To crack or not to crack, that is the question 2 2

[djzombi]

On 11/7/2021 at 12:48 PM, grendelbo said:

Here's some I freed. Before and after pics. No regrets. Better for storage. Protection is still maintained.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sure it's lighting or whatnot, but the All-Star Western and the HOS each look like different books in/out of the holder.  The ASW in the holder seems to have a slightly rolled spine or mis-fold from the printer; the cracked HOS seems to have more creases/tears(?) than when slabbed.  

[grendelbo]

On 11/16/2021 at 7:09 PM, djzombi said:

I'm sure it's lighting or whatnot, but the All-Star Western and the HOS each look like different books in/out of the holder.  The ASW in the holder seems to have a slightly rolled spine or mis-fold from the printer; the cracked HOS seems to have more creases/tears(?) than when slabbed.  

HOS 92 is untouched, photographed in Mylite2 which I prefer over the slab case.

Good eye - I did press out the spine roll on the ASW 11 after crackin'.

[gumption]

I would crack a slabbed low- to mid-grade book if it could benefit from a clean and/or press.

[djzombi]

On 11/16/2021 at 9:36 PM, grendelbo said:

HOS 92 is untouched, photographed in Mylite2 which I prefer over the slab case.

Good eye - I did press out the spine roll on the ASW 11 after crackin'.

Great job pressing out that spine roll - what a difference!  Looks great!

[Laszlo the Mudjar]

Clearly a very personal question with many variables.  As a pure collector who rarely if ever sells anything, I have purchased slabs because of the certainty of quality and immediately cracked the slab upon receipt. Doesn't matter if it was $50 or $5000; I have no interest in looking at a slab on my wall.  To me they are ugly and detract from the art, but that's me.

Edited November 19, 2021 by Laszlo the Mudjar

[William-James88]

On 11/6/2021 at 1:19 PM, Mr.Fantastic said:

Theres very few things in the comic book collecting world that are more stunning to look at than a nice run of high grade raw books stored in mylites. But, i have found as I search for certain books to complete a run or series, that they just aren't readily available raw. At what point would you guys consider buying slabbed books and cracking it to include in the raw run? The higher the grade, the more un easy I feel about doing so. What do you guys prefer to do?

I agree that books look better in a mylite. And its your collection, so do what you want. 

But what I do is simply keep the CGC'd ones in one box and the raws in another. I don't have a complete set anyway (nor do I want that) so it doesnt really make much difference to me.

[PovertyRow]

On 11/6/2021 at 3:48 PM, Mr.Fantastic said:

Thanks. Don't get me wrong. If I have a key, it will stay slabbed, but if I already have a run of 20-30 books raw in VF/NM then cracking an 8.5 or 9.0 of a non key so it will fit the rest of my collection isn't such a big deal is it?

Unless, of course, that unanticipated movie appearance comes along such as Tales to Astonish 13. 

Edited November 23, 2021 by PovertyRow

[Randall Dowling]

Unless I think there's a high likelihood (and I mean almost certain) that I'm going to sell the book at some point in the near future, I always crack the books out.  And they appreciate it as well!  Freed from their solitary crystalline prisons, they look and feel better, I can read them and smell them, and they take up so much less space while weighing a lot less.

It's all win, baby!  

[MattTheDuck]

Board members visit Math Teacher's grave

 

[vaillant]

On 11/6/2021 at 6:19 PM, Mr.Fantastic said:

Theres very few things in the comic book collecting world that are more stunning to look at than a nice run of high grade raw books stored in mylites. But, i have found as I search for certain books to complete a run or series, that they just aren't readily available raw. At what point would you guys consider buying slabbed books and cracking it to include in the raw run? The higher the grade, the more un easy I feel about doing so. What do you guys prefer to do?

I have always bought graded books to crack them out for my collection.
In some cases, I waited and I did right as I might have to sell, but they are still really few the ones I still have slabbed (2-3 max).

A thing I was wise enough to do was not to deslab my Fantastic Four #5, as it is a Signature Series restored book, but now I don’t know what to do as I am not definitely in the market for a raw copy as they’re too expensive and I can’t open it.

[vaillant]

On 11/9/2021 at 7:25 PM, MattTheDuck said:

I'm in the "to each his own" camp on this question.  I personally prefer raw books, and own only about a dozen slabs.  I like to read books, especially books I've purchased recently that fill holes in my collection.  I'm a lot more comfortable with slabbed copies that are upgrades of raw books I already have.  I would agree there's an element of frustration - as a reader - with having stories I haven't read permanently out of reach, but that's not enough motivation to crack them out.  For the time being, I can always pick up a low-grade reader on the cheap.

See my reply above. 

[10centcomics]

I've cracked hundreds of books to keep in my personal collection. I like to read them, and they take up way less space in mylars vs. slabs. The only book in my collection I haven't deslabbed is something with a pedigree label. 

[lostboys]

On 11/7/2021 at 12:11 PM, grendelbo said:

The original intention of the slab was to preserve the grade, right? A book could then exchange hands with a buyer confident in their purchase and the agreed upon condition. You could do what you want with it then.

Over the past 20 years the slab has become the star. Many collectors like the look of an issue entombed in plastic. Others like to hold a book in their hands and read it. Those same collectors know an issue will look just as good, if not better, in Mylite2. And there's no label distracting from the book itself.

I've owned 15 slabs. 6 have been cracked. I can imagine one day cracking all but 3 which are duplicates and suited for display. 

 

 

I always buy low grade, reader copies or reprints of my slabbed books. This way I dont get tempted to crack em.

 

Then again, I dont collect SERIOUSLY valuable books. My most valuable book is TWD 1.