On 10/13/2021 at 7:01 PM, Iconic1s said:

Very nice!  Congratulations!  You have been nailing it... better send some more in quick 

I’m meditating to channel my inner power to put out vibes into the universe to influence that Adventures of Superman #499 third printing 9.8 to come to you! It’s the least I can do! 

They are back safe and sound!

On 11/5/2021 at 3:50 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

They are back safe and sound!

Glad they made it back safe. Congratulations!

Here I go again in my ReHolder delirium.

Why do I do this to myself!? Two of these are cracked, two are older holders that would look better in new holders due to the darker cover tones. Some covers just don’t do well in the previous generation holders because of the plastic clarity. It’s still risky due to the QC issues, there is also the chance old Newton will put a ring on it, and that inner well scuffing… 

On 4/10/2022 at 8:47 AM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Here I go again in my ReHolder delirium.

 

Why do I do this to myself!? Two of these are cracked, two are older holders that would look better in new holders due to the darker cover tones. Some covers just don’t do well in the previous generation holders because of the plastic clarity. It’s still risky due to the QC issues, there is also the chance old Newton will put a ring on it, and that inner well scuffing… 

Good luck!  I’m sure all will go well!  I have a few I’d like to send in too… three are signature series that are begging to be in new holders.  The thing deterring me is TATs more than QC issues,  Will be exciting to see how long yours take!

On 4/10/2022 at 10:28 AM, Iconic1s said:

Good luck!  I’m sure all will go well!  I have a few I’d like to send in too… three are signature series that are begging to be in new holders.  The thing deterring me is TATs more than QC issues,  Will be exciting to see how long yours take!

Thanks! That MOS #22 is a special book in the collection. 

On 4/10/2022 at 7:47 AM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Here I go again in my ReHolder delirium.

 

Why do I do this to myself!? Two of these are cracked, two are older holders that would look better in new holders due to the darker cover tones. Some covers just don’t do well in the previous generation holders because of the plastic clarity. It’s still risky due to the QC issues, there is also the chance old Newton will put a ring on it, and that inner well scuffing… 

I forgot to post the update, I got these back last May. Each holder is beautiful and clear, I got really lucky with this submission!

On 8/27/2021 at 4:46 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

These two are going to CCS first.

I love it! I sent these two to CCS in August, 2021, I got them back in August, 2022. These babies were in the back of my mind for a year.

My next submission.

These three are going to CCS first.

The first two books I already have in 9.8 but I can’t resist, they have a strong chance, they just need a little press. Plus, submitting books that come back in 9.8 is always satisfying, and they make for great memories.

Why is there a Batman book in this submission? I want to rebuild my Knightfall set.

This one is going straight to CGC. I looked it over twice over the last two days, the book is amazing.

Fingers crossed. It could be nine months to a year before I see the first three again.

On 10/8/2022 at 9:15 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

My next submission.

These three are going to CCS first.

The first two books I already have in 9.8 but I can’t resist, they have a strong chance, they just need a little press. Plus, submitting books that come back in 9.8 is always satisfying, and they make for great memories.

Why is there a Batman book in this submission? I want to rebuild my Knightfall set.

This one is going straight to CGC. I looked it over twice over the last two days, the book is amazing.

Fingers crossed. It could be nine months to a year before I see the first three again.

Now to test my packing skills by hitting the sealed box with a baseball bat! 

On 10/15/2022 at 8:48 AM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Now to test my packing skills by hitting the sealed box with a baseball bat! 

Good luck my friend!  Really excited about this one for you!

On 10/15/2022 at 9:27 AM, Iconic1s said:

Good luck my friend!  Really excited about this one for you!

Thank you! I gotta keep the momentum going on these submissions. I’d be thrilled to make a 9.8 on the Superman #73. It was a book that eluded me for several years. If it does come back in 9.8 then I’d get to say I made half of the Doomsday teaser issues in said grade. The TPB would be a real home run also.

On 10/15/2022 at 10:57 AM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Thank you! I gotta keep the momentum going on these submissions. I’d be thrilled to make a 9.8 on the Superman #73. It was a book that eluded me for several years. If it does come back in 9.8 then I’d get to say I made half of the Doomsday teaser issues in said grade. The TPB would be a real home run also.

That would be really cool!  My dream is to submit a 9.9 of ANY book! 

On 10/15/2022 at 2:53 PM, Iconic1s said:

That would be really cool!  My dream is to submit a 9.9 of ANY book! 

the odds are astronomical of that happening

On 10/29/2022 at 8:57 PM, 1950's war comics said:

the odds are astronomical of that happening

You are right!  I also dream of owning a 1969 Boss 429 Mustang!  Reality stinks sometimes! 

On 10/8/2022 at 9:15 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

This one is going straight to CGC. I looked it over twice over the last two days, the book is amazing.

I finally sent this book off to CGC yesterday. Fingers crossed it comes back a 9.8. I had an opportunity to bid on a 9.8 of this book on eBay recently, a part of me wanted to go for it but I decided to take a chance on my raw copy.

I wasn’t sure what to expect for the final bid, $87 plus shipping and tax looks pretty good compared to a few recent results.

I don’t have GPA so I won’t pretend to know what a good FMV on a CGC 9.8 of this book is currently.

A break down of the monies spent by yours truly.

Raw Purchase: $13

Grading: $24

Invoice Fee: $5

Shipping: $20

USPS (Sending to CGC): $14.45

Total: $76.45

I also had a CCS invoice included to save on shipping. The latest eBay sale came to $103.45 ($87 realized, $16.45 shipping) plus tax, so an additional amount of almost $30 (not considering the taxes) over what I’ve spent on this submission isn’t bad, I’d say the winner got a good deal. I’m not setting this one sample comparison in stone because I do not have a real current FMV and I also did not bid in the eBay auction, had I bid and won, then the realized price would most likely have been different. The book I sent in for grading is also not guaranteed to come back in 9.8, I’m really just playing with some numbers, speculating and spinning the roulette wheel. 

On 10/8/2022 at 9:15 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

This one is going straight to CGC. I looked it over twice over the last two days, the book is amazing.

Let’s see how long this one takes!

two years !!  

On 11/8/2022 at 4:55 PM, 1950's war comics said:

two years !!  

Nooooooooooooooooooo! 

You know what would be cool? If the grade date ends up being November 18th, the 30th anniversary of the death of Superman! 

On 11/9/2022 at 7:19 AM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Nooooooooooooooooooo! 

You know what would be cool? If the grade date ends up being November 18th, the 30th anniversary of the death of Superman! 

That would be really cool!

On 10/30/2022 at 10:24 AM, Brandon Shepherd said:

 

I don’t have GPA so I won’t pretend to know what a good FMV on a CGC 9.8 of this book is currently.

A break down of the monies spent by yours truly.

Raw Purchase: $13

Grading: $24

Invoice Fee: $5

Shipping: $20

USPS (Sending to CGC): $14.45

Total: $76.45

$76.45 well spent!

My later ReHolder invoice has returned, safe and sound. It was a long two months. I always feel like I’m playing Russian roulette when I send in books for a new holder.

On 12/19/2022 at 6:40 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

My later ReHolder invoice has returned, safe and sound. It was a long two months. I always feel like I’m playing Russian roulette when I send in books for a new holder.

Superman Meets Super-Houdini!
Cover Date: October, 1970

Leo Dorfman story, Curt Swan cover, 
Curt Swan, Murphy Anderson,
Ross Andru and Mike Esposito art

1 page "Superman Scrapbook" featurette.

Grade Date: 02/05/2018
Acquired: 01/30/2019 - 1 of 4 in 9.8 when purchased.
Regraded: 08/29/2019
 
I won this piece in a Pedigree Comics Grand Auction, it arrived safely to me but the inner well had several distracting scuffs and several scratches on the holder. A few months later I decided to have the holder replaced. This became a decision I'd soon regret, not long after my ReHolder invoice was received that I found a disturbing email in my inbox, letting me know four of the six books I sent in would not receive the same grade after examination by one of the graders as part of the ReHolder review process. The email contained photos of a non color breaking crease on the front cover. This book did not have such a crease when I sent it away, the books were either damaged in their holders during shipping or mishandled by CGC. I had the book pressed by CCS, four long months later the work was done and the book got the 9.8 grade, and a new Pedigree label. I'm glad the damage was undone but in hindsight I should have left it alone.

When CGC first introduced the Pedigree label it was black and grey and looked like xerox copy. Not long after the label debut CGG wisely changed the label to a gold, thanks to customer feedback. I had the holder replaced in December, 2022. Why would I do such a thing after my experience? I couldn’t stand the way the label looked, the holder also had a long, deep scratch on the back. It took me three years to find courage to send this book back. I also suspect this book was first graded at 9.6 in 2010. This book also belonged to another collector for almost a year before I added it to my collection. I hate to think how many times this book has gone through shipping. The book has earned a rest in my collection and now sits in the holder it has deserved all along.

^

I do like the gold label. But taking a chance on re-holdering since Blackrock took over is way too risky for my nerves. Perhaps one day after Blackrocks sells CGC off, only a matter of when not if, and they re-institute actual quality control and value the quality of a workers effort not simply quantity.