Long-term storage

[Otter]

Hey guys, I'd like a little advice.

I've been collecting comics since 1990. Consequently I have a lot of Usagi books and it is the only book I still buy regularly. Every year or so I would buy bags and boards (typical Ultra Pro, or similar, polypropylene bags and "acid free" boards) sold at my local comic shop to keep my collection tidy.

Recently I pulled out my old Usagi issues and noticed a lot of tan/orange markings on a number of my boards (I think it's known as "foxing" and is the result of acids (either in the book or in the board) damaging the boards - thanks internet research). A little more research revealed that for long-term storage, boards treated with an alkali buffer were more appropriate (which, inconveniently none of my local comic stores seem to be able to get in, and I've been recommended to contact retailers in the US). A little more research suggested I should also be using mylar bags rather than poly bags.

My Usagi collection is just for me. It's not an investment, and I have no interest in selling it, however every book since Fantagraphics #20 I have bought new from the comic shop, and some of them are looking quite aged. To be fair, many of my earlier books were stored in a sock drawer unil I invested in a couple of short boxes, but even books I bought in the past 20 years, which have been "looked after" have significant page discolouration, and some have markings on the cover that I can only attribute to poor storage choices by me. I have lived in some fairly humid areas, but all my books were boarded, bagged and boxed, as described when living there. I have never switched out my boards, or changed my bags as I was never given advice to do so.

My question is:

Is it worth investing in Mylar bags, buffered boards, and acid-free storage boxes, or is this a little overkill for books I never intend to sell? Should I just replace all my bags and boards with typical comic book store supplies every x years?

And what about the little acid-free paper inserts that I've read about? Or is that a waste of time with a black and white book?

I would be really interested in what you guys have to say on this topic. Thanks in advance.

[Maka]

My question is:

Is it worth investing in Mylar bags, buffered boards, and acid-free storage boxes, or is this a little overkill for books I never intend to sell? Should I just replace all my bags and boards with typical comic book store supplies every x years?

And what about the little acid-free paper inserts that I've read about? Or is that a waste of time with a black and white book?

I would be really interested in what you guys have to say on this topic. Thanks in advance.

Dear Otter,

My opinions are:

1. Maylar are expensive.
2. Re bagging 200+ Usagi Yojimbo issues takes money, time, and effort too.
3. But you might enjoy rebagging the issues. Seeing the covers, looking inside the comics, reading them. Looking at the letter pages. But that can be a time sink and you could use your time and money on other things and people.

I've used Mylar for a few books I felt were an "investment." But I have sold probably less than 100 books in 27 years of collecting comics. This is probably the wrong thing to say on a comic book fan site but it is not worth a ton of effort to preserve modern age comics. I buy comic to read them. It is fun to protect them in a bag, board, and short box. But then I end up storing them in my garage that gets hot and with paper eating bugs that are everywhere.

I do admire your focus on just Usagi comics. That is cool. Because it is the only comic you have, you could decide to invest more time, money, energy to keep them safer. You get to decide.

Have fun.

Peace, maka

[go]

Dear Reader,
I use a Mylar bag large enough to fit 10 comics.
My brand is E.Gerber Mylites Silver & Golden age comic book size 7-3/4" x10-3/4"
Because 10 comics create enough tension in the bag, no boards are needed.
If you need to add structural integrity, layer acid free boards between the outside comic and the Mylar bag.
One time cost, long term results.
I think we owe it to the people who make things to take the best care of them we can.
Just my opinion.
Best wishes to all.
go

[Otter]

I'd be curious to hear Sakai sensei's thoughts on this.

[Stan Sakai]

I'd be curious to hear Sakai sensei's thoughts on this.

I'm the last person you would want advice on this. I still keep the Fantagraphics comics in the original cardboard shipping boxes they came in, and in the hot garage. Mirage and Dark Horse ones are consolidated into smaller boxes.

I used to get 250 comps of the Fantagraphics and Mirage comics. (I got 1,500 of UY #1.) I asked Dark Horse to reduce that number to 50, just enough to give away to friends.

[Maka]

I'd be curious to hear Sakai sensei's thoughts on this.

I'm the last person you would want advice on this. I still keep the Fantagraphics comics in the original cardboard shipping boxes they came in, and in the hot garage. Mirage and Dark Horse ones are consolidated into smaller boxes.

I used to get 250 comps of the Fantagraphics and Mirage comics. (I got 1,500 of UY #1.) I asked Dark Horse to reduce that number to 50, just enough to give away to friends.

The ultimate Usagi Trivia prize package: be blindfolded and have one minute to grab one box out of Stan's garage to keep. It might be weed killer or it might be killer.

Peace, maka

[Usagi-chan]

I'd be curious to hear Sakai sensei's thoughts on this.

I'm the last person you would want advice on this. I still keep the Fantagraphics comics in the original cardboard shipping boxes they came in, and in the hot garage. Mirage and Dark Horse ones are consolidated into smaller boxes.

I used to get 250 comps of the Fantagraphics and Mirage comics. (I got 1,500 of UY #1.) I asked Dark Horse to reduce that number to 50, just enough to give away to friends.

The ultimate Usagi Trivia prize package: be blindfolded and have one minute to grab one box out of Stan's garage to keep. It might be weed killer or it might be killer.

Peace, maka

Please make this a real trivia prize pack.

[Otter]

I'm the last person you would want advice on this. I still keep the Fantagraphics comics in the original cardboard shipping boxes they came in, and in the hot garage. Mirage and Dark Horse ones are consolidated into smaller boxes.

Ha ha! Thank you, sir. That made my night.

Maybe Mayhem might have some better advice.

Thanks Stan.

[Mayhem]

I'll have to check what my current bags and boards are. Many of the early Usagi comics were received in really poor bags when I bought them, and I subbed them out into better bags a couple of years ago when I finally got around to putting a lot of my comics on display in bookcases. Most of the time when purchasing new comics, they are automatically bagged and boarded with the same quality I purchase to use.

[Usagi-chan]

Wow, you guys must have a TON more comics than I do. All of my Usagi comics don't even fill up a full shelf.

[Mayhem]

I really only read TMNT, Usagi and Mouse Guard. There isn't much of the latter to date, and probably won't be in any scale compared to the other two. I checked and I use polypropylene Silver Age comic bags when I need to bag something that didn't already have one when received, or I need to swap over a crap bag. Seem to be perfectly fine for my comics in general. The only true comic I own of note is TMNT #1 first print.

As for storage, I use one of these to house the classic TMNT and Usagi issues I own: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/30279784/

The IDW TMNT comics are currently in industry standard collecting boxes as there isn't enough room for them. I need another bookcase to put those up, the rest of the random issues stored elsewhere, and all the hardcovers etc.

[madman31]

I use Mylite 2s and full back acid free boards. Sure they are expensive (not as expensive as full mylar), but you will never have to worry about changing them again. They look fabulous too.

[Otter]

... And the Usagi books fit alright with the full backs? I was thinking of going half backs, so that it isn't too tight a fit.

Do you use E. Gerber?