Comics UK

I'm thinking of getting some of my comics collection professionally bound - typically 26 issues to each volume. Anyone got any idea of what the costs are for that type of thing.

The Beano sold their own branded binders until a few years ago, and I actually bought two (with Minnie on the cover). Suffice to say, it was a very expensive way of storing a mere 26 issues indeed, and I soon abandoned the exercise.

I've no idea what happened to them - probably dimension-shifted along with a lot of other stuff to school-fete-space.

macrocode: I once seen bound volumes of 1969 Sparky up on shelves at D C Thomson: I was like a kid in a sweet-shop! I agree that bound volumes look a lot cooler...whether the actual binding process damages the actual comics, I ain't too sure---maybe someone can elaborate?

Welcome to the forum, however, and a good subject for a topic.

A lot of people will tell you that getting comics bound "reduces their value", but it also helps to preserve them. I have a little volume of a Christian magazine called Sunshine from 1865 and the magazines themselves could have been printed yesterday! In addition some old story papers were actually sold as yearly bound volumes in additon to weekly and monthly issues. Papers that were sold in these volumes such as Chums and Chatterbox are far easier to collect than those that weren't, a testament to their survival.
The binding process usually involves "sewing" through the spines of the comics, so yes it does damage them. However if the binding is well done they will last down the ages and won't come apart.
Occasionally you come across "disbound" issues that some idiots have removed from binding, presumably to sell them individually for more money. Dis-binding only damages them even more and they end up being a collection of loose pages.

I have a few bound volumes but one problem with binding is that with comics that have centre spread strips - say like the Bash Street Kids - you will find the centre page fold is pulled into the spine of the bound volume meaning you can no longer lay it flat to read it. I notice with my disbound Illustrated Chips comics the centre pages were pulled slightly forward from the spine to prevent the centre spread being damaged.

I had a couple of late 50s EAGLE volumes bound some 18 months ago, to try to preserve them for another few decades. The local bookbinder who made them up recommended a maximum of 26 issues per book as any more put too much stress on the spine. The binding cost me £25 per book.

As an alternative to professional binding, I use these -

http://www.office365.co.uk/Files-Pocket ... ompany.htm

you just put the comic through the slot, and then you can put them in any binder and be able to read them without damaging them...they're not cheap (have a search around for Magi Clip, you might find better deals...i used to use Euroffice but their site is down at the moment), but they do a good job.

jakob1978 wrote:As an alternative to professional binding, I use these -

http://www.office365.co.uk/Files-Pocket ... ompany.htm

you just put the comic through the slot, and then you can put them in any binder and be able to read them without damaging them...they're not cheap (have a search around for Magi Clip, you might find better deals...i used to use Euroffice but their site is down at the moment), but they do a good job.

Funny enough, my Mum came home from work with something similar to these the other day (she works at a crafts shop). Unfortunately, these were the last of the stock they had, and doubt they will be able to get anymore They work very well, would definatly suggest using these.

A few of the american comic forums have some quite long threads on binding comics. It might be worth chicking out John Byrne's Robotics forum and typing in binding in the search section. Some of his fans have posted pictures and details about bound volumes (including some Brits). I think you can get them for around £20 -25.00 each some of them look fantastic with gold lettering and embossed decals etc.

When it comes to values these days buyers go for book shelf editions of stuff and you may well find that the value goes up with binding rather than goes down.

Actually recently on ebay a seller was selling a load of bound volumes of comics, but the binding is in amazing condition and has his ebay username on the spine, so he must have got it done specifically for selling. I just got my birth year in Beano's but he was also selling a complete bound run of Tornado that I wish i'd just bid a huge amount on... what an item!

presterjohn wrote:A few of the american comic forums have some quite long threads on binding comics. It might be worth chicking out John Byrne's Robotics forum and typing in binding in the search section. Some of his fans have posted pictures and details about bound volumes (including some Brits). I think you can get them for around £20 -25.00 each some of them look fantastic with gold lettering and embossed decals etc.

When it comes to values these days buyers go for book shelf editions of stuff and you may well find that the value goes up with binding rather than goes down.

any idea of the page number its on as i checked the forum & there is 609 pages of topics so typed in binding but wont let you search unless you become a member so i tried that and it wont accept my email address as it has banned free ones such as yahoo.very good site though i cant believe i never come across it before

You can use google to search "within" forums (or anything else). Simply go to Advanced Search and then put the "top" URL of the forums in (for instance here it would be http://www.comicsuk.co.uk/Forum/) where it says "search within a site"

felneymike wrote:You can use google to search "within" forums (or anything else). Simply go to Advanced Search and then put the "top" URL of the forums in (for instance here it would be http://www.comicsuk.co.uk/Forum/) where it says "search within a site"

thanks that worked.i must say the american comics that were bound looked absolutley stunning and if i had the money i would do it with a lot of my comics.i know a lot of people on those forums say it devalues the comics but i havent been collecting the last 30 years just to see how much money i can make ,i collect comics cos i love em,

Does look classier, must admit!

Also looks like it will endure for 100 years at least!

I just discovered these bound Beano and Dandy's on ebay. They do look really nice. Would be much better displayed on your bookshelf rather than have the comics squirreled away in a dark box.