[Archive]

Posted By: Richard Masson

It is typical of comics to be "cleaned and pressed" and this is not generally regarded as being restored. Restoration is when colors are touched up, pieces are added, tears are repaired, new staples used, etc. It is accepted practice because it is important for the comic to survive and not deteriorate further. Restoration can usually be easily identified using a black light and a magnifying glass. The high grade unrestored books are few for most of the key books and all the dealers know which copies are which and who owns them. In fact they are called by name; e.g.,"Mile High", "San Francisco", "Lawson", "Chicago","D collection", depending on their provenance.

Why anyone would want one in a slab is beyond me too.