Sam Juliano

EsperanzaQueSperai, this is one of maybe 400 to 500 Classics Illustrated/Classics Illustrated Jr and J.E.S. books I now own. Each has been carefully bagged and boarded and are stored in four BCW plastic boxes (red and black, the common popular ones). I can easily opn any of the boxes at will to enjoy looking at the covers, but I will now refrain from removing the comics of the older issues. ONLY the re-print of the past years that were bought brand new are looked at more comprehensively and read. I am a stamp collector too so I have plenty of glassines. i have decided to have the chip repaired, as many at the Classics Illustrated FB Forum I am part of think it makes a lot of sense to do so, since I won't be selling the comic. I respect those who feel otherwise at this site of course. Thank you my friend.

Joeypost, I am certainly most interested in this suggestion.

My friend, I hear ya, but the issue here is CONDITION. Aside from this newfound mishap, this comic is MINT. I have been told by several collectors that even a 5th printing in this condition is super-rare. One even speculated that there may not even be another in that condition in existence. The book's grade is 9.0 from a reputable seller. Westward Ho! In any printing is rare, perhaps the rarest of any title in the CI series. I paid $600 for it just weeks ago. As I have absolutely no intention to sell it, I am currently leaning toward fixing it. I have also been told by an expert at a CI forum that the repair is a cinch and would take 5 to 10 minutes at most. Thank you for responding.

Joeypost, many thanks for asking. My wife took two photos. One of the entire cover which makes this blemish look minute. However the close-up photo shows it and the even tinier tear under it.

I suppose you are right, CapraAegagrus. Thank you so much. The chip is so so tiny, that I thought it could be fixed without it being a restoration, but any repair would likely apply for that term.

SOTIcollector, many thanks for the very good advice. Yes, you accurately identified the edition I purchased, which I believe was the only printing of that rare title that didn't have the Classics masthead. You obviously know your stuff. I am assuming the price (which again you were right to note was quite a bit to pay) was determined because of the stunning condition of the book. Based on all you say here I am inclined to do nothing right now. I am an up-in-age schoolteacher (68) who will pass my collection on to my five kids.

Lazyboy, many thanks.

Hello. I am a comic book collector from New Jersey. I have a question and perhaps an inquiry on the price for a repair. (Not a restoration) I purchased a comic book on e bay last week that was in VF/NM condition. The title is SUPER RARE in that condition and the price I paid for it was.............$599.00 plus tax and shipping. So, figure about $640.00. The title is WESTWARD HO! (No. 14 in the Classics Illustrated series) I made a fateful decision (now regretted more than I can say, and that is the classic understaement!) of carefully removing the comic from the bag and board just to examine it. But when I place it back in the bag it seems it got caught near the bottom of the right (front cover) and it chipped. Mind you, the chip is TINY (and I mean TINY) and it is full black from the art in that section of the illustration. I recovered the tiny chip and it is now on the other side of the board. There is also an equally MINUTE tear forming slightly under the chip, which is almost impossible to see. I am wondering what it would cost to get the chip back in its proper spot and have these two microscopic repairs made, and what you would advise me to do. I am NOT planning to sell the book (nor others in my large collection) and will pass then on to my kids. I am a 68 year-old schoolteacher who has so far resisted retirement. Thank you so much, Sam Juliano P. S. Needless to say this blunder has had me losing sleep. This comic is rated 9.0 and as I say is VF/NM. There are absolutely NO OTHER ISSUES, other than the minor imperfections I just explained.