Taking books out of their original packaging?

[bolt_boy]

I recently bought a sealed two-pack of 52 page DC giants from 1972. The plastic bag is completely intact, but shows wear. The books inside appear to be in great shape. Should I remove these books so I can inspect them more throughly and put them in the mylar sleeves I'm sure they deserve, or leave them in their original packaging. What do you think?

-Ben

[SatansProdigy]

I guess it depends on what you are going to do with them. If you're looking to resell them I'd keep them in the bag. If it's something you want to read and add to your own collection, bust 'em out and put them in mylar. Those bags weren't made for long term storage and could damage the comics.

[oxbladder]

Yeah I agree with SP. If your aim is to resell these books then leave them be and stipulate the apparent grades and why you will only claim apparent grades or just sell as is maybe noting any defects that you can see through the bag.

If you wish to keep these books then you should break them out of the bag as such bags can harm the books more than other storage bags or mylars.

[bolt_boy]

Thanks guys. I have both books already, but not in the condition these appear to be in. I'll open the bag up and store them properly, and sell my doubles later on.

-Ben

[SILLYSHIP--pirate eye--]

I bust all of my bagged comics out and then keep the bags in a bag of their own.

[SatansProdigy]

Hey Ship, any reason you keep the bags?

[SILLYSHIP--pirate eye--]

Well, would one of those Ga Wheaties books be worth more if it was still attached to the wheaties box? The entire package is actually what was released so you should contain the experience of receiving it new. Boy, that sounds techinical.

[jaeldubyoo]

I think as a collector, you would be better off keeping the comics in the bag. Any collectible kept in its original condition as much as possible is the goal of most collectors. Most collectors would prefer a collectible to be in its original packaging. But if you want to read it, obviously you need to open it.

I can understand why you would want to keep the bags. They're collectible in themselves (although I don't think too many people want the bags by themselves). I see where sometimes a box is more valuable than a rare toy. There are bubble gum card wrappers that sell for more than most of the cards in the series. Who knows?

[oxbladder]

Most collectors would prefer a collectible to be in its original packaging.

You know that is a bit sweeping of a statement. I am a collector and 99% of the packages that my comics have come in I have disposed of them. The comic is what is worth the money not the bag. Some printed bags such as the black bagged edition of Superman #75 and the platinum edition of the same book I have one copy sealed and one copy opened and the bag and content saved in a comic bag inside the bagged and boarded issue. I once got a DC romance two pack (sealed) and I threw that bag out too because it was falling apart.

So it really varies a great deal each collector is different and I have yet to see many, if any, place any sort of value on a bag. Now premiums like the Wheaties books mentioned above are an entirely different story they were glued to the box and most sustained serious damage to the book when removed. In that case keeping the packaging would be a benefit but the glue AND the cereal box pose no threat to life of the book. The card board and paper of the premium were probably of similar acidic content, etc and thus would degrade at the same rate and not affect the other.

Bags on the other hand will pose a threat. Even the bags and boards we place the books in will affect the condition if the environment is not stable and the bags and boards are not swapped out every few years. All plastic bags, except Mylars I believe, off-gas and those gases WILL harm the book in some way. Especially in warmer environments.

Anyway, I just wanted to point out that there are plenty of COLLECTORS out there that do not place any value in packaging. Types of collectors vary widely in EVERY hobby.

[jaeldubyoo]

I guess I made too broad of a statement there. Rather than say most, I should have said some. I was making some general and personal observations. I am by no means an expert. What I've noticed is that some unopened packs of comics, especially Whitmans sell for a premium on eBay. I used to track them because I was interested in owning a few. I was outbidded numerous times on unopened packs. I may be among the minority of collectors that actually want unopened packs of comics. You're right about the possible damage to the comics if left in the original bags. But that doesn't concern me unless the comic is very valuable.

I know there are collectors (not just comic collectors) that prefer original packaging). I have a friend who pays a lot of money for unopened packs of baseball cards. He knows that card next to the piece of gum will probably be ruined, but he doesn't care. He won't even open them to see if he has a rookie card of a superstar.

[oxbladder]

And I am one that sometimes looks for unopened packs and opens them ;) Its all fine with me. I refuse to pay a premium though. Sometimes you have to be careful with unopened packs though because I have seen instances of people coming across a box of them and they will trickle them out (or not) on the market. There was a instance last year where these two guy from Quebec that had come across a huge pile of unopened Disney Whitmans and were flooding the market with them. I think some went for a pretty good price ... until people realized that these guys had HUNDREDS of them. So I often pass up sealed packs just to be sure that it is not part of a similar case.

[oxbladder]

speaking of unopened packs:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Shogun-Warriors-Marvel-Whitman-Variant-3-pack-Western_W0QQitemZ220068368273QQihZ012QQcategoryZ64 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Someday I wish people would drop the Marvel Whitman tag though. Western may have published these books but they do not carry ANY common Western Publishing imprints. So semantically they are not Whitmans .... imo.

[The Charlton Guy]

For the titles I am obsessive about, I like to get one sealed pack (if I can find one) and keep it sealed and if I happen to come across another, I cut it loose. Nothing like looking over a 20-30 year old book that looks like it was printed yesterday, even if most of them do tend to aquire a spine stress or two, there's nothing like an unread, white-paged BA Whitman book.

I am currently looking for sealed Superman and Action Comics Whitman packs. If you happen to see any up for auction or sale, drop me a line.

[malaprop]

If it's just a plastic bag, I'd toss it. But I won a couple of 1946 Magic Comics still with their original subscription mailers. The mailers actually have the Magic Comics logo on them, so I saved them, separately. They are brown paper envelopes, so I don't want them touching the comics long term.

[marvelguy]

For the titles I am obsessive about, I like to get one sealed pack (if I can find one) and keep it sealed and if I happen to come across another, I cut it loose. Nothing like looking over a 20-30 year old book that looks like it was printed yesterday, even if most of them do tend to aquire a spine stress or two, there's nothing like an unread, white-paged BA Whitman book.

I am currently looking for sealed Superman and Action Comics Whitman packs. If you happen to see any up for auction or sale, drop me a line.

Wow! These books sealed are hard to find. I searched it on the net and couldn't find one for sale. I remember reading those Action Comics Whitman back in the 70's. What a blast those comics were.

[yarmak]

we should remember the books were made for enjoyment in reading them.If the value goes up consider it a bonus.I fail to see the logic in buying (new) several copies of the same comic just to keep it the same as you got it and maybe manage to make $$ on it later on.Lots of easier and quicker ways to make $$ than this
Dave

[malaprop]

I have a Magic Comic from the '40s in VF with its original subscription mailer, complete with printed logo. I keep both in mylar sleeves, but would never consider putting the comic back in the mailer.

[jaydeebee]

About 3 years ago, a CVS in our town put in a display of comic 3-packs. Each bag was $2.99 and contained 2 run-of-the-mill 80's/90's junk comics and one NM Fantastic Four comic from the 70's! Naturally, I bought the whole display! I ripped those bags open and savored the bronze-age goodness! Really filled out my FF collection on the cheap! My favorite way to shop! :)

[btdhome]

The "bagged" comics that came out through the 80's & 90's should be removed to prevent damage as the bag decays.
Now, if you keep inside a good quality comic bag and in a climate controlled area, the original polybag will hold up OK for quite a while.
But any heat, humidity, or just general house conditions will cause that bag to break down.
I have a few X-Force annuals that came polybagged.
The couple that were slipped inside a comic bag intact have held up decently.
The rest have all gotten quite tacky and feel really strange.

Now if it was polybagged because it came with a premium (card, poster, etc.) then of that item should be held with the comic, especially if you're planning to resell said comic.

[marvelguy]

Hmm...I have those X-Force #1, I think it was 5 of them with the cards, also polybagged. Besides these and the X-Force annuals, what are the other polybagged books of the 90's in the middle of the variant/gimmick cover madness that we had? I remember the kinds of gimmick books out back then but now what are they? Isn't there a website that details those issues?

[jaydeebee]

Hmm...I have those X-Force #1, I think it was 5 of them with the cards, also polybagged. Besides these and the X-Force annuals, what are the other polybagged books of the 90's in the middle of the variant/gimmick cover madness that we had? I remember the kinds of gimmick books out back then but now what are they? Isn't there a website that details those issues?


The X-Force #1's should be retained inside the sealed bags for the reader's protection. Rob Liefeld really is awful.#exorcist#

[marvelguy]

That's why I got the 2nd print gold gimmick cover.

Oh wait, did I read it? I can't remember, Liefeld's art seems to have that effect on people where if you have trauma, your memory gets repressed.

[UnlimitedRealities]

Cmon, you guys are way too hard on ol Rob. Look how sexy his Cap is...

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x65/unlimitedrealities/180px-Liefeld_captain_america.jpg

Wait, what do you mean Captain America is a man?!?

[marvelguy]

Trannie, dude!

[UnlimitedRealities]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/07/22

[UnlimitedRealities]

And, in case you were wondering just how anatomically incorrect Liefeld's Cap is...

http://adlo.dreamers.com/estudios/tet_torres03.htm

[fulltimer56]

The X-Force #1's should be retained inside the sealed bags for the reader's protection. Rob Liefeld really is awful.#exorcist#


AMEN, jaydeebee, Amen!!!

[fulltimer56]

And, in case you were wondering just how anatomically incorrect Liefeld's Cap is...

http://adlo.dreamers.com/estudios/tet_torres03.htm


All I can say is "OH MY GOD" that's just WRONG!!! :roll:

[UnlimitedRealities]

All I can say is "OH MY GOD" that's just WRONG!!! :roll:

Yeah, no arguement from me;)

[pasnat54]

I've seen that infamous Cap cover all over, including the one in which Liefeld display's Cap's (or his own) shortcomings.

But I don't know the story behind it. Did it actually appear on a cover? Or was it proposed as a cover but shot down, eventually to be released on the sly as a "Can you believe this?" type of drawing.

If it was published... wasn't anyone editing whatever book it appeared on?

[UnlimitedRealities]

This should answer your questions:
http://www.leechvideo.com/video/view2956413.html

And this is an interesting review of the Liefeld Cap works that were released:
http://ape-law.com/GAF/2007/09/classic-gone-and-forgotten-rob-liefelds.html

I especially enjoyed the discussion of Cap's Magic Resizable Shield.

[pasnat54]

Thanks, unlimited. At least Leifeld is aware that he really poohed the screwch on that picture.

Wow. Bad, bad, bad.

And did he really give Cap boobs? It seems like the entire chest area and rib cage are disproportionally huge, not just the breasts. I mean that the breast doesn't stick out that much from the rest of the chest.

It's been too long since I've seen a real women. I gotta go do some research.

[UnlimitedRealities]

lol

Actually, to me it looks like he's a cabinet that opens on the other side, and someone forgot to close him.

[SILLYSHIP--pirate eye--]

Well this really got off topic.

[Duffman_Comics]

Let's get this thread back on track . . . .

I am reminded of a story I heard a few years back of an "attic/warehouse/basement" find of an unopened retail box of "Mars Attacks" bubble gum cards.You know the ones - graphic and quickly pulled from sale cards of the early sixties.

Well, so the story goes, the finder of these cards hot footed it to his LCS - early to mid 90's - so the LCS also dealt in cards.

LCS dealer was suitably impressed.The cards were clearly in perfect condition and the LCS was obviously interested so in discussion with the finder, the details of the find emerged.

Err, says the LCS, what did you do with the packaging? The gum wrappers and the box they came in?

"Why" says the finder cheerfully, "I threw them away.It's the cards that are valuable, right?"

Dealer doesn't break down, but explains that the box and wrappers are indeed valuable, especially for the completist.

Why am I blathering?

I have a couple of these Batpacs and would not think of breaking them out. FYI the books are Bats #181, Worlds Finest #158, Metal Men #20 and JLA #45.

I know the off gassing argument but I am happy to have the pack just as it was more than 40 years ago.

Oh, there is a bit of ink transfer onto the bag - not the book(s).

Some CGC Boardies will have seen these before. Cut me some slack - I am trying to build up some Corral cred ;)

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u158/pwing75/100_0573.jpg

(http://www.comicscorral.com/forums/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u158/pwing75/100_0573.jpg%5B/IMG%5D)

[habib]

Duffman....those 4 & 3 sealed pack comics are very cool indeed!

I had a DC 3 pack sealed at one time w/Detective #359 (1st Batgirl). Wish I still had that one.

The good thing about it was that it caught a thief! We had it for sale at a convention and a Thief tried to walk off with it but the distictive top part of the packaging was sticking out of his stuff so we stopped him and it turns out he had several other of our books and a sack full of stuff he had already ripped off of other dealers.

Chalk one up to the good guys.....thanks to that DC 3-pack !!

[Warlord]

I recently bought a sealed two-pack of 52 page DC giants from 1972. The plastic bag is completely intact, but shows wear. The books inside appear to be in great shape. Should I remove these books so I can inspect them more throughly and put them in the mylar sleeves I'm sure they deserve, or leave them in their original packaging. What do you think?

-Ben

Speaking for bagged DC Whitmans - unless the bag was in horrible condition I would NOT open and remove the bag. #oldie#

Anyone tempted to do so should contact me immediately and I will buy the bagged DC Whitmans from you in order to remove the temptation, or will gladly trade you equivalent issues that are already out of their bag!