Bomber-Bob

Comiclink auction tonight.......

I don't think that sticker was put on at the printer. I think a sticker very much affects the grade. IMO, it's a big flaw. I've never seen one slabbed. It's probably not worth it.

#1) You should research which issues have value and cherry pick those out. Looking at E-Bay sold items is a good way. #2) Of those issues you will have to take a very close look at condition. Your reference to 'should be in pretty good condition' doesn't sound promising. If you read them, handled them, they may not be worth getting graded. With books from this era you need near flawless condition.

I thought the 60's square bound books had the cover glued to the book. The wraps were attached by a larger than normal staple but the cover was not attached to the staples.

I don't think it's too tight, not at all. I don't recall seeing any of the 'big boys' complaining here. The 'other company' made the mistake of grading too loose and the marketplace took notice. CGC has increased staff, so maybe the graders now have more time to inspect each book = less automatic 9.8's. The implication from some complainers is that CGC is not doing their job. I think they are doing their job better than ever. The hobby is in a great place right now. Embrace it and accept your 9.6 as a job well done.

Hey, I hope you are right because I like tight grading, especially on the 9.6 vs 9.8 range. During the loose period of 5 ish years I was afraid to buy a book that was not viewed in hand. During that loose period I heard dealers laughing about some of the overgraded books they got back. Tight is better for the overall health of the hobby.

FYI, there is currently a Canadian version in 9.6 for sale right now on Comiclink with an outstanding bid. Hard to say but I would not like to list a book for auction with that book out there as the current bid price may be a ceiling for your book. http://www.comiclink.com/itemdetail.asp?back=%2Fsearch.asp%3Fwhere%3Dsell%26title%3Darchie%27s%2Bgirls%26GO%3DGO%26ItemType%3DCB&id=1022291

Get the existing notes on the book first as there may be something you cannot see. My understanding about the review is that you submit it, in the slab, under a tier one notch below the tier it should be in. If CGC thinks it can improve they will crack the slab open and it will be regraded. If they do not think it can improve they leave it in the slab. However, I don't think there is any guarantee about the grade. If what they tell us is true and the graders have no history of any books they are looking at, I would think there is a chance it can grade lower. The one time I did a review, the book was returned to me, as is, in the original slab = not a lot of experience with it.

I do think many seek out non pressed books with most simply looking for the potential grade bump. I think the market is already rewarding 'original' copies that have not been pressed. Watch some of the auction sales of old label books in the lower high grade range. Follow some of these books that can be identified(pedigree, markings, etc.) and you will see impressive grade bumps.

To be honest, I think the majority of the books out there have been pressed with many dry cleaned = that ship has sailed. I've learned to look for certain characteristics of the book that, as a result of the press, bothers me. A good press should not show any of these characteristics. A bad press using aggressive techniques and misuse of humidity will look bad. Another question would be how may times has the book been pressed. Trust me, there are individuals that will keep pressing and submitting until they get the bump. The challenge now is to find books that have not been pressed.

According to CGC they can't tell if a book was pressed so how can they put it on the label ? Sure, if they do the work then they can identify it but that would not be a good business decision. Don't get me wrong, I would love it if this was somehow noted but I don't think it will ever happen.

Please reread Roy's (Vintagecomics) post, that is not what he said. He said the rise in prices was STARTED by some specific upgradeable books going for way over FMV . This led to the impression demand was that strong.

I suspect the 2 light creases are the obvious dents we can see to the right of Spidey's arms. That alone should put it at 9.0 . If there are spine ticks, and I think I can see some on the BC photo, that would knock it down to 8.5 . So I think CGC is spot on here. I think we forget that an 8.5/9.0 can be a really nice book sometimes with minor flaws.

The comic is removed from the bag for grading and not encapsulated = you lose the bag.

It is impossible for us to answer this question. There are no published rules or standards for highest grade with a particular flaw. As with all such examples, it depends on the rest of the book. Also, your two examples are not categorically equal as the second example is much worse. Sometimes pressing may help.

CGC is very accommodating with slab related problems. I am sure they will fix the waviness but I would expect the cost may be on you. BTW, I collect Silver Age and I am a big fan of Journey into Mystery. I agree, this is a very cool book, not often seen in higher grades. Trust me, I am very sympathetic to your problems. The exact same situation happened to me last year when I received a book purchased on the Boards with waves. The problem is you cannot see the waviness from a normal scan. In my case, I moved the book but if it was a book I really wanted to keep I would have sent it to CGC. BTW, I moved the book, in hand, at a convention. I took a beating on the price because of the waviness, selling it for barely half of what I paid. Nobody wanted to touch it. I have also experienced the situation where it was fine when I got it but it developed waves later. When purchasing, I always try and ask who pressed the book but rarely get an answer. There are a lot of home grown pressers out there putting their 'experiments into the marketplace. Just something else to look out for. Good luck on your book !

Great books, all of them but I especially am in awe of the Adventure 247. Observation on the 247, the dark blue rub on the middle of the book near the spine to the left of cosmic boy, my copy has the same rub. Production ? http://www.myslabbedcomics.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=20487&GSub=887

You refuse to acknowledge the waviness may be caused by a bad press, saying we can't prove it. Well, if you believe the waviness is the result of the inner well, how about you proving it !?! I am not the only one saying it's probably a bad press.... Tony S.... Or it COULD BE that the book had waves when sent to sent to CGC. That the slab HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT..... VintageComics.... From what my experience tells me, it's more likely that your book has a wave in it pre slabbing and that is what you are seeing. Paddy.... Only had the one bad wavy book thus far .. it was pressed MSchmidt... People have come up with multiple likely explanations for why your book looks the way it does - the fact that you refuse to consider any of them apart from the one you entered the thread with can't really be blamed on the thread participants, it's all on you.

If the book was encapsulated with an inner well, there is no evidence I ever saw where the encapsulation process caused waviness. The first incarnation of the new slab did not have an inner well and used pressure to hold the book in place. The pressure caused the waviness. I have no strong desire to absolve the encapsulation service, why would I care ? I'm not accusing you of anything but possibly reaching the wrong conclusion on what happened. If, as you say, you are simply trying to get a handle on what happened, why are you being so defensive ? You came here asking. Others, including myself, said you may be wrong. You were seeking validation of your hypothesis, you did not get it. Sorry.

I've had pressed books deteriorate in the slab. Paper has a memory and pressed creases and such can 'come back'. I think too much humidity was applied to your book by the presser and after the initial effects of the press wore off the waviness occurred. That is a much more logical conclusion then the encapsulation caused it. Sorry, I know how irritating it is when stuff like this happens. You want to blame somebody and it's easier to blame CGC than the presser. Also, remember, there is a lot of humidity down there in Sarasota.

Am I crazy or is this con during Easter weekend ?

A color rub is a loss of color. How can a cleaning possibly replace a loss of color ? If anything, an overzealous cleaning can cause a color rub. I don't think you mean a color rub, sounds like a color bleed

I really think that is what's going on here. Why does CGC and/or their holder always get the blame ? If you look in to a mirror and don't like what you see, do you blame the mirror ?

You have the grader's notes, a brittle/fragile cover with spine splits,chips and visible tanning. I think the last thing this book needs is to apply heat and pressure. I am afraid it would disintegrate into ash. Even if it survives a press, these days giving it to Stan to sign is even more dangerous. I've been seeing some awful examples lately.

This is a terrible candidate to either press or get signed. Leave it alone.