Comic Books Are No Laughing Matter

Question: Big bucks are being paid for comic books. I’ve been enthusiastically collecting comic books for a number of years and have noticed, more and more, that some of the more expensive books are not in their original condition, but have been restored.

How important is it to the collector to be aware of restoration in the framework of getting a fair price? --M.H.

Answer: Awareness of restoration is very important in determining a comic book’s collectible price.

Here’s what Robert M. Overstreet has to say about restoration in “The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide ($12.95, paperback, 520 pages, House of Collectibles, Ballantine Books):

“Many of the rare and expensive key books are being upgraded from lower grades to fine or very fine condition through restoration. It has been brought to our attention that some dealers have been selling these books to unsuspecting collectors/investors--not telling them of the restoration.

“In some cases these restored books are being priced the same as unrestored books.

“Very important: Examine books very closely for repairing or restoration before purchase. The more expensive the book, the greater the likelihood of restoration.

“Major things to look for are: bleaching, whitening, trimming, interior spine and tear reinforcement, gluing, restapling, missing pieces replaced, wrinkles pressed out of covers, recoloring and reglossing covers.

“Dealers should state that a book has been restored and not expect to get as much as a book unrestored in that condition would bring.”

The bottom line is that--unlike some other categories of collectibles, such as an expertly overhauled firearm--a restored comic book undoubtedly is not viewed by veteran collectors as being as valuable as one in its original, unrestored condition. To spot restoration marks will take some work and experience on the part of the collector.

Smoking pipe expert and collector Rick Hacker has just completed the second edition of his “The Ultimate Pipe Book” (Autumngold Publishing, P.O. Box 634, Beverly Hills 90213; 330 pages, hardcover, bibliography, $19.95 at tobacconists or by mail).

“You will notice that this new book is considerably thicker than the previous edition, and Chapters 9 and 10 now contain information on virtually any pipe the new and even the most advanced collector is likely to find,” Hacker wrote.

Hacker adds that he has more than 2,000 pipes in his personal collection, “ranging from the 1600s up through the most modern of offerings . . . even a space shuttle pipe made by Dunhill.”