If you collect comic books, you have heard about the art (and science) of pressing comic books.  This is the act of taking a comic book that has existing wrinkles, folds, creases, waviness, non-color breaking ticks or damaged in a way that makes the comic book no longer flat, and basically making it lay flat again.  Now I hope you know what I mean when I say there is an art & science behind this process.  Keep in mind, pressing does not repair all damages, such as water stains, foxing, or color breaking tick marks to the comic, but it does make the comic book more presentable and desirable for certain collectors.  This article will highlight some of the major players in the comic book pressing industry and let you know what you can expect from each presser as far as pricing, turn-around-time (TAT), and customer service.  At the end of the day, The Best Presser in the Industry will be something you will have to decide!

Intro to Comic Pressing

I admit, I buy a lot of comics from thrift stores, flea markets, comic shops, as well comic cons of course, and some of the comics I find are not in the best shape.  They need a little TLC as they say.  That is where pressing comes into play.  I do not consider it restoration, although many collectors do, but that discussion will have to be for another day.  According to the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (2020), pressing is defined as:

“A term used to describe a variety of processes or procedures, professional and amateur, under which an issue is pressed to eliminate wrinkles, bends, dimples and/or other perceived defects and thus improve its appearance.” 

I have had several different pressers take care of my comic books in my collecting lifetime with exceptional results including CCS, which is an affiliate of CGC.  I wanted to share a list of pressers in the industry who are masters' in what they do and can help get your collection of comic books up to par.

Classic Collectible Services (CCS) 

You cannot say CCS without saying CGC.  CCS offers its services in conjunction with CGC, the world’s first and largest third-party comic book grading service, creating a streamlined process that saves submitters both time and money.  I must admit, there is a convenience with submitting your comic books to a one-stop-shop such as CCS/CGC.  That is what I was doing years and years ago but as you can imagine, the process takes longer than expected now as more and more collectors join the hobby and you can find yourself waiting for your comics longer than originally expected.  Customer service is good IMO and they will answer all your questions as needed by either email or calling them directly.  Here is their fee structure (please note the value of the comic plays a significant part in the cost of pressing):

Comics: Quick Press
Max Value per Fee per Item Current TAT
Quick Press (15 book minimum) $200 Modern: $8

Value: $15

46 days

 

Comics: Pressing
Max Value per Fee per Item Current TAT
Modern (1975-Date) $200 $12 55 days
Value (Pre-1975) $200 $25 55 days
Economy $400 $40 55 days
Standard $1,000 $60 15 days
Express $3,000 $85 10 days
Walk Through Unlimited 2.5% of FMV 10 days

Impressive Comic Books Pressing

Many collectors have moved on from CCS and went to the realm of independent pressers who are doing their own thing.  A very profitable business for someone to master and enjoy.  Impressive Comic Books Pressing is one such independent presser.  Gary, of Impressive Comic Books Pressing, is a CGC and CBCS dealer as well as facilitator which is extremely helpful when submitting for grading and seeking signatures.  Impressive Comic Books Pressing is also fully insured through Collectibles Insurance which is especially important when submitting high value comics.  Customer service is A+ and often times he will show you before/after pictures of your comics to give you peace of mind.  As you will see, the TAT can oftentimes be cut in half when you go to an independent presser which can benefit the collector in knowing he will get his comic book back in a timely manner.  Here is their fee structure (please note the turnaround time and discount in the cost of pressing compared to CCS):

Processing Tiers:
Types of Submission Turn around Business Days Cost per Book
Modern

1975 to Present

FMV $200 Max

20-25 $12

 

Value

1974 & Older

FMV $200 Max

20-25 $15
Economy

(any age)

FMV $201-$999

20-25 $20
Standard

FMV $1,000+

20-25 $40

Avery Comic Pressing 

Another option you have is Avery Comic Pressing.  Avery Comic Pressing is owned and operated by Joshua Avery.  Avery Comic Pressing is fully insured by collectibles insurance services.  Josh is a CGC, CBCS dealer, and a CBCS facilitator which all can be beneficial to collectors looking for discounts submitting to CGC/CBCS and/or artist signature confirmation.  Avery Comic Pressing customer service is A+ as I believe there is a staff of more than one.  As you will see, Avery Comic Pressing fee structure has less pricing tiers and can be considered cost-effective as there are only two price points to consider when submitting comic books for pressing.  Here is their fee structure:

Pricing
Modern

Complete Press/Dry Cleaning/Spot tacking when needed

Up to $1,000 in FMV | Additional: Books valued over $1,000 Add $5 extra per $1,000

 

$10/ Comic

(1975-Present)

Extended

Complete Press/Dry Cleaning/Spot tacking when needed

Up to $1,000 in FMV | Additional: Books valued over $1,000 Add $5 extra per $1,000

$15/ Comic

(1974-Older)

Magazine

Complete Press/Dry Cleaning/Spot tacking when needed

Up to $1,000 in FMV | Additional: Books valued over $1,000 Add $5 extra per $1,000

$18/ Magazine

(Magazine Size Books)

Closeout

As you can see there are many independent pressers you can choose from for your pressing needs, including CCS/CGC.  I only talked about a few here as there are so many independent comic book pressers out there now.  All you need to do is pick one that you are comfortable with and go for it.  Odds are you will be pleasantly surprised.  Often times I will hear about a collector who is upset about a comic grade they have received and state he did not press the comic book, well you only have yourself to be upset with.  A collector is leaving so much money on the table if you do not press your comic books as each grade bump can equal a hefty appreciation in value.  The turnaround time and price per comic book are factors one should think about when choosing a presser.  Good luck comic book junkies, I hope your pressing needs are satisfied and your comic grading goals are reached.  This is a fun hobby, let’s do our best to enjoy it AND PRESERVE THOSE COMICS!

Please share your thoughts and comments you have about Comic Book Pressing.  Have you used any of these Pressers before?  Who else do you recommend in the Comic Pressing Industry?  Do you press your comic books for submission to CGC and grading or just for safekeeping in your collection?  Do you press your comic books?  Please share your experience with Comic Book Pressing and let us know who are the Best Pressers in the Industry are.

 

GoCollect is the #1 comic book price guide for tracking sales data of all graded comic books in real-time. Prices are increasing Aug. 3rd - Lock in your low rates by updating your profile here. Get fair market values at your fingertips.