Expert: Steven Younis - 6/3/2010

Question
Hi, I'm aware that the shiny side of the backing board should be touching the comic.  However, I didn't know this (they should write that little factoid somewhere on the packaging don't you think?) until I got about halfway through bagging and boarding my entire collection, which is about 500 +.  So, I'm just wondering exactly how important it really is - and exactly why?  I guess my question is - Will they be okay with the boards in backwards for a month or two until I can find the time to switch them around or ... is it a more pressing matter that I should get to immediately?  Thank you.

Answer
The idea of backing boards is that the acid-free boards trap and neutralize acids in paper that would otherwise permeate and slowly destroy them. They are recommended for long-term storage. There shouldn't be any harm to your comics over the month or two... I personally don't use them on my comics at all. I just bag mine.

Steve