Boswell

On 5/20/2019 at 7:40 AM, valiantman said:

A simple solution to the "preview" vs. "first appearance" debate is to take the definition back to the beginning AND to reflect the actual market.

This "preview" of Action Comics #1 appeared in More Fun Comics #31

... which established a very clear example of a "preview" which COULD be considered the first appearance.

NOW, using that fact, we can see that More Fun Comics #31 most recently sold for $1,195 for CGC 2.5 and $1,076 for CGC 3.5, for an average of $1,136 for an average grade of CGC 3.0.

The most recent sale of CGC 3.0 Action Comics #1 was $498,750.

THEREFORE...

A very clear preview of an upcoming comic/character for the most famous example of all time dictates that GIVEN THE SAME GRADE, the preview book should be 439 times CHEAPER than the actual first appearance, even though the preview occurred earlier.

If anyone claims that a preview should be more valuable than the first appearance divided by 439, they need to first correct the market for More Fun Comics #31 and Action Comics #1, then get back to us with updated numbers. 

This will be called the "More Fun 31 Rule" or just "Rule 31" (even though More Fun 31 is more fun to say).  Anyone proclaiming the importance/value/legitimacy of preview books/ads/articles/napkins will only need to show how their situation is more important than More Fun 31. 

This image of More Fun 31 is from a copy that I own.  It is missing the back cover.  Bought it in 2006 on Ebay, along with a ~1.5 copy of More Fun 38, for $220 from Neat Stuff Collectibles.  So, I'd probably allocate probably $120 for the MF 31 in what would grade out as a 0.5.  So that probably fits with your value theme.  I also own the CGC 7.5 copy.  Frankly, given the nature of the book, I like having an unslabbed copy.

I submitted two books (both mid-grade Batman #251s) in value tier that were received on 6/5 and shipped on 10/23.  Exactly 20 weeks.

Also submitted 14 books in the modern tier + quick press that still show received on 9/6/19.  I imagine that I won't see those until January.

I wrote to CGC last week asking about some value tier books received 6/5/19 - I had noticed that my status had changed from "Scheduled for Grading" back to "Received."  I received an response from CGC saying that the "Received" status was showing due to a "glitch" in their system and the value tier books, based on when I submitted, have a turnaround of 19-20 weeks from when they were received.  That's 133-140 days (95-100 business days) for those interested in such petty details.  An earlier poster said that value TAT currently is estimated at 98 days, so that does fit with the 19-20 weeks I was told.

Here's an update on my "value" submission that CGC says was "received" on 6/5/19 (they actually had it a few days earlier).  It had been in "Scheduled for Grading" status since late June.  This week it reverted to "received."  I sent a note to them today asking what is going on.  I'll update if I get a response.

One thing I've noticed is that newsprint comics (prevalent through the early 1990s) are much lighter than those printed on slick/Baxter paper.  I don't have any problem handling a long box of bagged/boarded newsprint comics.  But a box of new comics weighs at least 50% more and are quite heavy in a long box.

Here is a quick snapshot into recent turnaround.  I submitted 5 copies of the same 1973 book that were received on 6/5/19.  Three of them I requested a press evaluation, a press (if recommended) and standard grading.  Those books were evaluated on 6/21/19, the presses were completed on 6/24/19 and were graded and shipped on 7/29/19 - less than two months, which is quite good.  The other two books I designated for value grading and three months after being submitted they remain "scheduled for grading." I just submitted another 14 books for a quick press and value grading that were received (per FedEx) on 8/30/19 but have yet to show up in the submission tracking system.  It seems that they are extremely busy.  As evidence of this, the scene at the CGC booth at SDCC was almost constant chaos (mostly created by signing events) whereas the CBCS booth one aisle over was in a sea of calm.

I was looking through some old Detroit-area convention programs (1974-1976) and I see from some ads that in 1974 and 1975 the store was called the "Farmington Comic Center" - I think that is before it "merged" with the classic movie center that was upstairs.  I scanned some of the old ads and posted them with the other memorabilia from the store:  https://goo.gl/photos/Htr4wtWc6apXE5PX9

I have one more C.C. story.  In around 1976 I walked into the store and saw C.C. going through piles of books.  He mentioned to me that he had bought a large collection of 1960s and 1970s Marvels from a guy, but that he passed on the rest of the material since he couldn't move DCs (except for the Wrightson Swamp Things) and some of the Marvel stuff was lower grade.  He gave me the guy's phone number and I called him then headed over to look at his stuff.  There were around 2,000 books and I ended up buying them all for 4 cents each (after calling my mom for permission - she was not happy).   I still have those books and while there are no huge gems in there, there are things like Batman 227, 251 and 25 copies of Shazam #1!  Thanks, C.C.!

I think C.C. went to North Farmington, if I recall correctly.  He then got a degree in Psychology from Oakland University.

I headed off to college in 1978 and didn't visit the Livonia location until around 20 years later when I was back in Detroit on business.  I walked into the store and C.C. was behind the counter - he looked up, saw me, and said "The Animal."

I remember when Howard the Duck #1 came out in the mid-1970s, C.C. had a 3-copy per customer limit, but put aside an additional 7 copies for his "regular" customers - I still have those.

I was wondering whatever happened to David "C.C." Moffet who ran the Classic Movie & Comic Center from its beginnings in a basement space in Farmington in the 1970s, and then in Livonia until it closed in the 2000s.  Turns out that C.C., sadly, died in January 2012 at age 64.  When I was growing up in the 1970s heading over to the Comic Center on Wednesdays to pick up the new issues was a ritual.  C.C. was a funny guy and had names for a number of his customers.  I was the "animal" and another guy who only bought books in mint was the "moose."  He was a good guy who had a lot of patience with his teenaged clientele.  He will be missed.

I did some research and found a few news articles about him and the Comic Center, ranging from 1979 (with a photo taken in the old Farmington location) to 2003.  Here's a link.  https://goo.gl/photos/Htr4wtWc6apXE5PX9

I can't remember, but did "C.C." stand for "Comic Center"?