cloudofwit

I just finished reading The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. It was a decent read, but the 1920s silent movie was better than the book.

 

Before that, I read The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins. Incredibly, 42% of Americans still don't accept evolution, which basically means 42% of Americans have no critical thinking skills. It almost makes me embarrassed to call myself an American.

Either-or fallacy alert: Either you believe in evolution...or you do not have critical thinking skills. Baloney. Also, you might think we all know or agree on what "critical thinking skills" are, but I'd be willing to bet a bunch of us have different or at least somewhat varying ideas.

But let's assume we're all on the same page, definition-wise....Sure, some Americans who do not believe in evolution have little to no critical thinking skills. But it's folly to think those who do believe in evolution are somehow superior and immune from blind spots when it comes to critical thinking.

As Americans or anybody else, I don't think we should be embarrassed by what many of our fellow countrymen think. I'd be more curious as to how they--individually--arrived at their conclusions. (For what it's worth, the late Timothy Leary, who loathed traditional religion and its implications, STILL thought evolution was baloney. And I doubt he was alone.)

As someone who doesn't have GPA, but has tracked low grade sales over the last few years, I'd say 5K, at the moment is the VERY high end for a blue label .5.

I think 4,200-4,500 could easily get you one--as long as you can track one down! And what's really tricky in .5 land is there can be so much variation in eye appeal--even among the blue label .5 completes.

Others chime in. I might be off. (And maybe not just mathematically. )

MrBedrock of these Boards has this one that just jumped from about 500 to over 1K today! :whatthe:

Pretty nice Poor book...though a kid in the 1960s was a bit too possessive in his affection for Spidey. 15 bidders and counting...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marvel-Comics-Amazing-Spider-Man-1-CGC-0-5-PR-1963-/281816284714?hash=item419d8f3e2a

That coverless copy--CGC NG (OWW)--in the ComicLink auction cracked 1,700. Not too shabby.

 

Even those have cracked $2k earlier this year.

 

-J.

:whatthe: Had no idea. (Don't have GPA.) Wow.

That coverless copy--CGC NG (OWW)--in the ComicLink auction cracked 1,700. Not too shabby.

I'll echo what Bio-Rupp said. Thank you, Randall, for a no-hassle-whatsoever transaction. :thumbsup:

Fast payment for a buy. Friendly correspondence via PM. No problems whatsoever. Thanks, Roger!

At $1,300 with 8 bidders--and a few days left. No scribbling & doodling on this coverless specimen. Maybe it'll break 2K. :shrug:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Amazing-Fantasy-15-Coverless-First-Spider-Man-1962-/201387275318?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ee39df436

:whatthe:

Maybe the winning bidder will fink out. :shrug:

Here's a decent chunk of data I've gathered over the last few years for uber low grade copies, including coverless, half-coverless; missing wraps, only wraps, etc. Most of this data comes from eBay completed sales, with a few from ComicLink and Heritage--and one from World Wide Comics. (If anyone wants to part with any paid information via GPA for coverless copies, feel free.)

 

Thanks for sharing this cloudofwit.

:thumbsup:

More 2011-2014 data:

--800.00 (12 bidders); June 12, 2013; eBay

Coverless; extensive browning & chipping on edges of pgs.; tears w/ some edges brittle; all pgs. intact.

--842.17 (6 bidders); May 12, 2011; eBay

Coverless, otherwise complete.

*This seller noted the then-recent 1.1 million sale of AF #15 (CGC 9.6) by Metropolis Comics--and says Metropolis also sold a coverless copy for 1,000.00 a month prior to the million dollar sale.

--860.00 (13 bidders); Jan. 3, 2013; eBay

Coverless, otherwise complete; pgs. intact, VG condition

--1,000.00; 2011, World Wide Comics

Front cover, but no back cover; front cover tattered along the edges, but not brittle. Some tearing along pgs. near spine.

--1,025.00 (13 bidders); Mar. 23, 2014; eBay

Coverless; all pgs. intact, except lower right portion of pg. 1.

--1,126.99 (3 bidders); Oct. 19, 2012; eBay

Coverless, otherwise complete; would grade VG if not for missing cover.

--1,375.00 (27 bidders); Jan. 4, 2013; eBay

Half front cover missing; back cover is there, but cover is detached; front cover has tears on edges, spine w/ a few chips & tears; back cover not in good condition, w/ stains & some tape on bott.; pgs. are yellow.

--1,449.98 (BIN); Apr. 5, 2014; eBay

Coverless, otherwise complete; pgs. are cream to off white; 1st pg. separated & has tape repair; tape repairs are only on 1st & last pg.; name stamp on 1st pg.

--1,731.50 (9 bidders); Mar. 2, 2014; eBay

Coverless, otherwise complete; slightly rolled spine, some tiny nicks around the edge of 1st pg.; a 1/2" tear on the first 2 pgs., & slight water stains on the last 2 pgs.

--1,950 (BIN); Sept. 19, 2013; eBay

Coverless; otherwise complete w/ repro cover (not attached); pgs. in GD to GD/VG

2011-2014 data (lowest to highest price realized, all manner of AF #15 copies):

--182.50 (7 bidders); May 22, 2011; eBay

Coverless; missing first 6 pgs. from Spidey story; other 2 stories complete.

--261.69 (5 bidders); Oct. 26, 2013; eBay

No covers; just 1st wrap.

--358.50 (10 bidders); Feb. 27, 2011; Heritage

Coverless & missing 1st wrap.

--438.00; 2011; eBay

Coverless--only pgs. from Spidey story, which are loose (sold by a CGC Boardie).

--450.00; May 2012; ComicLink

Centerfold only.

--500.00; June 2013; ComicLink

Centerfold only.

--540.00 (13 bidders); Feb. 16, 2013; eBay

Coverless; bott. half of last 2 pgs. missing; rusty staples; loose pgs. (The seller on eBay graded it a -3.7. )

--582.80 (12 bidders); Apr. 21, 2011; eBay

Coverless, otherwise complete; some rips/tears & soiling, especially 1st pg.

--685.00 (44 bids); Oct. 30, 2011; eBay (sold by John Haines, Overstreet Advisor)

Coverless, otherwise complete; supple pgs. w/ tattering along spine & a horizontal tear into the pgs. at center of spine.

--789.95 (14 bidders); Oct. 17, 2013; eBay

Coverless & minus 1st wrap.

Here's a decent chunk of data I've gathered over the last few years for uber low grade copies, including coverless, half-coverless; missing wraps, only wraps, etc. Most of this data comes from eBay completed sales, with a few from ComicLink and Heritage--and one from World Wide Comics. (If anyone wants to part with any paid information via GPA for coverless copies, feel free.)

I'll first list 3 random sales over the last decade, a copy from 2005, 2009, and 2015--and then the rest is from 2011-2014.

--92.00 (12 bidders); Mar. 20, 2005; Heritage

Back cover (no front cover) w/ Spidey story only, stapled but not w/ original staples.

--567.63 (13 bidders); May 24, 2009; Heritage

Half of front cover missing & cover detached, otherwise complete.

--2,007.00, Mar. 2015; ComicLink

CGC NG (OW)--Coverless

Here's the rather intriguing back story on that coverless copy of AF #15 on eBay...

The guy bought it at a small country store in Alamo, Tennessee, in 1963 or 1964--when he was only 9 years old. The book was coverless and doodled up when he bought it--for a nickel! He's had it for the last 51 years. :whatthe:

The store's owner sold new comics, but also sold used comics--all for a nickel. The seller knows one of the guys whose name is in the book--a previous owner, one Ronnie Nolen who lived in the same town and was a few years his senior. Additionally, a Billy Koil also wrote his name in the book (top edge of 1st page), so it looks like the current seller was the 3rd owner and has had it for over 50 years! This information was provided through his wife, who is helping him sort, photograph, and list his comic books.

I asked permission to share this story, and she said that wouldn't be a problem at all. Very nice woman who said she's never seen so much interest in a comic book. Although they've lived in several cities in Tennessee over the decades, the book has never left the Volunteer state. And in order to take pics of it, she recently plucked it out of a yellowed bag and put it in a fresh bag with a backing board. It seems they'll have a decent return on that nickel plunked down back in the '60s. ::

Book sold already for $200k!! That was quick! So which one of you guys picked it up?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-J.

 

Congrats!!

Okay, I employed the kid-around emoticon. I know y'all know I was joking. Remember, I'm a member of the AF #15 Club...at the bargain basement level--I have a CGC 0.5. (Many moons ago, when I was in my 20s, I had a British copy, probably a 1.0, but sold that one in 1992. ).

Meantime, I'm doing some detective work on that coverless copy currently on eBay and will issue forth a crazy, true story pretty soon.

Book sold already for $200k!! That was quick! So which one of you guys picked it up?

:hail:

From the doodled up coverless copy...to a 9.0!

(According to the CGC census, one of only 17 blue labels in 9.0 or above).

Now that's the wide-ranging spectrum of AF #15 insanity.

I see this is a 10-day auction--and there's already 6 bidders. Early and often. :: (I'd be surprised if it goes for less than 1K.)

The seller's taken a number of pics of the flaws, and one particular page stands out, the one where Spidey is upside down on the wall, and in the spotlight...A grade school kid--presumably in the early to mid-1960s--took a black pen to our favorite wallcrawler and absolutely went to town; the kid went nuts: Spidey now has a head of hair, a mustache, beard, and a pipe (w/ smoke billowing out)--and even black fingernails!

It will indeed be interesting to see the hammer pice.

Predictions, anyone?

if dave anderson was offered $5 million for his AC1 it was stephen fishler who offered him that amount. nobody else in comic land has that kind of cash (much less interest) on hand.

 

 

I can think of a dozen people (most who are on this chat forum) who could lay out the cash if they wanted to.

 

I know a lot of people who could bid $20 million dollars on the Buffalo Bills sale, but you know what, it takes over a billion dollars to own them.

You seem to like Wikipedia links to show folks the error of their ways. In this case, you could slap yourself upside the head with a link to "Non-sequitur"; what you just typed does not follow AT ALL what you just quoted. Absolute nonsense.

the comic market caps at a certain level because most high rollers don't collect comics. unlike on sub million dollar books where you can get multiples based on a small grade bump, unfortunately on mega expensive comics the dollars and interest in the books falls short well before the assigned grade. you have a relative small number of WEALTHY comic collectors to begin with and then an even infinitesimally smaller group that have millions to throw on comics (i could count them on less than two hands).

 

if dave anderson was offered $5 million for his AC1 it was stephen fishler who offered him that amount. nobody else in comic land has that kind of cash (much less interest) on hand.

 

this tec27 9.2 won't go for anymore than 9.0 AC1 did several weeks ago.

 

Don't be so certain that other members of comic land couldn't pay $5 million or more, if they were so inclined, for Dave's comic

 

show me some evidence. right now there is none.

 

The list is long and distinguished, much like my johnson

::

Thanks for posting that!

http://www.metropoliscomics.com/load_bookDetails.php?id=572569&set=0

 

I can't figure out which is more humorous: their homemade title for this book (see "Comments")--or the ask price.

 

Wow, that is amusing.

 

That copy was bought at C2 this year, I remember seeing it on a sellers wall before Vince bought it. It that the result of moisture getting trapped in an old bag and board?

:hail: Provenance!

As for your theory on its condition, maybe. :think: Or it might have been a kid who forgot to take his rolled up comic out of his back pocket--and somehow mom missed it--and down it went, straight through a washing machine.

http://www.metropoliscomics.com/load_bookDetails.php?id=572569&set=0

I can't figure out which is more humorous: their homemade title for this book (see "Comments")--or the ask price.

No kidding. And 20 bidders to boot.