Lifespan of a well cared for comic book?

[drotto]

As collectors we all know the things that destroy comics books. What I want to know is what is the approximate lifespan of a well cared for comic book? A book that is properly bagged and boarded, and then kept in a climate controlled environment.

[CAHokie]

I would imagine it could last hundreds of years. I have newspapers from 1806 that still look fantastic.

[The Kaptain]

Longer than you will be alive...

[Guardian Comics]

I'm pretty sure Jon Verzyl told me that somebody did tests on this sort of thing in the 80's and that Mile Highs were tested to last over 500 years or so, San Franciscos were next at 300-400 years and so forth and so forth.

 

Jim

[Action252Kid]

Longer than you will be alive...

 

I forget the exact number of years, but the History Channel had a show called "Life After People" which talked about how long it would take for all traces of human civilization to disappear, if humans were to suddenly vanish. And on one episode, it mentioned paper documents (stored in some underground, climate controlled preservation chamber) which are supposedly safe for hundreds/thousands of years -- so I think as long as you take care of your books, they should be safe for easily several generations.

[shadroch]

A modern book in mylar and stored in proper conditions will last many generations. A GA book in similar circumstances will not. The paper they used back then is simply inferior. I'm not sure how much shorter its lifespan will be, but it will be shorter.

In either case, a properly stored book will last several lifetimes.

[Meeklo]

Longer than you will be alive...

 

Maybe I should bag and board myself...

[Noodlez]

What about a slabbed comic book? It is recommended to re-slab every 7 years. What happens to it if you wait longer than that?

[Noodlez]

Longer than you will be alive...

 

Maybe I should bag and board myself...

 

 

Lmao...

[Bill1]

What about a slabbed comic book? It is recommended to re-slab every 7 years. What happens to it if you wait longer than that?

 

Not sure they recommend that anymore. I think it was looked at as more of a business-getter than an actual need. You book is more likely to get damaged/destroyed in the reslabbing process (mailing both ways, being deslabbed and reslabbed, handling it, etc.) than it is if you just leave it alone.

[yoddler]

But that thing about getting a new mattress every 7 years? Totally true.

[shadroch]

Seven Year Itch isn't cured by a new mattress, no matter what the wife says.

[Jordysnordy]

Longer than you will be alive...

 

Maybe I should bag and board myself...

 

[ivegotneatstuff]

118 years and counting

 

http://comics.ha.com/itm/platinum-age-1897-1937-/the-yellow-kid-1-9-complete-run-cgc-graded-group-howard-ainslee-andamp-co-1897-total-9-comic-books-/a/7147-91178.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515

 

[kav]

I have a book printed by Og the caveman and it still looks sharp. 50,000 years.

[Dark Knight]

If the Dead Sea Scrolls lasted this long than comics will last beyond our lifetime as long as they are preserved well.

[shadroch]

If the Dead Sea Scrolls lasted this long than comics will last beyond our lifetime as long as they are preserved well.

 

 

Dead Sea Scrolls were not printed on rag paper, or any paper at all. Some are on copper, some are on parchment, some are on papyrus.

[Michelangelo]

I saw the Magna Carta a few weeks ago in Toronto at Fort York.

 

It's 800 years old

 

[EC ed]

If the Dead Sea Scrolls lasted this long than comics will last beyond our lifetime as long as they are preserved well.

 

Dead Sea Scrolls were not printed on rag paper, or any paper at all.

 

Ditto for the Magna Carta...sheepskin parchment...lasts much longer than pulp paper, I presume.

[comicnoir]

I saw the Magna Carta a few weeks ago in Toronto at Fort York.

 

It's 800 years old

 

 

And no microfiber chamber paper in sight.