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By: Comics Galore 

Have you ever read a comic book before? I imagine just about everyone, at some time in their life, has read at least one comic book. But do your interests and enjoyment level go beyond that? You may have said to yourself, at sometime or another, I would like to start a comic book collection some day. Heck, you may even have several comic books lying around that you have just never organized. 

What do I do to start a comic book collection and what all do I need? Well, as I am sure you realize, you need to start with a passion. You have a passion, you say, but you don’t want to be labeled a “comic book geek” and remain alone in your enjoyment. Well, my suggestion to you is “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” and believe me, you are not alone. You would be amazed at the multitudes of individuals who have a passion for comic books. And there are a plethora of related sites on the Web. 

I couldn’t get enough of these colorful action-packed little devils when I was young. But like any supposedly responsible individual, I lay my passion aside when I got older and when to college and got a good job. Well in the last several months, I have rekindled that childhood passion and have spent a good share of my time researching and creating my own comic book website. And what a rush it has been reintroducing myself to myself. I am finding quite an avid interest in all the new comic book hero movies Hollywood is cranking out. I have even started my own comic book hero DVD collection. And this is big business, so I know there are throngs of people out there with my same interests and I hope to connect with many of them through my website. 

I ran into a major thrill the other day glancing through the want ads of my local newspaper. Lo and behold, someone was selling a comic book collection. A quick call and a meeting in the shopping mall parking lot and I was the proud owner of 189 comic books kept in beautiful condition. And get this; it cost me $50.00 for the whole collection. I have as yet to determine the actual worth of the collection, but it has got to be substantially more than what I paid for it. As time goes on, I will be organizing all of them in a spreadsheet and using my trusty copy of the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide to determine my new collection’s total worth. As I do that, I will be reporting results on my website. 

Through all my research over the last many months, I have even created an ebook product on how to start a comic book collection, which is filled with Internet resources. I want to have an inexpensive resource available to help others, with the same passion I have, to get started. If you care to see what the book is about, you can check it out at http://www.comic-book-collection-made-easy.com/comic-book-collection.html and let me know what you think. 

When you start your collection, you will need to start thinking about sources to purchase your comic books from. You will want to start learning about comic book supplies to help preserve and organize your magazines. You will want to learn how the rest of the industry goes about grading physical condition and what your individual comics are worth. Personally though, I believe some of the greatest worth in a comic book is what it means to you and the enjoyment you receive from owning these little pieces of art. You may even what to find where all the great comic book conventions are and if there are any close to you. All of this information is available on the Net and I am hoping to build a central hub to all this other great info. 

Want to start a collection? Come on over and visit me. Kick your shoes off and stay for a while. I don’t think you will be disappointed. You may even want to bookmark my site. Have something of value you want me to add or a question that needs an answer? I am all ears. So start scanning the want ads and I will see you at my site. Flame on! Or was that “Up, Up and Away”? 

Dave Gieber, a former rocket engineer, has decided to take up residency on the Internet. He is the owner and editor of several websites, one of which was built around one of his childhood passions; www.comic-book-collection-made-easy.com . You can visit here to keep up to date on the world of comic books and comic book collecting. Feel free to sign up for his comic book ezine at www.comic-book-collection-made-easy.com/comic-book-ezine.html

by: Comics Galore 

If you want to keep your comic book collection in tiptop shape, comic book supplies will become part of your collecting life. As soon as a magazine is printed there are natural environmental forces going to work to try and destroy the ink and the paper. You have put in a lot of time, effort and enjoyment in acquiring all your comics. You don’t want them to turn back to the dust and elements from which they came do you? 

Elements such as humidity, temperature, pollutants, human skin oils and even the chemicals of the printed materials themselves, will start to deteriorate and discolor your comic books from day one. Tools that have been developed over the years to help us combat these natural forces are de-acidification paper, polymer type storage bags, stiff backing material, storage boxes and desiccants (dehumidification materials). Not only will these comic book supplies protect your comics for your own enjoyment, they will add to reinforce the future value of each comic book. 

Most all of these supplies can typically be located down at your local comic book shop. But as I have discovered lately, there can be a world of difference in preservation abilities depending on what materials are used in the manufacture of comic book supplies. Quite typically what you may find downtown will be of sufficient protective quality to protect your comics for quite a while. Although, polybags, to put your comics into, are quite common and fairly cheap, Mylar bags are definitely the way to go. They will protect for 100 years (that may be a little overboard) as opposed to 2 or 3 years for poly. 

There has been a lot of elaborate science, particularly chemistry, which has gone into preservation material manufacturing the last several years. MicroChamber material has been developed that will increase preservation from de-acidification and environmental breakdown for a vastly superior time period as opposed to typical materials available today. Beware though, comic book supplies manufactured with this new material can become quite costly. But if you have some serious collector’s items, which you feel are worth a significant amount of cash, isn’t the investment worth it? It is also no secret that CGC uses these materials in every comic book they grade. 

I have created a page at my comic book site, which incorporates links to some rather technical scientific articles on preservation and using MicroChamber materials. You can read an in-depth discussion at www.comic-book-collection-made-easy.com/comic-book-supplies.html . Be forewarned though, You may need a moderate understanding of chemistry and physics to completely follow some of the discussions. But the articles will open your eyes to what is available in the comic book industry for preservation supplies these days. 

Now if you have a rather rare back issue that may well have a high dollar value, here is a process worth considering. De-acidification products are usually used to neutralize acids in the paper prior to storage of most paper products of a pulp nature. This is not to be taken lightly, as it is considered by most to be an extensive form of restoration. The current understanding of the process is that the staples are removed and the sheets are submerged, film developer style, in a bath of de-acidification material. Then the entire book is rebuilt with new staples. This process can cost around $50 per comic book, when done by a professional, but will restore and increase the life expectancy of your comic book by many years. This process, in my opinion, should only be considered for already deteriorated comics that may have a considerable future worth if restored. 

One final item to consider, especially if you live in a high humidity area is the use of descants within your storage boxes. A desiccant is a chemical sieve for water, and is available for industry use in small packets or in buckets. For our purposes an 8 oz can (that looks like you’d keep a grasshopper in) can be simply put inside the box to absorb moisture and indicates when it is full by changing from crystal colored to pink. These same cans can then be reused by baking them for 3-4 hours in an oven at about 350 F. Each canister can cost around $9-$10 from one supplier called GAYLORDMART. 1 canister per short box and 2 per long box should be sufficient. Another consideration is the little packets typically found in a box of shoes. These are even more inexpensive, but would require further research to insure no harm would come to each comic book. 

So as you build your valuable comic book collection, you will want to put some serious consideration into the comic book supplies that you will need. Materials and supplier source will become important variables in your overall decisions. I will have more interesting topics and sources from time to time at my site, so come on over and visit. You may even want to bookmark it. 

Dave Gieber, a former rocket engineer, has decided to take up residency on the Internet. He is the owner and editor of several websites, one of which was built around one of his childhood passions; www.comic-book-collection-made-easy.com . You can visit here to keep up to date on the world of comic books and comic book collecting. Feel free to sign up for his comic book ezine at www.comic-book-collection-made-easy.com/comic-book-ezine.html

By: The AutoGram 

Autograph collecting terminology and common sense are vital for the hobbyist in order to make informed purchase decisions. 

Question: What advantages does autograph collecting offer as compared to other collectibles? 

Answer: Autographs have been called “frozen moments in time.” Autograph collectors are curators of history. The most personal item that one person can give is his or her signature. Anything that can be signed can be considered collectible letters, documents, photographs, books, memorabilia, etc. Few objects give a collector the opportunity to own a unique or one-of-a-kind item that is actually part of someone who is known by millions of people. That is the main reason why autograph collecting has become one of the fastest growing hobbies in recent years. 

Question: What guidelines should I consider when purchasing autographs? 

Answer: Buy autographs that capture your interest. Don’t purchase items presented as “investments” or sold through pressure. Learn as much as possible the language of autograph collecting. The more you study, the easier it will be for you to determine what items are authentic and which items to purchase. Use common sense when buying a signed piece. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Purchasing from reputable dealers, who will help you avoid risks and problems, is paramount. Most dealers offer a certificate of authenticity, which is only as good as the reputation of the dealer. If the dealer cannot tell you when and where the item was signed or how it was obtained, go elsewhere. 

Question: I see many pre-printed autographed photos on eBay. What are these and is there any value? 

Answer: These are facsimile reproductions of actual signed photos. With today’s technology, sellers can easily copy an authentic item with great detail and sell at a drastically reduced price. Novice collectors or those on a limited budget are usually the target of these sellers. Unfortunately, many buyers are unaware that the item is a copy because of the vague description. We recommend that collectors avoid these pre-printed photos and be extremely careful when purchasing autographs online. 

Question: What is a COA? Must I have a COA with an autograph I purchase? 

Answer: COA is an abbreviation for “certificate of authenticit”. Many collectors require a COA before they purchase an autograph. Frankly, a COA is just a piece of paper that is only as good as the confidence of the buyer and the reputation of the seller. Always make sure you are purchasing from a person who knows how and where the signature was obtained and will guarantee the item to your satisfaction. 

These are just a few of the questions we receive from autograph collectors. If you have a question, feel free to contact us.

By: The AutoGram

Obtaining autographs from celebrities requires patience and a little luck. As well, purchasing autographs online requires knowledge of the hobby.

Question: I want to start sending requests to celebrities for autographs, what should I include in the letter?

Answer: When writing a letter to a celebrity, it is advisable to write no more than one page. Although celebrities may be thrilled that you appreciate their work, or liked their acting in a certain TV show or movie, they simply do not have enough time to read multi-page letters from fans. Also, when writing to a celebrity, try to include some specific references to their work that you particularly enjoy. Be very specific in your descriptions. Mention character names that they have played and movies in which they have starred or appeared. This makes a much better impression than just simply saying… “I enjoy all your movies. Send me an autograph”. Be courteous and respectful. My experience has been that celebrities are truly impressed with kind treatment from their fans and they usually reward it.

Question: I’m a beginner when it comes to autograph collecting. What type of autographs should I purchase?

Answer: Buy autographs that capture your interest. Don’t purchase items presented as “investments” or sold through pressure. Learn as much as possible the language of autograph collecting. The more you study, the easier it will be for you to determine what items are authentic and which items to purchase. Use common sense when buying a signed piece. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Purchase autographed items from reputable dealers, who will help you avoid risks and problems. Most dealers offer a certificate of authenticity, which is only as good as the reputation of the dealer. If the dealer cannot tell you when and where the item was signed or how it was obtained, go elsewhere.

Question: How do you determine the price or value of your autographs?

Answer: Several factors go into determining the price of an autographed item. The content of the photo (is this person known for his/her role shown in photo) and how difficult it is to obtain the autograph. Condition and market are also factors considered in pricing. Demand also has to be considered, especially if the celebrity has become more popular and the demand has increased suddenly. Examples recently include celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Hilary Duff, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom and Bruce Springsteen. Each has either had a very successful film, tour or CD. Here is a breakdown for determining value.

1) Who has signed the autograph? The key words here are “demand” and “scarcity.” If a particular person’s autograph is in high demand and it happens to be a scarce autograph, then you can expect it to have good value. This is why an autograph of Marilyn Monroe sells for over several thousands of dollars. She remains popular and her signature is in great demand. Her autographs are scarce when compared to those of entertainers George Burns, Jimmy Stewart or Joan Crawford, all of whom were around many decades longer to sign autographs for fans.

2) What item has been signed? A simple signature on an album page, menu, airline ticket or piece of paper is normally worth less than a signed document, signed photo, typed or handwritten letter. This is because it is the most common type of autograph. All things being equal, a handwritten signed letter demands a premium since not only does it have a name signed at the end but may also reveal something interesting, historical, or personal about the writer. Thus, you’re getting more than just a name signed on paper.

3) Is the signature in ink, pencil or otherwise? Ink is worth more than pencil. Pencil can fade over time and usually isn’t as dark and bold as a nice ink signature. Many collectors prefer and will pay more for ink signatures. But don’t take this to mean pencil signatures don’t have value. The great Apache Indian chief Geronimo signed pencil autographs at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Today those pencil signatures on small cards can sell for at least $5,000. Today, most collectors prefer that photos and non-flat items be signed in sharpie or paint pen.

4) What is the condition of the autograph? Any damage to the autograph, photo or paper will lower value. Smears, stains, creases, smudges, fading, tears, holes or other damage will always drop the value of an autograph. To get top dollar and maximum value autographs must be in excellent condition.

There are several other small variables that can come into play when attempting to place a value on an autograph, but these four important questions are regarded as the most basic factors that determine an autograph’s value.

These are just a few of the questions we receive from autograph collectors. If you have a question, feel free to contact us.

Flower arranging has become increasingly popular as a hobby, for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Have you ever put flowers in a vase and they just don’t sit right? By learning a few basic principles you will be able to create attractive floral designs for your own home.

Flowers add the finishing touch. Imagine the pleasure you will get by being able to make a lovely flower arrangement for your entrance hall or a floral centrepiece for the dining room table.

Flower arrangements make the perfect gift for so many different occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, get well wishes, or to simply say “I care”.

Unlike many other hobbies, you don’t need a lot of expensive equipment. You can often use flowers and foliage from your own garden or you can buy some inexpensive flowers. Once you learn how to position flowers and foliage correctly, you can quickly make eye catching floral designs. You can also create floral designs using silk flowers. There are some very natural looking silk flowers available, and you will be able to make lasting floral designs. Imagine the thrill of being able to say “I made it myself”.

The benefits of learning flower arranging are many -

Flower arranging is creative and fun

Relaxing. It’s a great stress reducer

Interesting. Flower arranging is never boring

You will have a sense of achievement by learning a new skill

You will save money by making your own floral designs

Discover the exciting world of flower arranging. We teach you set-by-step how to make professional looking flower arrangements. It’s easy when we have shown you how. Flower arranging is very interesting.There are so many different varieties of flowers available. In our flower arranging classes you will learn how to use them to their best advantage to create many different types of arrangements.

Home study flower arranging courses are available.

Copyright ©1996-Present Fay Chamoun, all worldwide rights reserved.

Floral Art School of Australia and International Floral Design School 
22 Riddell Parade, Elsternwick, Victoria 3185 Australia. 
Australia Phone: (03) 9523 5052 Fax: (03) 9523 6925 
International Phone: +61 3 9523 5052 Fax: +61 3 9523 6925 
e-mail info@floral-art-school.com.au

This information is brought to you by Floral Art School of Australia and International Floral Design School. For details of our home study floral design and flower arranging courses please visit http://www.floral-art-school.com.au