Protect Your Paper Collectibles !
Received An e-mail With Pics Of Comics The Emailer Wanted To Sell...
Unfortunately those pics showed curled comics and creased comics that otherwise would have been worth something to the emailer as well as to future buyers...
Sorry, but comics printed after 1980 are of the 'Modern Age Of Comics', were usually printed in very large quantities and need to be in the best grade possible for resale!
In an earlier post I noted that you need to bag and board your comic books or magazines, (click here for earlier post), to store them properly.
Then I posted what kind of backing boards to choose from depending on what you going to do with the comics or mags, keep them, get ready to sell them, etc... (click here for that post).
Thirdly I posted about what kind and size of comic book or magazine bags to use, (click here for post).
This post will be what kind of boxes will best fit your comics or mags! Comic Book Boxes are boxes that are actually manufactured to store comic boxes!
Most of the boxes that are manufactured for comic books storage are usually made very strong, and come with sturdy well-fitting lids and handle holes that can be left in the closed position for storing or pushed open for carrying.
Comic Book Boxes are properly sized to hold a comic in a bag with a backing board. There are comic book boxes made for Modern Age and Silver Age Comics, and I find that Magazine Boxes are best for storing Golden Age Comics.
Short Boxes versus Long Boxes.... Trust me on this one! I have set up at comic book conventions using both sizes. If you have access to a handcart, long boxes are fine. If you have to wait to use a handcart, then short boxes are better for carrying out to your vehichle. If storing your comics only and not handling them other than inserting new ones, then I would go with the short boxes. Less weight, (less comics also), and you are less likely to get a hernia lifting boxes up and down!
There are also comic book divider cards, (used for categorizing or separating titles), that fit in comic book boxes with the lid on. These are very helpful when attempting to find the comics you have already stored to insert more issues you have just bought!
Comic book boxes are normally sold or shipped flat which takes up less storage room. The boxes will fold together when you are ready to use them without using glue or tape and are easily assembled.
The main reason for storing your comics in a properly sized box is that the box helps protect your comics from corners and edges damage.
Also, placing your comics in a comic box also protects the comic from being exposed to ultra-violet light. Would you believe that ultra-violet light causes inks to fade?!!
Comic Book boxes are made from either Corrugated Plastic or Corrugated Cardboard. They come in several different lengths for your various storage/display needs. I have used both, and find that cardboard are fine for storage and less money for our current purposes, which is storing comics in short boxes to pick and pull for comic book sales orders.
However, using corrugated plastic comic boxes could be an excellent choice for long-term comic storage for the collector because the material is normally acid-free, mostly water proof, probably vermin resistant and definitely strong to place more boxes on top.
A note about acid-free boxes. Comic storage boxes do not need to be acid-free IF you have your comics in bags already!