Tracey Heft

Piece Replacement

Posted by Tracey Heft | Oct 16, 2014 | Detecting Restoration |

A few things a collector can look for when trying to detect if any pieces have been replaced.

Staple Manipulation

Posted by Tracey Heft | Oct 2, 2014 | Detecting Restoration |

A book might have its staples restored – either through cleaning or outright replacement.

Trimming

Posted by Tracey Heft | Sep 18, 2014 | Detecting Restoration |

Trimming is easily the most difficult form of restoration to detect, at least with any degree of certainty.

Halftone patterns and overpainting

Posted by Tracey Heft | Sep 4, 2014 | Detecting Restoration |

But more than a quick glance at almost any comic book cover in existence will reveal that all the blue’s, red’s, green’s and especially grey’s are far more than a simple blotch of colour on paper.

Blacklights

Posted by Tracey Heft | Aug 21, 2014 | Detecting Restoration |

While some evidence of restoration can be revealed by viewing a book in natural daylight and using a magnification loupe, my favourite tool in detecting restoration (both amateur and professional) is my UVA blacklight.