How to Store a Graphic Novel Collection
Conventional wisdom was that graphic novels would never be as collectible as comic books. Purists said that the graphic novels, collections of comic books issues bound into a book, were not the same and would never be collectible. They were wrong. Many graphic novels, just like man comics, never sell for more than their issue price, but some do. Usually due to short runs by the publisher or unusually high demand, some graphic novels now sell for up to ten times their issue price. With a cost of about $15 per book, even if the only one ever using these books is you, protecting your books is a worthwhile investment of time.
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Things You'll Need
- Time
- Book shelves
- Bags
- book boards
- Low humidity, climate controlled room
Instructions
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Buy a bookcase. While storing any book on a bookcase can lead to shelf wear, those almost imperceptible scuffs on the cover and spine of the book, this can be the easiest and best way for a semi-serious collector to keep his books. Graphic novels are generally soft-cover books and need to be handled delicately from the beginning.
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Make sure that in the reading process the spine is not bent or broken. Do not dog-ear pages, use a book mark and store the books on a shelf. Wash your hands before you read to minimize the corrosive amount of perspiration to touch your books. the true art of collecting is to make sure from the beginning that the prized possession, in this case your graphic novel, is treated well.
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Inspect the book before you buy it. Blame big bookstores with enclosed coffee shops or just blame casual readers, but the fact is that in many stores, books are torn or otherwise manhandled before you buy them. Select a copy that is not the one most prominently on display and check it for creases, torn pages and scratched covers before you leave the comic shop.
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Store you graphic novels in the house where the climate is controlled. Attics and basements are horrible for books, especially soft covers. Avoid storing novels in cardboard boxes as cardboard tends to draw water to it and the moisture can lead to warping or even mildew in your graphic novels.
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Bag them and board them. If you absolutely must store your graphic novels in a less than perfect environment, buy the sealable bags and book boards at your local comic shop. these bags can be sealed to keep moisture off your book and the archival board will help keep the books flats. The plastic bag will also keep the books from scratching one another when they are places in boxes for moving or storage.
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Tips & Warnings
A shelf full of graphic novels an quickly add up in value. Be sure the collection is listed in your renter's or home owner's insurance policies.
