Greetings comic book collectors and enthusiasts.  After my last article on comic book pressers, I only felt it would be right to highlight some additional people who press (and restore) comics regularly.  Thank you to all the people who commented on the Best Pressers in the Industry #1 and brought these amazing professionals to my attention as well as on the radar for thousands of people who read the GoCollect articles.  Keep in mind the first article was on pressers who I hear and see their work on a regular basis via social media, so I figured many other collectors know them as well.  I was right, the connection within the comic book collecting community was on full display as each Presser highlighted in my original article contacted me directly about the write-up because a customer notified them about the article.  Talk about word of mouth!

This article, Part II, will highlight some more professionals who are master craftsmen in the press game and are good at what they do.  They will take a comic book with existing wrinkles, folds, creases, waviness, non-color breaking ticks, or are damaged in a way that makes the comic book no longer flat, and basically make it lay flat again.  Our new best friends!  This article will highlight some additional players in the comic book pressing industry and let you know what you can expect from each presser as far as pricing and turn-around-time (TAT) if provided.  At the end of the day, you have to decide where to send your books to but at least this will help to show you who else is out there!

Canada 

Let us not forget about our friends to the north as a couple of readers commented about some Canadian based pressers that might be of interest to someone outside the US.

Captive Audience Comics

It looks like this is a comic book shop AND provides pressing service.  Pretty cool.  Their website shows inventory for both raw comic books and graded comic books.  There is even a section for artwork and comic supplies if needed.  But what everybody wants to know about is there pressing service.  Click on the link above for their website or you can send an email for more information to info@captiveaudiencecomics.com

  • Press Only – No cleaning performed, includes prep work required for pressing and may include multiple presses. $10 per book with fair market value of $499 CDN or less.  $15 per book with fair market value between $500 and $999.  Books over $1,000 fair market value will be $10 + 1.5% to a maximum billing of $100
  • Clean & Press – Includes dry cleaning of front and back cover, prep work required for pressing, and may include multiple presses. $15 per book with fair market value of $499 CDN or less.  $35 per book with fair market value between $500 and $999.  Books over $1000 fair market value will be $15 + 3.5% to a maximum billing of $300
  • Specialty Books – This includes over-sized comics, magazines, square-bound comic books with inserts, etc. $20 per book with fair market value of $499 CDN or less. $40 per book with fair market value between $500 and $999.  Books over $1000 fair market value will be $20 + 3.5% to a maximum billing of $300

Comic Book Doctor

The Comic Doctor is located 30 minutes east of Toronto in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.  A very professional website where his direct contact information is provided.  The best time to call is after 3:30 pm.  The Comic Book Doctor has been pressing comics professionally since 2013 and is always available to answer any questions or discuss comics from your collection that you are considering having pressed.  Click on the link above for their website or you can send an email to info@thecomicdoctor.com for more information.

  • Exclusive Press & Dry Clean – Tier I $15 for each comic valued at $499 and under. Includes thorough dry clean of front and back cover. Includes other preparatory work prior to pressing. May also include multiple pressings
  • Exclusive Press & Dry Clean – Tier II $35 for each comic book valued between $500 and $999. Includes thorough dry clean of front and back cover. Includes other preparatory work prior to pressing. May also include multiple pressings
  • Specialty Comics & Magazines $20 for each comic book/ magazine. Comics that have inserts or are square-bound also fall into this category.
  • High-Value Press & Clean Individual comic books valued over $1000** will be subject to a surcharge of 3.5% of Fair Market Value to a maximum of $300

USA 

Dee Pressing Comics

I did not find an actual website on Dee Pressing Comics but I found the Facebook page and it served the same purpose.  The FB page provided many before and after pics, contact information, and most importantly pricing.   Click on the link above for their Facebook page or send an email to deangelo66@cox.net for more information.

  • $8 - $12* per book with cleaning included. $8.00 (Modern Glossy) $10.00 (Bronze/Copper) $12.00 (Silver/Golden Age) *$20 (Books with a FMV > $1000)

Short, sweet, and simple pricing.  Can’t go wrong with that.

Comic Book Detailing LLC

According to their website, Comic Book Detailing has been pressing and cleaning comic books for about 3 years now.  He has pressed/cleaned thousands, upon thousands of books over the 3 years.  From every era and paper stock.  He also moderates and is an admin for a few pressing groups on Facebook it seems, helping other people learn how to press/clean comics can be helpful and a good person to know.  Click on the link above for their website or Facebook page here.  They can also be emailed for more information at johns@comicbookdetailing.com

  • Pressing prices $10.00 Modern 1975 and newer under $1000 FMV (fair market value)
  • $12.00 1974 and older under $1000 FMV (fair market value)
  • $20.00 Value all years over $1000 FMV
  • 1% of FMV for Books over $3000 FMV

Basement Comics

Basement Comics has been in existence since 1991 but Albert Stoltz, its co-founder, and current president, has been in the business of buying, selling, and collecting comics since the early 1970s.  It seems they use a different technique when it comes to pressing as stated on their website - We never use heat in our pressing process, giving your books a smooth, clean look without frying the paper.  Click on the link above for their website or you can send an email to basmntcomx@aol.com for more information.

  • Pressing prices seem to be $10.00 for any age comic or any FMV (fair market value)

Basement Comics keeps it simple too.  Nothing wrong with that.  I like it.

Comic Book Pressing Service (CBPS)

Now, this presser does not have an About page on their website but one thing did catch my eye while surfing the Home page – "Fastest Turnaround Times in the Business".  Now that is important to know for a collector as the time it leaves a collector's hands, gets pressed, and back to you can be imperative.  Presswork includes: pre-screen, dry clean, pressing, and basic restoration check. Click on the link above for their website or you can send an email for more information to dennisws2010@yahoo.com

  • $15.00 per comic (includes pre-screen, dry cleaning, pressing, basic restoration check, text to phone photos (5 max)
  • $13.00 per comic (local clients) Edmond, OK, and surrounding areas email below for details

Another presser that keeps it simple as far as pricing is concerned, definitely worth noting.  There is a 5 comic book minimum for pressing service and the discount for local collectors near the Edmond Oklahoma area is a nice gesture.

Restoration Labs

Last but definitely not least is Restoration Labs.  I never heard of them before but my, oh my, I am glad I know of them now.  They seem to be subject-matter experts when it comes to restoration as well as pressing of course.  Restoration is that color touch, among other alterations, we often see in comics from the Silver and Golden Age era to make the comic book look brand new.  To some collectors, this may not bother them but others it does and Restoration Labs can take care of this for you.  Her resume, which is posted on the website is impeccable.  Some highlights include –

  • Owner and sole operator of The Restoration Lab 1986 - present
  • Sotheby’s chief restoration consultant for their historic collectible auctions 1991-1998
  • Cleaning and pressing of major Topps and Bowman cards from the ’40s, ‘50s and ‘60s
  • Assistant to William Sarill, owner of The Restoration Lab 1981-1985
  • Assistant to the chief paper conservator at The Museum of Modern Art, Paris 1980
  • Restored 36 original drawings by Picasso which were on view at his centennial retrospective in Munich, 1981
  • Restoration of other key 19th and 20th century artists

Wow!  Quite impressive if you ask me.  The website further states her restoration work includes dry, solvent, and aqueous cleanings, tape removal, mending of tears, missing piece replacement, color inpainting, deacidification of interior pages, and staple cleaning if necessary.  This seems like the go-to person to take care of your restoration needs.  Click on the link above for their website or you can send an email for more information to susan@therestorationlab.com

Golden, Silver and some Bronze Age Books

 Service Fee

 

Up to 5 books: $25

Add $5/bk for each over 5

$500 - $1000 $50/bk
$1001 - $3000 $100/bk
$3001 - $7000 $225/bk
$7001 - $25,000 3% FMV
Over $25k To be discussed
Slab Crack $10/bk
Rush (1-2 weeks) $100/bk

Wrap-up

There you have it, thanks to the GoCollect community, here are some more Pressers to add to your rolodex.  Again, only a small snapshot as there are so many independent comic book pressers out there now.  Check out their website, look at there before and after pictures, exchange emails if needed to get that warm and fuzzy and pick one that you are comfortable with and go for it.  I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised.  The turnaround time and price per comic book can vary from presser to presser as you can see and don’t be surprised if you have to pay a handling fee which seems to be common nowadays with submissions.  Good luck comic book junkies, I hope your pressing and restoration 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 our collectibles!

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?  What do you do with comic books that have restoration?  Please share your experience with Pressing and let us know who your favorite Pressers in the Industry are.