- Bag – Slabbing, Polyester, Poly-bags
- Board
- Micro Chamber Interleaving Paper
- Tape
- Boxes
Recommendations
- Slab it – for the most expensive/collectable/memorable comics in your collection
- Use Polyester bags – for long term storage, display and protection
- Polypropylene/ Polyethylene bags – will not destroy your comics. They will simply afford less protection against the elements.
- Use acid free boards – provides structural integrity for your comic book and does not add to the deterioration of the comic. For long term archiving ensure boards are acid free and not just acid free at the time of manufacture. If available, use a board that can trap and neutralise acids that will deteriorate your comic.
- Use Micro Chamber paper – for the expensive/collectable/memorable comics in your collection or if archiving for long term. Helps trap and neutralise migrating acids.
- Use acid free tape – if you use tape…and not on the comic book
- Use acid free boxes – to ensure good encapsulation is complete.
Slabbing
The companies below offer comic encapsulation that is made to be not opened without detection being noticed. This is done because such encapsulated comics have been professionally graded. These companies will also do encapsulation on other print documents such as magazines and artwork. Because of the cost of grading and the quality of the holder, these encapsulation methods are usually reserved for special items.
Comics Guaranty, LLC CGC: is a company that grades comics. They use a product called a CGC holder. This two-layer comic encapsulation container maybe one of the best methods of storing a comic and having an idea of its market worth. The CGC holder has few different parts, two of these are a Barex plastic and Micro Chamber Interleaving Paper
Comic Book Certification Service (CBCS): is a company that offers comic encapsulation and grading
Professional Grading Experts (PGX): Is a company that grades comics but directly offers other services such as pressing and basic cleaning
“CGC is a service that will grade your comics [on their condition] and store them in plastic slabs that keep them in their current condition,” says Wood. “If it’s something that’s going to be sold and it’s valuable – typically books worth $300 and above – grading the comic is the way to go. That gives you an independent evaluation so there’s no argument over the condition of the comic.”
Polyester
Mylar® – “Mylar D” and “Melinex 516” are trade names by DuPont Teijin Films for a specific procedure to make a crystal clear and strong form of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastic, also generically known as polyester, used for true archival-quality storage and conservation products for the long-term storage of historically important documents. It is the same archival material in which the Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta are stored and is used by leading museums worldwide. Since Mylar was first introduced about 40 years ago, the knowledge of its benefits over other common plastics was not widespread and the practice of using Mylar was even less widespread. First, the United States leading authorities on preservation, such as the National Archives and the Library of Congress, established that Mylar was, by far, the best plastic. In fact, they have made it a requirement and do not allow any deviation from their specifications. Mylar sleeves are used by libraries and archives around the world. The most knowledgeable collectors have switched to Mylar. Museums, archival institutions and those in the collecting areas of currency and stamps have switched to Mylar. Comic collectors have been among the most knowledgeable and have been switching for years. Poster and art collectors have joined others to insure their investment remains in perfect condition. Mylar is no longer produced and has been replaced by the trade name Melinex.
Mylar is a trademark of DuPont Teijin Films. For the purpose of this website, Mylar shall mean any pure polyester biaxially extruded film such as Mylar D., Melinex 455, 516 or approved equivalent.
How does polyester preserve and protect your comic?
Polyester is totally inert which means that anything placed inside will never be adversely affected by the surrounding material. Polyester is also crystal clear which means you can easily display your collection without removing any comics from their sleeves. It resists penetration by gases, such as oxygen, 300 TIMES more than Polypropylene and Polyethylene bags. Due to this barrier polyester may not be suitable for use in areas of high humidity, particularly where fungal activity is a problem. If used in these conditions, check regularly, particularly after a long period of wet or humid weather or use dehumidifiers as previously discussed.
Polyester has a high level of static which helps keep the comic book from moving around during transporting and storage and should never be used for storing materials with flaking, friable surfaces (e.g. charcoal, pastels, crayons, or damaged photographic emulsions).
As for strength and stability: it is also several hundred times stronger and more stable. Mylar is a biaxially extruded polyester film that is simultaneously stretched in two directions to give it maximum strength. Keep in mind, that we are not talking about 4 or 5 times better as compared to their price.
Thick, 75 – 125 micron (3-5 mil) polyester storage products are the best for short to long-term storage and display of a valuable collection. Economical, 25 – 50 micron (1-2 mil) polyester is used short to medium term storage and is great to display game cards and matchbook covers.
Preserver Haven has a large range of Stalward Premium 75 micron and Stalward Elite 100 micron polyester bags for almost every comic size, from current to treasury.
Polypropylene
Ideal for short-medium term storage. This material is considered archival safe as it is as close to PH neutral as technical possible with plastic and does not contain any plasticizers. A chemically inert material that is also heat-resistant and provides a highly protective barrier against moisture and vapours. It is slightly less clear than archival polyester but is clearer and more rigid than polyethylene. Storage products made from polypropylene are strong, non-yellowing and less prone to scratching. Polypropylene bags will not destroy your comics. They will simply afford less protection against the elements. While polypropylene is considered archival safe it is however gas permeable and should be used in an acid free environment when in storage. It is not suitable for use in areas of high humidity, particularly where fungal activity is a problem. If used in these conditions, check regularly, particularly after a long period of wet or humid weather or use dehumidifiers as previously discussed. Due to its rigidity, polypropylene sleeves are more prone to tear, especially at the seams. If price is a consideration, polypropylene sleeves and bags may be more cost effective upfront than those made from Polyester.
- Lightweight but strong
- non-yellowing
- resistant to chemicals and heat
- crisper than polyethylene (less flexible)
- can be “oriented” (like polyester) for strength & stiffness
- less static than polyester
- less protection from air and moisture than polyester
Shameless Plug – Preserver Haven has BCW, Ultimate Guard and Ultra Pro Polypropylene comic bags available for your comic preservation.
Polyethylene
Acceptable for short-term storage of collectables. Polyethylene is the cheaper of the three, being an inexpensive, frequently-used, all-purpose barrier material. Being a softer and less stiff material, the finish of the product is not as nice and not as clear as the other two materials and in practice it is not an especially good barrier, either for water vapour, or for blocking gases. Polyethylene is inert and chemically stable although it is not as structurally sound as polyester or polypropylene, check regularly and remove if plastic begins to discolour. Some recommend keeping bags open due to possible condensation in relative humidity fluctuations or use dehumidifiers as previously discussed.
- Inexpensive plastic for short-term storage
- scratches easily (low hardness)
- low tensile strength
- least rigid material (very flexible)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) *Not suitable for archival storage purposes*
Avoid direct contact between your collection and any products that contain PVC, commonly known as Vinyl, used in some erasers, 3-ring binders, bubble wrap and adhesive tapes. The ink from artwork and photocopies can ‘transfer’ onto the surface of (for example) the inside pocket of a vinyl 3-ring binder. All PVC polymers are degraded by light and heat, hydrogen chloride is eliminated, and oxidation occurs = bad for comics. Chemicals used to make this type of plastic can react with water vapor to form hydrochloric acid and quickly damage a paper collection.
Advantages of Mylar® Type D (Polyester, Melinex) Compared to Commonly Used Plastics
- Resistance to diffusion of gases like Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, etc. is 350 times greater than polyethylene.
- Permanence. There is no noticeable change in storage-100 years when compared to 2 to 5 years for others.
- Resistance to moisture, insect attack, fungus, mold, mildew, acid, oils, grease, and solvents is “excellent” compared to “fair” for others.
- Strength and creep resistance is 10 times that of polyethylene, one-third the strength of steel.
- Volatile Additions–Mylar® contains no dangerous plasticizers, slip additives, surface coatings, antioxidants, acid-hydrolysis compared to other commonly used plastics.
- Mylar stops some UV light and is accepted as photo safe to direct contact and is used internationally by archives and museums.
The fact is, polypropylene and polyethylene are stable enough for the short-term storage of collectibles. The poly-bags that most everyone sells are “blown” films, affording very low density and dimensional stability. These sleeves will do a pretty good job of protecting your collection in the short to medium term, 5 – 7 years. Low density polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) are less expensive than polyester.
Shameless Plug – No comic looks better than one displayed in a Stalward Polyester bag. I would think the extra minimal cost is worth the expense to display, store and perhaps get a better price for your comic. Preserver Haven has a vast range of polyester bags that may be appropriate for your economical resources.
References