(sorry image next time) (You can't see it on this one)

(and 'this' = > is according to the ComicsPriceGuide website)

> MINT GRADES

> GEM MINT: 10.0

> MINT : 9.9

> The best possible existing condition of a comic book. A

> near perfect book. It is very rare especially in older

> comic books pre-1990

(...got one! - ks)

> to discover a comic in either Mint or Gem Mint condition.

> Books in this condition pre-1980 are virtually non-existent.

(heh-heh.. virtually. - ks)

> An extremely exceptional comic with only very minute

> printing or bindery defects. The books cover is flat and

> without surface wear.

> No autographs or writing is allowed on either the cover

> or interior pages.

(What? ...no writing is allowed on either the cover or

interior pages? This is what concerns me most. My books

may be locked out of their true/higher grades. - ks)

> Cover inks are exceptionally bright with high gloss. The

> books corners are perfectly square and sharp. Interior

> pages must me white in color and supple to the touch.

Okay, sports fans, so I had t' call CGC on this one....

...spoke w/ CGC, this morning on this 'no writing' thing..

..about ink/pen writing on the IBC and on interior pages....

specifically, I asked about an X-Stamper date stamp, with

day/month and RECD or YEAR in ink on interior pages as well.

The CGC CS Rep., she put me on hold, and confirmed that

it would, unless/otherwise on the IBC, but not on interior

pages. So, interior pages are okay, but IBC is not, for

ink/pen writing. Date stamp is okay on 1st page (tech-

nically p3).

So, will some of mine BE EXCLUDED, due to 'ks code' on

the inside back covers??

In my case,

it was first page date stamp for newsstand (File) copies,

and some kind of ks code, sometimes with the date stamp,

and sometimes neither.

Even then, I was aware that writing, as pressed as I do,

would detract from the book. Therefore, I DO recall writing

on the IBC, in pen I am fairly certain, but not in all cases,

sometimes there was nowhere else to write as lightly as

possible (in border, lower right, or upper left if there was

no room).

For example, I wrote "ks/ds" on the lower-right, I think,

of the IBC of Dave Sheridan's 1st Plymell printing of

Zap #1, but no X-Stamper REC'D date.

The date stamp was for tracking the "rec'd. date" as the

comic books were being released, and as I was buying them

as they hit the stands..

of

Comics & Comix, in Berkeley,

and

The Best of Two Worlds,

also in Berkeley, but BEFORE COMIC RELIEF.

Then, I was buying 4 mil mylar snugs, Silver size, with

cut-down Golden or Magazine size acidfree/backing boards,

in Acid Free Boxes, and putting THESE COMICS into them.

In past few days, I remebered how I would tuck them under

my shirt when it rained; they were in paper bags! Some of

these books made it through the rain, by bicycle delivery,

and by brown bag, never mind the 2-D 3-D Alien Terror #1

(Cert. # 0190247001), which came via USPS from Eclipse HQ.

***

I was holding an encased book today, and just marvelled at it,

thinking..

'I couldn't have imagined this little jeweled case..

[when I was buying these books thirty years ago];

It REALLY is marvellous;

..what a gem this thing is....

(I just wanted to hold it and look at it)

I was mesmerised....

(It's such a beautiful thing, a cased book is.)

(I can confirm that this WAS far from my mind, but

"framing" these comics was not.)

...Grades and Pops.?

That's a different story. Now, we have added Dimensions....

Thanks to CGC.

The thing that gets me thinking now is the cert.# does what

my ks code was intended to do: link them to my ownership

and, I guess, just be specific books to me..

...like I said added Dimensions.

I cannot imagine where these will go!

StarDate: twenty-seven, eleven,twenty_ thirteen,seven

Starship: Starbucks, Mariposa, Bryant

can't out

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