Tracey Heft

An academically trained paper conservator with over 25 years experience, I've worked for museums and National Archives worldwide and since 1994, been the owner of Eclipse Paper Conservation. In addition to that, I've been a collector of comic books and paper collectibles for over 35 years and contributed several articles to Overstreet’s Comic Book Monthly, Comic Book Marketplace, Collecting Hollywood, Comics Buyers Guide and rewrote the storage and preservation section in the 1995 and 1996 editions of the main Overstreet Price Guide for Comic Books.

Joined: July 23, 2014
Articles: 6

Piece Replacement

Tracey Heft
October 16, 2014
5

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

Staple Manipulation

Tracey Heft
October 2, 2014
6

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

Trimming

Tracey Heft
September 18, 2014
8

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

Halftone patterns and overpainting

Tracey Heft
September 4, 2014
1

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

Tracey Heft
August 21, 2014
5

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.

Detecting Restoration: Color Touch

Tracey Heft
August 7, 2014
12

Detecting Restoration - a "how to" for the convention goer. Spotting color touch.