Care

How to store comic books

Condition is value, so the way you store your comics directly affects what they're worth. The good news: doing it right is cheap and simple.

Bag and board every book

Each comic goes in a plastic bag with an acid-free backing board behind it. The board keeps it flat; the bag keeps out dust and handling. Match the size to the era: Golden Age, Silver Age and modern comics are slightly different sizes, and the wrong bag can bend corners.

Standard polypropylene bags are fine for most books but should be replaced every few years. For your most valuable comics, Mylar sleeves are more stable and last much longer.

Use proper comic boxes

Store comics upright in boxes made for them. Pack each box snugly so books don't slump or bend, but not so tight that pulling one out scuffs its neighbors. Don't stack heavy things on top of comic boxes, and don't lay comics flat in big piles.

Choose the right spot

• Avoid sunlight. UV light fades covers quickly, even through a window.
• Avoid heat and humidity. Basements, attics and garages swing in temperature and humidity, which yellows pages and invites mold.
• A closet in the main living area is usually ideal: dark, dry and steady.
• Keep boxes off the floor in case of leaks or floods.

Handle with care

Clean, dry hands. Support the spine. Don't roll or fold a comic back while reading it. For valuable books, take them out of the bag on a clean, flat surface.

Slabs

Professionally graded comics come in sealed hard cases. Store them upright in slab boxes, away from light, and don't try to open them: breaking the seal invalidates the grade.

Keep a record

A list of what you own, with photos, helps with insurance and makes selling much easier. Scanning each book into Comic Book Value Scanner builds that record as you go, with values attached.