'll be grading this guy then. I'm not going to read this so it sounds like I'll have this thing sealed away for future archeologists to dig up and ponder.

 

Since you're all such a friendly, informative bunch. I'll toss another question before I open a new thread. I own the wolverine mini-series #1 (1982) and the book is in great condition, not a single damaged corner or worn spine but, it's aged, i'd say the pages range from yellow to off-white. What kind of grade would I be looking at? Upper 8's? Lower 5's? I have no clue whatsoever.

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Illiterati-migration

Illiterati-migration

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Posted

 

I want it slabbed so there would be no chance of it getting a spine crease or dented corner...

 

You should nose around the forum a bit more before you go making assumptions like "slabs protect my books."

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Illiterati-migration

Illiterati-migration

Posted
Posted
Well, i've seen the cases.....they sure seem sturdy to me........i'm sure sunlight would do a number on it but......well let me stop wondering and search the forums...

 

Sorry, I should have clarified... search Comics General for "Shaken Slab Syndrome" and "Shaken Comic Syndrome" and "SCS" and "SSS". Search in the last three weeks and you should find a great deal of information.

 

893scratchchin-thumb.gif

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Mr. Zipper

Mr. Zipper

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Posted
doesnt a comic that is sold polybagged have to say in the bag in order to be considered complete? Has that "policy" changed in the view of collectors and price guides?

 

If I'm not mistaken, Overstreet has always encouraged collectors to free the books from the bags and never broke out different pricing tiers for bagged and unbagged.

 

I think the only party encouraging books to stay in polybags was the publishers... that way they could sell at least 2 copies of every issue -- one to read, and one to stay in the bag.

 

foreheadslap.gif893naughty-thumb.gif

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(un)cooldude

(un)cooldude

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Well, I did the deed and opened the long-sealed poly-bag that my Adventures of Superman #500 was in, and had a look at it. Turns out that it's in what looks to me like MINT condition. There's not a mark on it. Anywhere. So, I promptly put it into a fresh bag with board, and dropped the included trading card in with it. It actually felt liberating doing that...and then tossing away the old poly bag it was in. 893applaud-thumb.gif

 

As for what I'll do with the comic now? Who knows? I doubt that it's worth sending in for CGG grading, as there's a TON of them out there for sale, and I have exactly ZERO other 'Superman' titles in my collection. confused-smiley-013.gif

 

I also freed my copy of the platinum-foil edition of '303' that I got last weekend, and I'm glad I did that as well. Turns out both the comic, and the included poster, have a VERY VERY minute 'dent' in the top edge. It's isolated to just the front cover of the comic, and the edge of the signed poster that was with it, but you couldn't see that when it was in the poly bag. Interesting. So, the comic, poster, and certificate also went into a fresh bag/board combo, and back into my box. Since I simply love this story thus far, I have no desire to sell it...but would possibly consider slabbing it at a later date just for posterity...who knows?

 

I already have both regular and wrap-around covers of the same issue, on top of this platinum-foil edition, so it's not like I don't have reading copies available or anything insane.gif

 

My ultimate plan is to send in 3 comics to have CGC graded, just to satisfy my own curiosity about their processes, grading, and results. Just WHICH three will be an interesting question.

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Mephisto

Mephisto

Posted
Posted
doesnt a comic that is sold polybagged have to say in the bag in order to be considered complete? Has that "policy" changed in the view of collectors and price guides?

 

Certain books like the Death of Superman had bags that you couldn't see through so you didn't even know if the comic had multiple spine stresses and what not.

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(un)cooldude

(un)cooldude

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As an example, I scanned both the front and back covers of my 'Adventures Of Superman' #500, so you could see what it looked like, once released from its poly-prison;

 

Adventures Of Superman #500 (front cover) ~340Kb

 

Adventures Of Superman #500 (back cover) ~550Kb

 

Think something in this condition is worth slabbing? confused-smiley-013.gif

 

By the way, any 'white' specks you may see on the scan of the front cover is just dust on the scanner glass. There's NOTHING on the front of this book.

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(un)cooldude

(un)cooldude

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I figured I would also toss up the front and back scans of the foil-cover edition of '303' that I recently removed from its bag as well. I've circled the minute 'dent' that I mentioned before, in the front cover;

 

303 #1 Platinum-Foil Edition (front cover) ~380Kb

303 #1 Platinum-Foil Edition (back cover) ~470Kb

 

How badly would a dent like that affect a grade?

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Mr. Zipper

Mr. Zipper

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Posted

Actually, I think this is one of the unintended benefits of CGC...

 

In the past, everyone kinda stood around not knowing what to do with them. Now CGC has sent the message that its acceptable and encouraged to rip the books out of those lousy polybags.

 

yay.gif

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