RareHighGrade

On 4/21/2024 at 12:55 PM, Tbone911t said:

Here's a link to the video : 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C58lT1Kr7cb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Is it just me or did he seem way too rough in the way he opened that paper envelope?

On 4/13/2024 at 7:50 AM, Robot Man said:

Any plans to continue the run up to maybe #40 when the Sandman appears? So many cool covers there as well.

Thanks for posting these as a run and letting us live vicariously through you!

The reason why I was so focused on completing the NA run is my love of the great Flessel covers. Similarly, his covers in the early Detective run were the original impetus for my pursuing the Tec 1-26 run,  His last Adventure cover was #33, so I haven't made it a goal to collect all the issues through #39, although I really like the Flanagan covers in that run (nos. 36, 37, 38 and 39).

On 4/12/2024 at 2:01 PM, adamstrange said:

Your public demands moar!

On 4/12/2024 at 3:01 PM, 1950's war comics said:

does that mean this great thread is over ??   ohhh nooo !!

I appreciate all of the kind comments made by everyone throughout the course of this thread; they have made my completion of the run even more satisfying.  I'll finish by noting that, starting with issue #32, the title dropped “New” and became simply “Adventure Comics,” which is the title that remained until the series ended in 1983 with issue #503.  Creig Flessel's classic shark/raft battle cover was an awesome way to introduce the new title.  

On 4/12/2024 at 8:04 AM, buttock said:

Peter, do you remember which was the first of these issues you got and when? 

That's a perfectly timed question Dan.  The first book that I purchased is the last issue in the run, #31. My raw copy, which I picked up 3 decades ago, comes from the “penciled S” pedigree.

On 4/12/2024 at 9:09 AM, sfcityduck said:

Do you know the rhyme or reason for the "church" names on the 10 covers?  All from the same month?  Just curious. 

There's no rhyme or reason that I can think of.  They were not all from the same month, as demonstrated by this book, which came out several months after NA #26 and Action #1:

On 4/12/2024 at 8:21 AM, ThothAmon said:

Incredible collecting accomplishment as were the Pre Bat Detectives. My understanding was an unknown number of the earliest Church copies of Detective were not purchased off the newsstand by Edgar but were actually back issue purchases. Anything to that on this run?  

I believe that the Church copy of NA #12, posted at the beginning of this thread, was purchased second-hand by Church.  I understand that the Church copy of #13, which I have not seen, was also lower grade, so it too may have been second-hand.  The first issue that Church bought off the stand was probably #14 (posted herein), which is in relatively high grade.

We’re now in the home stretch of the run.  The penultimate issue, #30, has a beautiful whaling cover.  Speaking of vivid colors, this Church copy has them in spades, as well as highly reflective and seemingly still-wet gloss that looks like it was applied yesterday.

Issue #29.  8 Universal copies in the census.  Another action-packed cover:  A French Legionnaire is getting ready to body-slam one of his adversaries.

Issue #28 is another very tough book, with only 8 Universal copies in the census.  It has a great cover depicting armed pirates taking over a vessel.  The captain’s distressed look is understandable, given that his undersized billy club is likely to prove ineffective against his assailants’ swords and guns.  If you look closely, you can see Flessel’s signature subtly hidden along the ropes. 

This non-pedigree CGC 9.0 copy tops the census.  No one has seen a Church copy.

On 4/10/2024 at 1:22 PM, FFB said:

Peter,

I remember seeing you post this years ago when Ian was looking for his copy (I think that's when it was, anyway).  Any backstory you can share about when and where/how you wound up with this book?  I'm not surprised it's the crown jewel of your collection.  It takes my breath away just to look at a picture of it.  I can only imagine how excited you must have been to hold it for the first time. 

Hi Scott,

The back story on how I obtained the Church #26 is that it was part of a complex trade deal with another collector in which we exchanged a variety of Church and other high grade books decades ago.  This occurred before #26 was even recognized for its rarity - i.e., before the publicity around Ian Levine's search for the issue.  

My personal White Whale was issue #27.  I searched for decades for a nice copy, with no luck.  I eventually resigned myself to the fact that I would never be able to finish the run.

But then the Ian Levine collection of pre-hero DCs came up for auction.  Ian’s pre-hero run, although complete, consisted almost entirely of low grade and restored books.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that, tucked away among them, was this breath-taking unrestored beauty.  The hole in my collection was finally filled.   

This issue has the earliest shark cover in comics, as well as an interior ad for Action Comics #1.

This pristine Church copy of issue #26 is the jewel of my collection.  One of the things that makes it unique is the name written in the upper left-hand corner of the cover.  Of the 18,000 books in Edgar Church’s collection, only around 10 have the name “Church” written on the cover.  One of the other books sharing this rare distinction:  Edgar’s copy of Action Comics #1.

Along with its terrific cover, the issue also includes an ad for Action Comics #1.

#26 is renowned for its rarity.  As anyone who frequented the CGC Boards in the mid-2000’s will remember, it was Ian Levine’s White Whale, eluding him for years until it became the very last issue he needed to complete his collection of all DC books ever published.

Issue #25 is a beast that is rarely seen and almost never comes up for sale.  This Lost Valley 5.0 represents the highest graded copy on the census.  No one has seen a Church copy.

Issue #24 is considered by many to be a Flessel masterpiece.  I agree. 

My copy is a CGC 8.5.