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Slip the comic into a bag with a backing board, tape the bag shut, and ship it in a rigid mailer or a snug box so it cannot bend. Comics lose value from bent corners, spine stress, and moisture, so the bag-and-board method that collectors use is also the right shipping method. Never fold a comic to fit a smaller envelope.
A comic without a board bends at the slightest pressure, and a bent comic stays bent. The board spreads any force across the whole cover instead of letting it concentrate on a corner or along the spine. Spine stress is the damage collectors notice first: a spine that has been flexed shows tiny breaks in the colour along the fold, and those breaks do not heal.
Use a board that is at least as large as the comic, and place it behind the comic, not in front of it, so the cover faces out when the bag is opened. If you are shipping several comics, board each one separately rather than sandwiching two comics around one board. Two comics sharing a board rub against each other, and the one on the outside takes the damage.
A rigid mailer, the kind made from stiff corrugated board with a self-seal strip, is enough for one or two boarded comics and keeps the parcel light and flat. A box is better for three or more comics, for a valuable issue, or for any shipment where the parcel might end up under heavier parcels. In a box, stand the boarded comics upright like books, not flat in a stack, and fill the remaining space so they cannot lean or fall over.
Whichever outer you choose, add a moisture barrier. A zip bag around the boarded comic, or a plastic bag lining the box, protects against rain on a doorstep and damp in a delivery van. Comic paper absorbs moisture fast, and a wavy, water-spotted comic is a ruined comic. Tape the outer well, and write the address on a label rather than by hand on the mailer, since ink can smear if the parcel gets wet.
| Shipment | Outer packaging | Extra protection |
|---|---|---|
| One comic | Rigid mailer | Bag and board, plus a zip bag |
| Two to five comics | Small box, upright | Cardboard divider between groups |
| Valuable issue | Box, comics upright | Double bag, extra board on each side |
| Full run or set | Sturdy box, upright | Bundles of five, separated by dividers |
Ask your AI assistant for a Canada Post Xpresspost shipping label through LetterAgent, approve the exact quoted price, and print the label PDF. LetterAgent labels are Canada-only, flat-rate Xpresspost, and cover parcels up to 5 kg. If the parcel is headed outside Canada, LetterAgent cannot provide the label, so use a carrier that serves that destination directly. Put the label flat on the largest side of the box, clear of seams, and photograph the sealed parcel before drop-off. The 5 kg limit is generous for comics, but the label still needs an accurate weight and size, so weigh the finished parcel before you ask for the quote.
Ready to ship it? Get a shipping label with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and get your label.
LetterAgent is a working name. Prices include print, postage, and our service fee. US prices in USD, Canadian prices in CAD (Canadian prices exclude applicable sales tax, added at checkout). Currently in private testing.
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