Comic Preservation And Storage

Comic Book collecting today is for both fun and profit. Yet, the comic book you thought was going to increase in value year after year has suddenly turned yellow after only three months and is now worthless. What happened? What could have been done to prevent the yellowing? This article will discuss how paper is made. What materials are best suited for long term storage and the guidelines for proper preservation.

How Paper Is Made

Paper generally has plant fibres that have been reduced to a pulp, suspended in water and then matted into sheets. The fibres in turn consist largely of cellulose, a strong, lightweight and somewhat durable material; cotton is an example of almost pure cellulose fibre. Although cotton and other kinds of fibre have been used in paper making over the years, most paper products today are made from wood pulp.

Wood pulps come in two basic varieties: groundwood and chemical wood. In the first process, whole logs are shredded and mechanically beaten. In the second, the fibres are prepared by digesting wood chips in chemical cookers. Because groundwood is the cheaper of the two, it is the primary component in such inexpensive papers as newsprint, which is used in many newspapers, comic books and paper backs. Chemically purified pulps are used in more expensive applications, such as stationery and some magazines and hardcover books. ​Since groundwood pulp is made from whole wood fibre, the resulting paper does not consist of pure cellulose. As much as one third of its content may consist of non cellulose materials such as lignin, a complex woody acid. In chemical pulps, however, the lignin and other impurities are removed during the cooking process.

Deterioration of Paper

The primary causes of paper deterioration are oxidation and acid hydrolysis. Oxidation attacks cellulose molecules with oxygen from the air, causing darkening and increased acidity. In addition, the lignin in groundwood paper breaks down quickly under the influence of oxygen and ultraviolet light. Light induced oxidation of lignin is what turns newspapers yellow after a few days’ exposure to sunlight. (Light can also cause some printing inks to fade).

In acid hydrolysis, the cellulose fibres are cut by a reaction involving heat and acids, resulting in paper that turns brown and brittle. The sources of acidity include lignin itself, air pollution, and reaction by products from the oxidation of paper. Another major source is alum, which is often used with rosin to prepare the paper surface for accepting printing inks. Alum eventually releases sulfuric acid in paper. Acidity and alkalinity are measured in units of pH, with 0 the most acidic and 14 the most alkaline. (Neutral pH is 7.0) Because the scale is based on powers of 10, a pH of 4.5 is actually 200 times more acidic than a pH of 6.5. Fresh newsprint typically carries a pH of 4.5 or less, while older more deteriorated paper on the verge of crumbling, may run as low as pH 3.0. Although some modern papers are made acid free, most paper collectibles are acidic and need special treatment to lengthen their lives. Other factors which contribute to the destruction of paper include extremes of temperature and humidity, insects, rodents, mold and improper handling and storage.

Guidelines for Preservation

First and foremost, keep your paper collectibles cool, dark and dry. Store books and other items in an unheated room, if possible, and regularly monitor the humidity. Excess heat and humidity should be controlled with an air conditioner and a dehumidifier. Storage materials such as envelopes, sleeves and boxes, should be of ARCHIVAL QUALITY only to prevent contamination of their contents.

MYLAR® According to the US Library of Congress, the preferred material for preserving valuable documents is uncoated archival quality polyester film, such as Mylar® type D or equivalent material such as Melinex® 516. Mylar® is an exceptionally strong transparent film that resists moisture, pollutants, oils and acids. With a life expectancy of hundreds of years, Mylar® will outlast most other plastics. In addition, the brilliance and clarity of Mylar® enhances the appearance of any paper collectible. (Mylar® is a registered trademark of DuPont Teijin films. Their brands of archival quality polyester films are Mylar® type D and Melinex® 516 of which they are exclusive manufacturers).

Polyethylene and Polypropylene

For years collectors have stored their movie posters, comic books, baseball cards and other collectibles in polyethylene bags, PVC sheets and plastic wraps. Although such products may be useful in keeping away dirt, grease and vermin, many plastic sleeves contain plasticizers and other additives which can migrate into paper and cause premature aging. Both polyethylene and polypropylene contain solvents and additives in their manufacture to assure clarity and increase the flexibility in the plastic. Polyethylene when uncoated without any solvents is a good moisture barrier but has a high gas transmission rate, and eventually shrinks and loses its shape under warmer conditions.

In recent years polypropylene bags have been sold under the guise of being archivally sound. This is far from the truth. Only uncoated and untreated material is suitable for archival protection. Currently, the only way to seal polypropylene is to add a substance called PVDC (Polyvinyl Dichloride which is a relative of PVC) to allow the material to be heat sealed. Therefore, once you add the harmful additive, the sleeve now becomes non archival and should not be used for long term storage.

Acid Free Boards and Boxes

Because ordinary cardboard is itself acidic, storage in cardboard boxes may be hazardous to your collection, and is a leading cause of premature deterioration of comic collections. For proper storage, only acid free boards that meet the US Government’s MINIMUM requirements are acceptable. These requirements have been defined as boards having a 3% calcium carbonate buffer throughout and a minimum pH of 8.5. Anything less will hasten your collection’s destruction. While many advertisers claim that their boards are “acid free at time of manufacture,” they are in reality only spray coated with an alkaline substance making them acid free for only a very short time. Boards termed “acid free at time of manufacture” do not offer sufficient protection or storage for anything other than short term. True acid free boards have been impregnated with a calcium buffer resulting in an acid free, alkaline pH content of 8.5 throughout.

Deacidification

Another way to extend the longevity of your collectibles is to deacidify them before storage. Deacidifying sprays and solutions are now available for home use. By impregnating the paper with an alkaline reserve, you can neutralize existing acids and inhibit oxidation, future acidity and staining due to certain fungi. However it is best left to the professionals to deacidify your comic books. Deacidification with proper storage conditions will add centuries to the lifetime of paper.

In summary, the following guidelines are recommend for the maximum protection of your collectibles: Deacidify the paper; store in Mylar® sleeves with acid free boards and cartons; and keep the collection cool, dry and dark. Periodic inspections and pH and humidity tests are also recommended. By following these simple guidelines you can be assured of a comic book collection that not only will increase in value, but will also last for many years to come.

General Guidelines to Consider

1

Handle the comics properly. Wash your hands with soap and water before handling comics. Don’t just rinse, or you will still have dirty hands! This will remove any oils from your hands, which can cause staining on the cover or interior pages. Ideally, you should wear gloves when handling the comics. Never handle comics by the stapled edge, rather, pick them up at the open edge, top or bottom. The fewer spine stress marks, the better.

2

Place each comic in a bag with a backing board. Use supplies created specifically for archival storage:

• Mylar sleeves are considered the premiere bag or sleeve of choice (see Tips). While it may be superior, it is probably not essential, if ordinary care is taken to check the books periodically and change the bags when or if any yellowing is noticed.

• Back boards are important to provide support and will prevent spine stress and corner/edge wear. Boards may be acid free at time of manufacture but that can change over time creating yellow stains on the board. 24 point solid bleached sulfate, coated on one side boards are for short term storage (<5 years) and the comic should rest on the coated/glossy side. The rough side will create a tan image transfer from the back. For longer term storage look for boards that have a buffer throughout.

• For everyday use, ordinary bags and boards are less expensive and work fine. Unless you’re using Mylar with virgin, alkali-buffered backer boards, however, you should plan on changing the bags and boards every 7 years or so.

3

Get your comic books in order. Organize your comic collection and find an acid-free box to store them in. A good storage box is one made of acid-free cardboard. You can also buy smaller archival storage boxes from archival and conservation supply stores online.

4

Store your comic boxes in a cool (70 degrees F or below is ideal), dry (50-60% relative humidity), and dark location, where humidity and temperature do not fluctuate. Interior closets are usually the best places to store comics in a typical house. Do not store comics in a basement if you can avoid it, as a burst pipe can result in flooding, which will ruin your comics. If you must store comics in a basement, make sure that the boxes are at least one foot off of the ground so that if any flooding occurs, you can minimize the possibility that water will reach the comics. Moisture is a comic book’s second worst enemy; right next to fire. Also, if you plan on storing your books in a basement you should consider storing them in a plastic container, as if you do have a flood, water will not leak (and it might even float, but hopefully you wont have that much water).

5

Check up on them regularly. Check for bleeding of colors onto the boards, yellowing, and mold or mildew. If you notice ANY odor of mildew, remove the books from the contaminated location, set them out to air dry, and check again in three days. If you still smell mildew around the books, re-bag and board them immediately. Finally, if the mildew smell lingers, it is best to amputate – destroy the infected books, or at least remove them from contact with the rest of your clean collection. Mildew is a living thing and will migrate right through even Mylar to destroy your books (not to mention their value – the barest whiff of mildew will send a prospective buyer running).

6

Insure your collection. Comic books are NOT covered under your homeowners policy, even if part of a collection – they require a separate insurance rider. If your collection is extensive or valuable, talk to your insurance agent to get appropriate coverage in case of fire or theft.

7

Consider having good quality, older books professionally graded by a known, respected company (such as CGC). This is the ultimate protection for these books as they are sealed in an archival acrylic “well” with alkali buffers after being appraised by a panel of experts as to their condition. They may be re-sealed and certified for a small fee if you need to open the book for any reason (such as to show to a prospective buyer).

Final Tips

• Golden and Silver Age books are far more susceptible to yellowing and any detrimental qualities in the storage materials, due to the type of paper they’re printed on (crummy newsprint). New books are printed on acid-free paper, so unless you expose them to light, water or fire on a regular basis, a tiny bit of care goes a long way.

• The best quality bags and boards are no substitute for proper handling.

• Mylar scratches and scuffs easily. If you handle your collection often, you may find the Mylars looking hazy. This won’t affect their efficiency in protecting your books, but if you should decide to sell one, consider putting it in a new sleeve.

• Remember, comics are not merely for collection or investment. Great craftsmanship can be found in both the storyline and artistic aspects of comics. Treat them well, store them wisely, but remember that they are made first and foremost to be read and enjoyed!

• Be sure that the box you buy will fit the comics you have (older ones vary in size) and that the box you buy fit properly in the box as well. Golden and Silver Age books are wider than current or regular sized comics, and will need a special box, they will not fit in a standard one.

• Don’t store comics in safes. There’s evidence to suggest that the fireproofing chemicals can travel through the Mylar and cause faster deterioration of comic books.