sfcityduck

Kudos! Mystery solved. I'm impressed.

I have seen a lot of dates, presumably distributor or newstand markings, written in grease pencil on comics. I have seen other markings which may be distributor/newstand marks written in grease pencil. I don't see how a grease pencil "S" could possibly be used as a pedigree identifier without a lot of provenance given how many people's names likely start with "S". I hate to say it, but a lot of comics have markings on them. They should hurt the grade, not make people think they are a "potential pedigree" unless (1) the comic is HG, (2) the marking is clearly not a distributor or newsstand marking, and (3) there is sufficient provenance for the collection or uniqueness for the mark (a name maybe, but a single letter? I think not) to warrant the conclusion that all books with that mark come from the same source.

Definitely not a talked about cover. But, I think the covers that Cole collectors most desire, which are hard to find, don't elicit much discussion because folks are still trying to get a copy. I've never seen this one, and I have to say I think it is super weirdly cool with that eyeball, clown, skull, and others strange happenings. Seems like the covers that get the most discussion are the ones a fair number of folks already have and want to see go up in price, whereas covers like this (and others) get little discussion as folks don't want to draw attention to them.

There are also non-Barks scrooge stories prior to FC 386.

These are Scrooge's first five cover appearances: * Vacation Parade 2 (July 1951) - 1st Cover Appearance (cameo crowd shot), 1st on title * FC 353 (Oct. 1951) - 2nd Cover Appearance (cameo), 1st by Barks, 1st on title (Duck Album) * FC 379 (March-April 1952) - 3rd Cover Appearance, 1st time featured on Cover, 1st on title (Donald Duck) * FC 386 (March 1952) - 4th Cover Appearance; 2nd by Barks, 2nd featured, 1st on title (Uncle Scrooge) * WDC&S 140 (May 1952) - 5th Cover Appearance, 3rd by Barks, 3rd featured, 1st on title,1st by Barks on WDC&S You can locate all of Scrooge's interior appearances by running a search on the Grand Comic Database website.

Which O'Mealia's do you think aren't O'Mealia's? I thought all of his were signed. I'd have as O'Mealia: Action 2-6 Detective 20, 21 (18 is Flessel) Adventure 41 and probably Superman 1.

Too me, the sticker on the right looks wrong. The two stickers on the left are translucent. The one on the right is not. That could be explained by its being a counterfeit sticker (not hard to do).

Keller's auction of the MH Flash runs was a bloodbath. Loss after loss. It's too bad that he didn't hold them until after the Flash t.v. show came out. I think the hobby would have a much different view of those comics today if he'd held on to them.

It's been identified by Moondog, who brought the pedigree to market, and by Matt Nelson's website.

I just read Parrino bought the Denver MC 1 also. So he had the Pay Copy, Denver, and Windy City? He lost more money on MC 1s than anyone probably.

One question/correction: I know Parrino PAID $350K for the Pay Copy of MC 1. Are you sure he listed this copy for $350K?

Mr. Schomburg posted a number of pictures of the book raw on this site about 10 years ago.

Anecdotally, I think we've already seen some significant books that have been buried a long time come to auction because their owners are exiting the hobby as part of their retirement years, including the top graded Action 1, Berk's collection, and Suspense 3 (right?).

Instead, now we see a steady supply of CA 1s, with two more in the next Heritage auction.

Likely too high. Read this: https://blog.comichron.com/2009/06/detective-comics-sales-in-1940s.html?m=1

NO. It has a minor tear seal (reversable), and some other flaws. I think it might end up in a universal holder as an 8.0 or so, but if not it might well be the top restored/conserved book in the sense that it is a slight that could grade high, not an extensive frankenbook like some of those 9.4 monstrosities.

The owner lives in Eugene, Oregon, where PGX is, and didn't want the book to travel. I would be surprised if he didn't switch to a CGC slab when he eventually gets serious about selling the book. Roy (Vintagecomics) wrote about this book:

Nah. The book has been discussed extensively on these boards, with a large number of pre-encapsulation pictures. It does have minimal restoration, but it has (naturally) supple white pages and is a beautiful specimen. Story on the book is well-known. It has been with the same owner since around 1980.

Missing the PGX 9.0 white Action 1.

$350K in a private sale for the Pay Copy of MC 1 would be my guess. Highest at auction? Probably $227K for the Pay Copy at Heritage ... seven years after the private sale.

Does Moondog still post here?

Not really my story to tell. I forget who told it. Maybe Moondog/Gary C? My best recollection is that the storyteller relayed how DC used to have a binder in its lobby back in the 1970s which contained the laminated pages of an Action 1. Apparently, it was the publisher's personal copy which had been cut up for use in making the Famous First Edition. Gary (or whoever it was) opined that it would have been high grade if not cut up and laminated. Said it was a really nice copy.

Beerbohm sold copies of this:

Everyone, including CGC, calls them a "Court Copy." They really are court filed exhibits. Typically, at trial, an attorney will provide the Court with multiple copies of an exhibit, keep one, and also provide one to the opposing counsel. Thus, a "Court Copy" could have come from the old case file of the Court or either side's counsel. But, it would not be a "file copy" in the sense of having been stored and maintained by the publisher for its own files.

I have long thought that "the Demon" sequence in Prince Valiant is one of the most influential comic strips on superhero comics. Not only did panels inspire swipes by Kirby for Red Raven 1 and the look of his Fourth World "Demon", but also led to swipes by Kane for Batman. And, I think, inspired Batman's "criminals are a cowardly lot" origin for his look. It's all in this Sunday: