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Storage, care & shipping

How to ship raw comics without damaging them

Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Short answerBag and board each comic, sandwich the stack between two pieces of rigid cardboard larger than the books, tape the sandwich so nothing can shift, and put it in a box or rigid mailer with padding so the sandwich cannot bend or move. Never ship a raw comic in a plain envelope, and never let the corners of the books reach the edge of the package. Use tracking, and insure anything worth more than the postage.

The rules

  • Rigid on both sides. A single board lets the package fold around the book. Two boards, larger than the comic, taped together, is the minimum.
  • No movement. A comic that slides inside its package gets corner damage and spine stress. Tape the sandwich; fill the box.
  • Corners away from edges. The most vulnerable part of a comic is a corner; keep it at least a couple of centimetres from any edge of the package.
  • Water. Put the sandwich in a polythene bag before boxing. Mail gets wet.

Step by step

  1. Bag and board each book.
  2. Stack up to about ten books with boards between groups; more than that, split the shipment.
  3. Cut two pieces of stiff corrugated cardboard slightly larger than the stack, with the flutes running in opposite directions for stiffness.
  4. Tape the sandwich around all four edges.
  5. Bag it, then box it with padding on every side, or use a rigid mailer sized so the sandwich fits without slack.
  6. Tracking on everything; insurance on anything worth insuring.

Golden Age and brittle books

Brittle paper cracks under flex. Add a third board and more padding, ship flat rather than upright, and avoid cold-weather shipping when possible — cold makes brittle paper worse.

Sending books for grading

The grading companies publish packing instructions for submissions; they are essentially the method above. Our grading submission service includes insured shipping both ways so you do not have to.

For slabs, see How to ship a graded comic.

Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.

Keep reading

  • Grading

    What is a raw comic?

    A raw comic is one that has not been encapsulated by a grading company. It may never have been graded, or it may have been cracked out of a slab. Raw books are cheaper to buy and can be read and handled, but the buyer has to trust the seller's description of condition and restoration, which is why reputable sellers provide full scans and a grade estimate.

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  • Care

    How to ship a graded comic (CGC or CBCS slab) safely

    Put the slab in a bag, sandwich it between two pieces of rigid cardboard or foam larger than the case, wrap it in bubble wrap, and place it in a sturdy box with at least 5 cm (2 inches) of padding on every side so it cannot move. Ship with tracking and full-value insurance, require a signature for anything valuable, and never let the slab touch the outside walls of the box. The case protects the comic; the packaging has to protect the case.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • Care

    How to store and preserve comic books

    Keep comics cool, dry, dark and flat or upright with support: bag and board every raw book with acid-free materials, store them in archival boxes away from exterior walls, floors, sunlight and heat sources, and aim for a stable temperature around 18–21 °C and relative humidity around 40–50 %. Slabs need the same environment; the case protects against handling, not against heat, humidity or ultraviolet light.

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  • Care

    Comic bags and boards explained: sizes, materials and what to buy

    A bag protects a comic from dirt and handling; a board keeps it flat and, if it is acid-free and buffered, absorbs acid. Bags come in Golden, Silver, Current (Modern) and magazine sizes to match how comic dimensions have shrunk over the decades, and in three materials: polypropylene and polyethylene (cheap, replace every few years) and Mylar (polyester, archival, lasts decades). Buy the size that matches the book's era and use boards labelled acid-free.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • Care

    How do I clean a CGC or CBCS slab?

    Wipe the outside of the case with a soft microfibre cloth, dry or very slightly dampened with water. For stubborn marks, a small amount of plastic-safe cleaner on the cloth, not on the case. Never use solvents, alcohol, ammonia-based glass cleaner or abrasive pads, which cloud the acrylic, and never let liquid reach the seam or the label window. Scratches cannot be polished out safely; a badly scuffed case is a reholder job.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • Care

    What temperature and humidity should comics be stored at?

    Cool, dry and stable: a temperature around 18–21 °C (65–70 °F) and relative humidity around 40–50 %, with as little daily swing as possible. Below about 35 % paper becomes brittle; above about 55–60 % mould and foxing become a risk. Heat is the accelerator for every kind of paper decay, so a stable 20 °C beats a room that cycles between 15 °C and 28 °C.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026