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Hi, I've just gotten back into comic book collecting. I enjoy cleaning and pressing them and I'd like to see how much I can do to them without getting a restoration/conservation label. I plan to eventually do some actual, purposeful restoration and conservation projects on some cheap trashed comic books, but right now I'm interested in experimenting with alternatives to dry cleaning. I know that chemical bleaching is the wrong way to do things, and if I disassemble a comic to clean it but I don't reassemble it precisely, that will get a restoration/conservation label. Ignoring the problem of staples and re-assembly, has anyone succesfully tried any of these techniques and not had the books labelled as conservation/restoration? Ultrasonic cleaning with DIY gear: Either moisten pages and put them between two stainless steel plates, or dip entire books in a chamber for different lengths of times (or both - put it between plates and dunk it). I think this would work well to remove dirt, but if I do it for too long it could remove ink. I'm definitely going to try this. Alkaline Water: Museums use it instead of chemicals to alter the ph of water and lighten or eliminate foxing by brushing it on the foxing and/or carefully bathing entire documents. Would be rinsed off afterwards. Vacuum Tables: These devices are used to force plain water through paper to clean it. There are even rigs that allow conservators to flush/vacuum one page of a book at a time, but they are expensive. I'd have to take the comics apart to use the equipment that I can afford. Alkaline water + vacuum table?

How does the Restored purple label grade work? If I have a 6.0 Restored comic does that mean it is in 6.0 condition despite (before) the restoration applied, or is it brought up to a 6.0 because of the restoration? Stated another way: if I have a Restored 6.0 and I could magically remove all of the restoration would it then grade at a Blue 6.0, or would it more likely be a Blue 5.0? I realize this is a super basic question, but I just spent 30 minutes reading CGC info pages and couldn't find a clear answer.

I've got an opportunity to purchase a reply nice looking FF #52, but I have reason to believe it may have been worked on. Why? Because most of the other FF issues in the same run have obvious colour touch along the spine near the staples. The FF #52 is a much nicer looking book than the other issues, and does not display the colour touching near the staples, but it does have a spot that can be clearly seen from the inside of the FC. I could not, however, locate any obvious colour touch from the front (bottom right of the Torch's chin). I'm not sure if this is bleed through from colour touch. I'm leaning towards it being from production because I had a SA X-Men issue graded by CGC that had a similar dot on the exterior of the BC. It was a bus label 9.0 or 9.2. What do you folks think? The book looks like it could be 9.0, and buying it for the seller's asking price would be a 'steal' if it's unrestored, but a loss on my end if it comes back in a purple label, so any advice would be great appreciated. Thanks in advance! P.S. @pickycollector Didn't I sell you an ASM #55 with a similar dot back in the day? If so, did it turn out being colour touched or not? P.P.S. @crassus This is the dot you missed.

Hey guys! I'm about to purchase this Restored grade AC1 but I can't seem to verify it on the CGC Site. Where or how do I verify a CGC RESTORED GRADE? Thank you!

The two bottom creases here look lighter in color. Is this where someone maybe put some clear glue? Opinion on what it could be? If glue would it be considered restoration? Thanks!

I have an Amazing Fantasy 15 which I would guess would grade around 1.5 to 2.0 cgc. However at the top right corner about half of the cca (comic code authority) is barely hanging on. I want to get it pressed and graded but worried it will come off. Any advice?

At first I thought someone just added 2 staples to this book, but the more I look at it I'm not so sure. Only 2 staples puncture the cover. The other 2 just go thru the book. The 4 staples look similar in age /wear as far as I can tell? Anyone ever seen a defect like this? Or is it simply someone added unneeded staples at some point? Im guessing it's the latter, but thought I'd ask to be sure.

Forgive me if this has been posted somewhere. If it has, I can't find it. But . . . I have recently heard from a prominent dealer that there are methods of reattaching detached centerfolds while maintaining a blue label. This would be huge for me, and I imagine for everybody. CGC grades down heavily for detached centerfolds, and goes crazy over detached 2 center wraps. I have books I think would otherwise grade out at 8.0s except for these issues. Does CGC themselves offer reattachment as a service? If so, I couldn't find it advertised in their website; just pressing is all I saw. Does anyone know? Thanks!

I am curious if there is any public database that would list higher end books that have undergone restoration with data that indicates who performed the restoration work. In my view, restoration is an art form, and it seems that CGC thinks so as well when you consider their restoration label designations of "amateur" or "professional". I would imagine it would only be possible to maintain a database of professional restoration work (as there are too many amateur restorers). I would think that when someone is selling a comic for $5k+ that has restoration, disclosing who performed the restoration might add value.

Hello. I have a CGC 1.0 X-Men 1 that is signed. It has a touch of restoration (C-1) in a small amount of glue on the cover and extra staples. Would I be able to get the restoration removed and still have the signature SS confirmed with the CGC/CCC restoration removal service? Thank you.

I'm debating buying a high dollar ASM1 on ebay, and have a question about my rights if I choose to have it graded after I receive it. As we all know, the comic could have restoration (glue on spine, light color touch etc) on it that is very had to detect with the naked eye, and the seller is unaware of... or knows of and is choosing not to admit. So if the seller lists the item, says nothing about restoration either way, and I buy it and it looks good to the naked eye...but I then have it graded by CGC, and it comes back purple label, would I still be able to dispute it through ebay if it's within 30 days? Anyone have any experience with this situation? I would think this falls under 'SOL' because I chose to have it graded and he made no guarantees it wasn't restored. But on the other hand I could also possibly see it falling under 'not as described' since it's restored and I didn't knowingly purchase a restored comic. I appreciate any feedback and would love to know if anyone has come across this situation before and what Ebay's stance would be. Thanks!!

I have about two dozen old Batman and Detective comics from the 1950s. Someone attempted some bad amateur restoration by using a black felt tip marker - they tried to draw over some of the edge lines and dark areas on the covers. Aside from the restoration ink damage, most of these comics are in the VG to VG+ range. What does this ink damage do to their value and condition? Thanks for any info.

I feel like these are improper modifications for a book from an original collection. I feel like it's important to maintain the integrity of the book as it came from the pedigree collection. I feel the same way about provenance books. I'm not saying my feelings are superior, I'm just throwing them out there. I'm asking for your response and reasoning. What are your thoughts on the matter?

Hi Folks, I have a piece of art that had a bit of a rough journey in getting to me (it didn't like the flimsy cardboard envelope it was slipped in to). It's got some creases as a result, but not horrific ones, and they're mostly visible from the back. Anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with them? It's india ink, hand lettered (no glued on balloons). I don't think weight will be enough to resolve it. A towel and then a medium heat iron? Something else? Thanks for any suggestions that come my way. Simon

Hey every body noob to all of this but I just bought Iron Man and Sub-Mariner at NYCC. I haven’t had it rated yet but I wanted to know if restoration was worth it? It is by no means in perfect condition but it also isn’t a rag. And I wasn’t sure if the purple label was a “dreaded” purple label. Thanks everyone!

The downloadable restoration grading pdf on the CGC website returned a 404 error and I didn't easily find it in a search on the forums. I recently purchased an Incredible Hulk #181 from the original owner who had cut out the Marvel Value Stamp as a kid and recently returned it from his MVS book back into Page 10 of the comic using archival tape. Since most copies I've been looking at have either had the stamp in tact or removed entirely, I'm wondering how a "restored" stamp affects the grading? This will be the first comic I get graded so I assume it would get a "Qualified" label.

Can You Tell if This Was Trimmed (Spiderman Annual 2) Some people have the eye for this sort of thing - I don't. Here's a book I bought recently (thankfully not for too much). I have my suspicions but you experts are better at this than me. bottom shotside shot side shottop shottop shotside shot

Fantastic Four # 19 Worth Pressing? Desiring some input here, still getting back into the hobby and considering have a comic or two pressed to see what happens. My first one up for a possible press and re-grade is a Fantastic Four # 19. Curious what others think if it will help the grade based on the grader notes. My gut tells me no as the issues they mention don't seem to be improved with pressing. Here is the CGC grader's notes/info: Title: Fantastic Four Issue: 19 Issue Date: 10/63 Issue Year: 1963 Publisher: Marvel Comics Grade: 9.2 Total Graded At: 13 Page Quality: WHITE Grade Date: 12/29/2014 Category: Universal Art Comments: Stan Lee story Jack Kirby and Ayers art Jack Kirby and Paul Reinman cover Key Comments: 1st appearance of Rama-Tut. Letter from Steve Gerber. Full page ad for X-Men #1 Grader Notes: Back Cover Multiple Shadow Bottom Staple Wear Breaks Color Spine Lite Stress Lines Breaks Color Top Staple Recessed

Hello all, I'm hoping those of you more knowledgeable in the ways of restoration can direct me on the right course of action. Pictured below is a rather solid copy of ASM #1 belonging to a friend of mine. He is considering selling it--and the rest of his collection--in order to purchase something else. Sadly, there is a "To Eric" within a speech bubble. My friend's name is Eric. He worked with Stan at a con several years ago, which is when Stan signed it and wrote "To Eric." Eric was not exactly pleased. He had not asked Stan to add that 'bonus' scribble. Needless to say it has affected the book's value and desirability to those not named "Eric." Therefore, I suggested to my friend to have it restored by removing the "To Eric" and speech bubble, as well as having the autograph authenticated and then grading it. (Does CGC authenticate signatures without a witness?). So, my restoration questions are as follows: First, can it be removed? If so, what degree of restoration will it be assigned? (i.e.) SP, MA, etc. This is a pretty nice copy that cost my friend what is to him, a sizeable sum of money, which he would like to now invest elsewhere. It's therefore important to choose the course of action that will allow him to get the best return. Thanks in advance!