Or How many times am I going to get the same book graded?

As the Emerald City Comic Con is fast approaching I'm tediously crossing off what books to bring. I'm thinking I would like to buy a high grade Amazing Spider-Man 128 to be book marked by my 127 and 129. Yes, I am afraid of my ASM #129 falling back to a 9.4 but other than my New Mutants collection, which I have been purchasing doubles for signatures I realize my collection can't expand if I keep getting books graded and re-graded.

My biggest example is the same ASM #129. I bought this originally as a teen. At the time, and for the longest time it was the most expensive comic book I ever bought. It was also one of three on my first invoice to CGC. Ah...the memories of getting it graded and back the same day. I regress.

I got it back as a 9.2. Then CGC had a signing with Stan Lee, it then became one of four I sent away. After the second grading it was returned a 9.4. Although the pages changed I was ecstatic. Then another signing became available and I had John Romita add his scrawl across the cover. Once again after the third time I had it graded it was returned again a 9.4. You would think I would be happy with an ASM #129 worth $2500 (another just sold in eBay, same grade, same page color, and the same signatures) but I decided to get it graded again, this time after Matt Nelson worked his magic (this was before CGC purchased Classics Incorporated). After the fourth time graded, it's a 9.6.

The point is if I do decide to have Gerry Conway sign at ECCC, it will be the fifth time I have it graded. That's money I could be spending elsewhere, or at the very least other books. For instance I was able to get a beautiful 9.8 copy of X-Men #109 before they became uncanny.

And it doesn't stop there, I have five books I want to send in for another masters signing. Those books are all graded by CGC already. Three were from my own collection and the other two were purchased. This adds up and my CGC collection doesn't really grow. If I want to bring points into the equation, it's only an additional 10%.

Now only if I could make a final decision about my ASM #129...and decisively stick with it.

Thanks for Reading

Tnerb

http://ashotofcomics.blogspot.com/2013/02/uncanny-x-men-1-roundabout-review.html

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