Fred P

I was wondering if anyone knows of a source of the grey or tan acid free comic storage boxes. I have been calling eGerber since late 2020 and the consistent line from the nice lady who answers the phone is “We will let you know when they get in. We’re still expecting them.” There must be other sources of these boxes but I haven’t been able to find any so I am getting discouraged. I do see bags unlimited has a plastic coated version but it seems small ( 80 book capacity) and it looks different than the eGerber boxes I have been buying for over 10 years. Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.

After reviewing all the suggestions I think the key for me is Managing how tight the comics are packed in a box. I think small boxes are also optimal to avoid damage from shifting weight that can occur with loosely packed long boxes. Hopefully one day I’ll be rid of the longer boxes.

I think mine yellow quicker since I reside in the southeast and it’s more humid here than the high western desert. I do what I can. I store them in dark special built closets in a finished basement that has air conditioning. I place damp rid in each closet and change them regularly and I run a dehumidifier in the summer months. I should note the oldest books in my collection spent the first decade of their life in the northeast before I moved south in the early/mid 80s. Like I said I do all I can short of having expensive climate control added. Maybe my retirement house? I can dream can’t I? Thanks again for the feedback.

Hey Rich, many thanks for the thoughtful response. It seems as if our storage and archiving methods are aligned well. I think under full disclosure what may have happened to that X-men book is when I was much younger in the late 70s I tended to pack my boxes tighter and of course used regular bags and boards so that may have caused the slight compression at the bottom of the spine. Nowadays my comics are all packed do they don’t have too much room in the box to shift and crush comics on one end or the other while not being overly tight. If I can thumb through the issues with relative ease the box is packed just right. All my books that I bought except for the ones purchased from eBay or at my comic shop or at conventions are 9.0 or above. Many would be 9.6 to 9.8. I feel because of the slight compression on that X-men is grade it honestly at a 9.2. My lowest grade is a 2.5 FF 5 I bought at a really great price. The majority of the eBay or external purchases oldies are upper mid to higher grade. And I agree with you about heeding advice especially from the videos on YouTube. This guy got me thinking and worried me about my storage method for the square bound books but like you, I thought it counter intuitive to store them in larger bags as they can shift. I cane here desiring educated suggestions and I’m glad I did. This seems like a nice place for people like me to visit frequently. Thanks again!

Thanks Lou. I do not collect duplicates and go after keys and runs of favorite titles. I haven’t been tempted to sell yet as I’m still in buying mode. I was thinking rather than dying with 24000+ books and haunting my kids when they unload them for a steal, if I am fortunate to make it into my 80s and be healthy (I’m not even 60 yet so still some collecting years ahead), I’m thinking of doing what I call reverse collecting and slowly sell lots of books and give the proceeds to my kids or grandkids assuming I have them by then. Lol

Since 2011 I have undertaken a project to convert my entire collection to gerber mylite 2 bags and acid free boards taped with acid free tape in yellow (ugh) acid free boxes. I’m about 4000-5000 books away from being done and never having to remove a yellowing bag from my comics ever again. It’s Been expensive and time consuming but soon I will have an entire collection in bags and boards that should last a couple generations unless my kids dump them to the nearest comic store. Then I’ll come back and haunt them! Lol

Thanks Jimmers. I’m one of those older (notice I didn’t say old) dogs that can be taught new tricks the minute you think you know it all is when it’s time to dig that 6 foot hole. This seems like a great place to hang, interact with fellow collectors and comic lovers, and learn. I’m looking forward to definitely spending more time here. Thanks again.

Thanks I’ve seen the movie twice and remember other more gory parts. The storage method used for the watch was dark but unfortunately too damp for a comic. Lol. Thanks for solving the puzzle for me. I have a sense of humor and a strange one at that and can appreciate Lizards humor now.

Thanks HumanTorch. I like the idea of aligning the same size in a box. That may be difficult with 130 boxes but if I isolate the more valuable books it might work best. I have a method similar to what you recommend for my most valuable raw books. My personal slabbing technique takes a comic with a bag and full back board and inserts it into the next size up bag and board. It almost but not quite, feels like a slabbed book and is very rigid. I may try your variation with the square bound books. I hadn’t thought of the benefit of just using a bag and then sandwiching them. Unfortunately the shelf idea although a good one won’t work for me as I have approximately 24,000 books. I have been collecting since 1973. I’ve always prided myself on storage and archiving but the I love comics guy created uncertainty and doubt in my mind about the square bound books and I looked at some of mine like giant size X-men 1 and while I’d grade it in the 9’s, I do see a little compression on the bottom of the spine. So I was wondering if there was a better way. Thanks again.

Many thanks Lazyboy. I try to use standard vs modern size but there are some square bound books that are snug. Would appreciate you giving me some context on the video clip as all of a sudden I feel as if I have climbed out from under a Rock after all these years. Lol

Thanks Buttock. I realize slabs are not foolproof and I wouldn't be ignorant enough to hang it on a sun facing wall or leave it outside in the elements. I was just wondering if what this guy (I love comics on YouTube) knows what he is talking about when he suggests buying oversize bags (Gold age size for silver comics as an example) to mitigate spine damage to square bound books. Based on the replies soar, it doesn't seem that anyone knows. If someone has direct experience and success I'd value that opinion.

Sorry I am not understanding the humor. Was the video supposed to have some hilarious audio associated with it? geez ... was just reaching for information.

Thanks for the feedback. I do exactly the same as you suggested. It’s just that someone suggested gold age sized bags for bronze / silver sized books claiming the extra size will protect further against crushing he spine. I think it has more to do with stuffing the books in a box or stacking them rather than having to buy an oversized bag. Just wondering if anyone has a preference to storing these square bound books in oversized bags and if it makes a difference

I realize the best way to preserve a comic book is to get it CGC graded and slabbed. I would be broke if I had all my books graded. So I store them in 2 mil mylites with acid free backing boards and avoid packing my boxes tight. But I heard on a comic video on YouTube that may not be enough for square bound annuals, giant sized, and the 25 cent comics marvel published for a month or two before increasing the price from 15 to 20 cents. The person who made the video suggested the best way to store square bound comic books is in a larger oversized silver /gold bag. I cannot understand this logic as all comic storage bags taper as you go towards the bottom. I think what creates crushed or flattened square bound books is by packing them tight or storing them stacked on top of one another. Is there any merit to using a larger bag to avoid crushing the spine? It seems the book shifting in the larger bag could become more problematic.

I have a number of annuals, giant size and 25cent extra page silver and bronze age books that are square bound as opposed to stapled. I store them in acid free boxes in mylite 2 bags ( standard size) and full back acid free boards. I avoid packing my comics tightly in boxes giving a little room to thumb through with ease ( but not too loose). A guy who does online comic videos on YouTube claims you need to store these type of books in larger silver/golden age bags to avoid having the bottom of the spine show signs of being crushed. I can’t understand this logic as all bags taper at the ends regardless of size. And the larger the bag, the more the book can shift around. I think the crushing that can occur with the spines of the type of books have more to do with packing them tight in boxes or stacking them. What is the consensus on this? I have some valuable books that are square bound (e.g., Amazing Spider-Man annual #1, Marvel Superheroes run, etc.) and would value some expert storage and archival suggestions.