SLABS - HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE REALLY BE REPLACING? 0

[Tre Heitman]

Hi all,

Long time reader, first time asker...... 

I've been collecting for 35+ years now and have amassed a very large collection. I am in my early 40s and in about 10 years I plan on living off collection and re-investing blah blah blah (figure that's what a bunch of us are doing, just trying to work with what we love).

Last year I thought I would dip my toes in the pool and signed up for cgc to start slabbing and selling some dupes or books I dont care about so I paid for the 2nd highest tier (I believe). In the last year i was only able to make two submittals (due to full time job in electrical industry) totaling maybe 10-12 books.

Work is too much for me at the moment so my question is to address if it's currently worth it for me to continue slow SLABS for sales projected 10-20 years down road. My biggest concern is I am a high end OCD collector that takes the best care of all my collectables from video games, cards, historical and mostely comics. I do NOT own super pricey silver/gold age books and most, although I mainly only collect key floppies, are 75% 1-100$ spec books followed by 15% hot 200-800$ and probably 10% of collection is over 1000$ but none over probably 3k and own about 10,000 books Just to give you an idea of key books I hold that I am aiming to protect and if important: slab, mainly the 25% worth actual money. Again, not all keys just the hot ones and above.

QUESTION: SLABS!!!!! HOW LONG DO THEY TRULY PROTECT YOUR BOOKS? I know this question is a toughy but if I have to pay to reslab my books, that's where I wonder if waiting is better for me? If I slab 1000s of books and dont sell for 15years are my books being hurt? What is everyone's experience. I have heard everything from forever to every 7years we should be changing out.

My books are stored in climate controlled room 75degrees, dehumidifier set to what Smithsonian uses which I believe is 45 and black out curtains and low light with most books being stored in CGC boxes. 

 

Thank you for any answers you can provide.

[Deadpoolica]

On 7/15/2020 at 11:12 AM, Tre Heitman said:

If I slab 1000s of books and dont sell for 15years are my books being hurt?

Nope, they're fine

[Randall Dowling]

On 7/15/2020 at 10:12 AM, Tre Heitman said:

Hi all,

Long time reader, first time asker...... 

I've been collecting for 35+ years now and have amassed a very large collection. I am in my early 40s and in about 10 years I plan on living off collection and re-investing blah blah blah (figure that's what a bunch of us are doing, just trying to work with what we love).

Last year I thought I would dip my toes in the pool and signed up for cgc to start slabbing and selling some dupes or books I dont care about so I paid for the 2nd highest tier (I believe). In the last year i was only able to make two submittals (due to full time job in electrical industry) totaling maybe 10-12 books.

Work is too much for me at the moment so my question is to address if it's currently worth it for me to continue slow SLABS for sales projected 10-20 years down road. My biggest concern is I am a high end OCD collector that takes the best care of all my collectables from video games, cards, historical and mostely comics. I do NOT own super pricey silver/gold age books and most, although I mainly only collect key floppies, are 75% 1-100$ spec books followed by 15% hot 200-800$ and probably 10% of collection is over 1000$ but none over probably 3k and own about 10,000 books Just to give you an idea of key books I hold that I am aiming to protect and if important: slab, mainly the 25% worth actual money. Again, not all keys just the hot ones and above.

QUESTION: SLABS!!!!! HOW LONG DO THEY TRULY PROTECT YOUR BOOKS? I know this question is a toughy but if I have to pay to reslab my books, that's where I wonder if waiting is better for me? If I slab 1000s of books and dont sell for 15years are my books being hurt? What is everyone's experience. I have heard everything from forever to every 7years we should be changing out.

My books are stored in climate controlled room 75degrees, dehumidifier set to what Smithsonian uses which I believe is 45 and black out curtains and low light with most books being stored in CGC boxes. 

 

Thank you for any answers you can provide.

You're asking a great question.  The answer is simple.  If you aren't going to sell your stuff anytime soon, don't get it slabbed.  Slabs appear to use a PVC hard exterior shell which isn't archival (apologies to the previous responder but you're just not right).  CGC will not disclose what the outer well is made of but up until about 10 years ago, they recommended reholdering every 5-7 years (I think have to look at the fine print on the old label).

The best archival material to store your collectibles is Mylar D (the Dupont brand name for polyester film).  That's what the National Archives and the Library of Congress use to store little items like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in.  My recommendation is to store your books in Mylite2s from E. Gerber Mylar and use Full-Backs for backing boards.  That's what I've been doing for a very long time (over 20 years) and it works well.  See the link below for their website or talk to the board's own @HOTFLIPS as he is an excellent source for these supplies.  And no, I don't have any financial connection to either, just a fan of caring for fresh new looking books that have made it this far in high grade.

You can always get your books slabbed later when you plan on selling them.  

https://egerber.com

[Deadpoolica]

15 minutes ago, Randall Dowling said:

(apologies to the previous responder but you're just not right)

No, I'm right. He's books won't be hurt if they're left in a slab for 15yrs

[Deadpoolica]

3 minutes ago, BeepBeep said:

CGC used to say it was because the microchamber paper became inert after 7 years

[Randall Dowling]

You guys are obviously experts.    I've only been doing this for 40 years.

[pemart1966]

75 degrees seems high to me.     

[Tre Heitman]

22 hours ago, Randall Dowling said:

You're asking a great question.  The answer is simple.  If you aren't going to sell your stuff anytime soon, don't get it slabbed.  Slabs appear to use a PVC hard exterior shell which isn't archival (apologies to the previous responder but you're just not right).  CGC will not disclose what the outer well is made of but up until about 10 years ago, they recommended reholdering every 5-7 years (I think have to look at the fine print on the old label).

The best archival material to store your collectibles is Mylar D (the Dupont brand name for polyester film).  That's what the National Archives and the Library of Congress use to store little items like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in.  My recommendation is to store your books in Mylite2s from E. Gerber Mylar and use Full-Backs for backing boards.  That's what I've been doing for a very long time (over 20 years) and it works well.  See the link below for their website or talk to the board's own @HOTFLIPS as he is an excellent source for these supplies.  And no, I don't have any financial connection to either, just a fan of caring for fresh new looking books that have made it this far in high grade.

You can always get your books slabbed later when you plan on selling them.  

https://egerber.com

Most excellent,

Truly appreciate the info. I have been using mainly egerber full backs/mylar for any book of value and always wondered what others think so thanks and double thanks for contact info. Mylars are so $ and find most deals on the ebays of E but will definitely reach out check out prices.

Thank you for that! Much appreciated.

[Tre Heitman]

On 7/19/2020 at 7:47 AM, BeepBeep said:

Yeah, that seems a little high for ANY room in my house 

Yeah! I am a mountain man and love the cold and sure my books do too but currently live in a desert where our electric bills can reach 700$-800$ a month on top of the 2200 rent for a 2bedroom shack! LOL. So just 75 for a couple more years and then hopefully i will be somewhere where it doesn't break me to run AC closer to 70. CALI LIVING! WHOOOT WHOOOOT and such........

[Tre Heitman]

On 7/18/2020 at 7:27 AM, BeepBeep said:

Congrats! I've been collecting for 45 years and have had a weekly Pull List since 1991. But, since this is all irrelevant, I'd say take it up with CGC.

https://www.cgccomics.com/grading/faq/

Is it necessary to get my CGC book reholdered after a certain number of years?

No. The CGC holder is designed for long-term preservation and provides superior protection for your books. A properly handled and stored CGC-certified book can last for generations.

The CGC holder is made from high-quality materials and is entirely archival-safe. The inner well that holds books, for example, is comprised of PETG, a plastic that is well known to be archival-safe and extremely clear. This PETG well is placed inside of a durable outer case that is sonically welded to ensure a secure, tamper-evident seal. For added long-term preservation, CGC inserts *MicroChamber® paper into vintage books prior to encapsulation. This MicroChamber paper helps to neutralize the natural acidity of some books by using a specialized, proprietary “zeolite” that was designed to absorb and hold the molecules known to damage archival collections.

Thanks for the info and time! MUCH APPRECIATED! 

[Mercury Man]

 

On 7/15/2020 at 11:12 AM, Tre Heitman said:

I do NOT own super pricey silver/gold age books and most, although I mainly only collect key floppies, are 75% 1-100$ spec books followed by 15% hot 200-800$ and probably 10% of collection is over 1000$ but none over probably 3k and own about 10,000 books

So you have roughly 1000 books (10%), and you will be able to get roughly $1000 each?  

[Tre Heitman]

Just a real rough number, probably lower but theres so many key books I own and my online comic price/tracking is highly inaccurate and books are typically listed well under ebay prices so truly no idea..... how bout 7%-12% for wider spectrum, lol. Other day looking at a (i think) 93 San Diego comic con book and found out it was hell boys 1st app so honestly just a super rough number cause i find a lot i didnt know i had from kid days in 80s/90s.