Acid Damage and its affect on value 0

[Remnant8]

I recently dug out my old collection, mostly comprised of hundreds of Spidermans.  Unfortunately I neglected to ever change out the bags and, though the actual physical condition of the books are excellent, there is noticable

acid damage on the inside pages in the form of ink transfer as well as tanning.  I suppose they could be classified as "off-white" but possibly even slightly darker.  It hurts a little since I do still have a certain emotional investment

in these books, but I was also wondering about their actual value and how this might affect that.  Any thoughts? 

 

On a side-note I am now transferring all of them into new mylar bags with acid free boards and new boxes as well.  About 30 years late mind you but there you go.

[csaag]

A value depends on an approx grade.  Take a book that is a good example of what you are describing and post it in the "Spare A Grade" forum. Once you get some replies, you can check sites like eBay sold listings or Go Collect for free info against those grades

Edited June 12, 2019 by csaag
Typo

[theCapraAegagrus]

7 minutes ago, csaag said:

A value depends on an approx grade.  Take a book that is a good example of what you are describing and post it I'm the "Spare A Grade" forum. Once you get some replies, you can check sites like eBay sold listings or Go Collect for free info against those grades

Bingo bang-o.

What this guy said.

[Krismusic]

also are you talking about emotional value or fiscal value as emotional value your definitely hurting , as that sucks that this happened. for Financial it all depends on the grade it would receive with the damage like another poster mentioned.

[marvelmaniac]

I would like to see the damage/books in question. 

It does not make sense that only the interior pages would be affected by this when the entire front cover (assuming an acid free backing board was used) was also exposed to the acids from a decaying poly bag.    

If these books are valuable to you in any way I would certainly recommend switching to "Mylites" with "Acid Free" Backing Boards.

Some of my books have been stored in the same Mylite for 30+ years with no appreciable signs of decay/damage.

 On top of this Proper Storage Conditions are Crucial to Prevent further Damage and "Slow" the decaying process.

Books should be Stored in Comic Storage Boxes, Away from All Light and Heat Sources, In a Controlled Environment (Preferably about 70 degrees/50% Humidity), Not in an Unfinished Non-Climate Controlled Garage or Basement and away from Moisture/Water. 

[Karl Liebl]

I think the climate was the killer here, poly bags didn't damage my books as far as I can tell but I did use acid free boards.

[Krismusic]

47 minutes ago, marvelmaniac said:

I would like to see the damage/books in question. 

It does not make sense that only the interior pages would be affected by this when the entire front cover (assuming an acid free backing board was used) was also exposed to the acids from a decaying poly bag.    

If these books are valuable to you in any way I would certainly recommend switching to "Mylites" with "Acid Free" Backing Boards.

Some of my books have been stored in the same Mylite for 30+ years with no appreciable signs of decay/damage.

 On top of this Proper Storage Conditions are Crucial to Prevent further Damage and "Slow" the decaying process.

Books should be Stored in Comic Storage Boxes, Away from All Light and Heat Sources, In a Controlled Environment (Preferably about 70 degrees/50% Humidity), Not in an Unfinished Non-Climate Controlled Garage or Basement and away from Moisture/Water. 

well said 

[Remnant8]

7 hours ago, marvelmaniac said:

I would like to see the damage/books in question. 

It does not make sense that only the interior pages would be affected by this when the entire front cover (assuming an acid free backing board was used) was also exposed to the acids from a decaying poly bag.    

If these books are valuable to you in any way I would certainly recommend switching to "Mylites" with "Acid Free" Backing Boards.

Some of my books have been stored in the same Mylite for 30+ years with no appreciable signs of decay/damage.

 On top of this Proper Storage Conditions are Crucial to Prevent further Damage and "Slow" the decaying process.

Books should be Stored in Comic Storage Boxes, Away from All Light and Heat Sources, In a Controlled Environment (Preferably about 70 degrees/50% Humidity), Not in an Unfinished Non-Climate Controlled Garage or Basement and away from Moisture/Water. 

 

Yes I understand.  I am in the process of now placing all my books in Egerber brand Mylite bags and acid free boards.  And in new boxes as well.  As for the books themselves, there is a noticeable slight darkening of the pages to the point where they are off-white, with a bit of ink transfer within some of the pages as well.  The covers seem perfectly fine for the most part though.  All in all I suppose they aren't all that bad, but could have been better if I had done the right thing long ago and got them out of those old bags.  Climate has never really been an issue though.  They've always been stored in good humidity  levels and in cool dry places.  I will be posting some pics of a few of them in the "Can You Spare a Grade" forum for you to see in not too long.

Edited June 13, 2019 by Remnant8

[Remnant8]

On 6/12/2019 at 9:14 AM, Krishosein said:

also are you talking about emotional value or fiscal value as emotional value your definitely hurting , as that sucks that this happened. for Financial it all depends on the grade it would receive with the damage like another poster mentioned.

I could have done without the laughing.  But thanks for your input.

[Crops068]

I am going to be honest.  When I 1st read the title I was like "omg someone dropped their books into acid, oh noes we are gunna have comic book two faces EVERWHERES!"

Now after reading this, I am sad.

Hope the damage is not too extensive!

[Remnant8]

15 minutes ago, Crops068 said:

I am going to be honest.  When I 1st read the title I was like "omg someone dropped their books into acid, oh noes we are gunna have comic book two faces EVERWHERES!"

Now after reading this, I am sad.

Hope the damage is not too extensive!

They have off-white pages, that's about it.  So, it could have been much worse. 

[The Lions Den]

28 minutes ago, Remnant8 said:

 

Yes I understand.  I am in the process of now placing all my books in Egerber brand Mylite bags and acid free boards.  And in new boxes as well.  As for the books themselves, there is a noticeable slight darkening of the pages to the point where they are off-white, with a bit of ink transfer within some of the pages as well.  The covers seem perfectly fine for the most part though.  All in all I suppose they aren't all that bad, but could have been better if I had done the right thing long ago and got them out of those old bags.  Climate has never really been an issue though.  They've always been stored in good humidity  levels and in cool dry places.  I will be posting some pics of a few of them in the "Can You Spare a Grade" forum for you to see in not too long.

As long as the page quality hasn't deteriorated past the "Cream to Off-White" point, you should be fine...

[Remnant8]

4 minutes ago, The Lions Den said:

As long as the page quality hasn't deteriorated past the "Cream to Off-White" point, you should be fine...

Good to know.  Is the OWL chart still the standard for checking this?

[The Lions Den]

Just now, Remnant8 said:

Good to know.  Is the OWL chart still the standard for checking this?

Well, I'm sure some of us remember the OWL chart! Pre-CGC days, for sure. But yes, the OWL chart should still give you a pretty good idea of where you're at with those pages. And as I recently found out, Cream to Off-White pages are OK up to a 9.6 now...