Sacrilege!!!

[Evil Parsnip]

Ok.. I want to do it.. I have a stack of books I want to send out for professional restoring by next summer. Mainly its a group of ASM 1-12 which have been taped together with double sided tape by some idiot I bought them from. The covers of everything on the inside are basically perfect (aside from where obviously there is tape) so I really would rather spend the money on a top person who can separate them with a minimum of damage.

Any suggestions on who to send them to and roughly what the rates are?

[UnlimitedRealities]

Classics Incorporated did a couple books for a friend, and he was very happy. They actually refused to do one of his books. I don't know how much they charged, but their url is www.classicsincorporated.com

[The Charlton Guy]

Classics Incorporated did a couple books for a friend, and he was very happy. They actually refused to do one of his books. I don't know how much they charged, but their url is www.classicsincorporated.com (http://www.classicsincorporated.com)

:| :? :-( :cry: :oops: :( :mad: :x #explode#

[The Charlton Guy]

Sorry 'bout that, just a bit of indigestion...#gross#



You might also check out Susan Ciccone at The Restoration Lab. Here's her ballpark pricing with a link to her main page:

http://www.therestorationlab.com/page.php?page_id=2

I understand that she is one of the best.

[UnlimitedRealities]

Oh, please.

If the man wants to have work done on books from his personal collection, and has no intention of reselling them as high grade books, what difference does it make to you?

You don't even know what he had done, and still we have smiley gibs all over the page!

Just to clear it up, on one of the books he had a color touch removed, and another he had rice paper added to save a totally detached cover.

Hilarious smiley progression, though.

[UnlimitedRealities]

Ok, sorry, misunderstood the exploding head.

So I assume you just have an issue with Classics Incorporated?

[The Charlton Guy]

So I assume you just have an issue with Classics Incorporated?

I do, but I am hesitant to turn this into a thread about pressing.

Suffice it to say, I find Matt's approach to pressing...very disturbing. On many levels.

[UnlimitedRealities]

I see. Well, if you are so inclined, and can find the time, perhaps you could start a seperate thread sometime. I would be interested, anyway.

[The Charlton Guy]

LOL! Just what the world needs! Another pressing thread!

Coming right up! :D

[oxbladder]

I would only use Tracy heft or Susan Ciccone. It is my understanding they are the only two people in the comic restoration field that are formally trained in paper conservation. Not that other are idiots or anything but I would only use formally trained conservators because it is my understanding that they have a code of conduct that they must follow in order to maintain their status within the conservation community (in general not in comics only).

I certainly would not use Matt Nelson because I find many of his recent viewpoints and actions ... well ... unethical. It my understanding that he does good work and is a nice guy and all but I am just strongly opposed to his POV and some practices.

Anyway, all that aside I believe just about all of them will be able to provide you with quotes (not free for the most part) or if they will even be able to do what you want. So you know good conservators are expensive if someone is offering to do substantial work for $30/hr I would steer very clear of them.

Ciccone has a web site which explains most of what you would want to know. I don't know about Heft. I would not leave them out of the loop. "Shop" around try and learn more about the various experts and make your decision from there.

All just IMO.

[Evil Parsnip]

thanks everyone.. Comics Restoration Labs I believe is the winner.. I've heard nothing but raves about susan.

[oxbladder]

BTW if your thread title is referring to restoration being sacrilege I think you would be wrong. Restoration is important and will be important to preserve our books. From what you describe of your books I would without a doubt want to get them restored rather than see them dies a horrid tape bound death.

Good luck and let us know what happens with your inquiries!

[pasnat54]

Was it here on The Corral that we had a thread saying restoration is not as evil as it's often made out to be? Anyway, that's how I feel. After all, my sister wouldn't get very far in her 67 Mustang if she hadn't had it restored.

Someday, I may send in my Batman #16 for some spine repair.

[Evil Parsnip]

actually I was just teasing the anti-restoration crowd since these books are definitely not for resale in my lifetime..

[UnlimitedRealities]

After checking out Susan and Matt's websites, I have to withdraw my hearsay based recommendation. Susan seems to be much more ethical.

[StlComics]

I'll put in a vote for Susan Ciccone. Nelson isn't someone I'd prefer to deal with (see Ox's post), and I have dealt with Tracey Heft on something other than restoring books, and found him to be a complete asshole. If he was on fire, I think I'd be more likely to throw gas on him than water... http://forum.stlcomics.com/images/smiles/humantorch.gif

[Hoss]

You really shouldn't hold back on how you really feel, James!#joker#