ChiSoxFan

Thanks -- I appreciate the feedback and info, everyone.  I think I'm going to go ahead and submit it.  

So I'm planning to try and make the trip to Charlotte for Heroes Con, and I'm looking to bring books to get graded on-site.  One of my candidates to get graded was/is a Detective #359 (1st Batgirl).  I had bought the book many, MANY years ago from a well-respected dealer as a VF/8.0, and the book, in my eyes, fit the criteria well enough when I got it.  It's been forever since I picked it up, but my assumption is that I had taken it out, given it a quick lookover, and then stored it away, where it's been ever since.

Upon taking it out to double-check the grade, I discovered that the inner couple of pages are detached from the lower staple (they're still attached at the upper staple), and presumably have been this way since I picked it up (since it's literally sat in the same location in its box for over a decade, so the detachment hasn't happened since).  This is obviously a bummer (and before anyone chimes in, I don't know how or why I missed it when originally purchasing it, but I did -- the dealer involved has a stellar reputation, so it had to have been an oversight somehow on their part, and inevitably the fault for not catching it lies with me.  I'm not interested in what ifs, and I don't have any ill will towards them since again, ultimately, it was my responsibility to make sure nothing was amiss).

My question is now simply -- what to do with the book?  It's obviously still a well sought-after major key, and a book I don't necessarily want to part with unless I have a replacement in waiting.  If I'm not mistaken, the best technical grade the book could get with the detached pages would be a VG/4.0, or possibly a VG+/4.5. but nothing higher than that, and certainly not the grade I would have been looking for.

I thought about selling it, but my question is whether or not this defect might lend itself to the book getting a qualified grade, and if so, whether that fact might still make it a candidate for submission.  There's no help on GPA to figure out how much of a difference on this book a Qualified grade would be against a Blue label of the same grade, and I frankly have so little experience with Qualified books that I don't know if it would be worth it or not to get it graded.  

Anyone with knowledge and experience with similar defects on a book, how much of a hit a Green label would give the book (and how that grade might be affected), and anything else of help would be appreciated.  My options are: 1) Get it graded and get a qualified label (if that would apply), 2) Get it graded with a Blue label, 3) Keep it raw (since it's eye appeal otherwise is really nice, or 4) Sell it raw (since it should be an easy sell, based on said eye appeal vs. the technical grade.

Any comments or advice, I'm open to hear!  Thanks!

Recently had my first ever transaction with Jon, and it couldn't have gone any smoother.   Super-fast payment + great communication = a perfect transaction from start to finish.  Looking forward to more deals with him in the future!

I'm going to try something different in the next week or so (maybe as early as tomorrow, or possibly during the week).  I have some comic-themed art pieces made from sealed Sandeplay wood, laser-engraved.  I'll have a couple for sale to start, with different images I'll be able to add if I sell enough of these to warrant it.  Sizes range from 8 X 8 to 11 X 11 approximately, so they're nice-sized, filled with detail, and neat additions to any collection (and an inexpensive gift) for any comic collector.  They're lightweight but durable, and they can be hung or displayed on a stand.  @rlextherobot has one of these he got from me in a prior sale, and he'll hopefully attest to the detail in the one he received, as well as to its quality.  

I'll have a Spider-Man Aztec calendar piece, both in natural wood color and painted, a beautiful, detailed, painted Batman piece, a Harley Quinn piece, both in a natural wood finish and painted, and a generic Marvel piece in a natural wood finish.  These will be made-to-order, but anyone who picks one up will see their piece shipped to them within 48 hours of purchase.  I plan on limiting how many orders I take at one time so that I don't get behind, but hopefully, this will be something that will interest the collectors here, and a thread I can keep open and add future designs to.

I'll have the thread in Mixed at some point -- prices will range from $30 to $50 (subject to change).  Here's some pictures of the piece (including the one rlextherobot (Alex) received in the first picture) -- look for this thread in mixed sometime soon!  Thanks!

And that will wrap it up -- thread is officially closed!

I'll start working on invoices tomorrow -- a HUGE thank you to everyone who purchased and made this thread a success.  You're all appreciated! 

On 5/27/2024 at 8:22 PM, JRBaxter said:

Take at associated discount:

 

Tomb of Dracula #4 -- National Diamond Insert -- VG -- 4.0 -- $12

Tomb of Dracula #54 -- VF+ -- 8.5 -- $18

 

Uncanny X-Men #117 -- Origin Professor X -- F -- 6.0 -- $18

Uncanny X-Men #119 -- VG/F -- 5.0 -- $15

Uncanny X-Men #138 -- VG -- 4.0 -- $10

Added to your stack, and thank you again! 

I think I had mentioned in my write-up on the show that took place in New Orleans in January that the graded books I looked at seemed to be all priced really high -- and that was even for allowing a "premium" for dealers needing to cover what I imagine was some pretty high-priced tables/booths.  That said, the two slabs I ended up snagging from the show -- a CGC 8.5 JIM #83 and a CGC 9.2 Sub-Mariner #1 -- the dealer who had the books didn't even have them displayed, saying that he hadn't thought anyone at the show had "big" money to spend.  I ended up getting a good deal from him and left happy.  I had looked at an FF #5 that I thought was WAY overpriced, and the dealer wouldn't budge a penny, saying that the price was essentially what he was into the book, and he didn't want to take a loss on it.

There's a multitude of reasons why prices are high -- though there's a huge difference between "high, but someone might pay it" and "so high that only someone who has no info and a limitless pocketbook will pay it". 

On 5/27/2024 at 7:57 PM, CGC Mike said:

What?  No custom title?  One of these days soon...

I've been a "member" for 15 years now and counting ... 

Late to this party, but I still wanted to throw my two cents in.  I've bought from Bob only a handful of times, but in every instance, the transaction was as professional and as smooth as I or anyone could have asked for.  I've picked up raw books from him and thought his grading was outstanding, and I've gotten graded books from him that shipped quickly and arrived safely.  I've passed on books he had for sale that I flinched a little at the price, but I've snapped up others that I thought were outstanding deals.  I'm eventually going to spin the wheel on something just to see how bad my luck is, lol.  

I met Bob at a show in New Orleans many, many years ago and found him to be friendly to someone he didn't know at first glance, and he was -- and is -- incredibly knowledgeable about the hobby.  If every dealer in the world was a clone of Bob, the hobby would be in a perfect place.  That's not a jab at many of the other great dealers and sellers I've worked with over the years -- and that number is many -- but is a ringing endorsement from me to Bob's credibility and integrity, 

ASM #124 has SOLD VIA PM! 

Thread closes tonight at midnight, CT!

On 5/27/2024 at 4:44 PM, I’m Rick Jones person_without_enough_empathy said:

Books in BLACK now 30% OFF!
Incredible Hulk #122 -- VF -- 8.0 -- $75

 And thank you again!

Thread will be closing tonight at some point.  I'll start working on invoices tomorrow.  Plenty of great books still remaining, and a chunk of these may not be showing up in any future sales -- so now's the time to grab them if you see something you like.  Thanks to all who've been a part of the thread!

On 5/26/2024 at 10:50 PM, Cman429 said:

 these three!

All yours, and thank you! 

On 5/26/2024 at 8:49 PM, universal soldier said:

Books in RED now 20% OFF!
Hero For Hire #8 -- Dr. Doom appearance -- VF -- 8.0 -- $32

 

Books in BLACK now 30% OFF!
Hero For Hire #5 -- 1st appearance of Black Mariah -- F/VF -- 7.0 -- $24
Fantastic Four #139 -- VF+ -- 8.5 -- $35
Iron Fist #4 -- VF -- 8.0 -- $15
Thor #222 -- VF+ -- 8.5 -- $20
Thor #234 -- VF+ -- 8.5 -- $14
Thor #245 -- F/VF -- 7.0 -- $8

 

All yours, and thank you again! 

Tales to Astonish #76, Thor #148, and Thor #164 have SOLD via PM! 

On 5/26/2024 at 4:49 PM, Djohnson321 said:

Take @ 30% off

Added to your pile -- thank you! 

On 5/26/2024 at 4:05 PM, Djohnson321 said:

Take @ 30% off

Added to your stack, and thank you again! 

On 5/26/2024 at 4:12 PM, Djohnson321 said:

Take @ 30% off

And this one as well! 

On 5/26/2024 at 3:23 PM, echu said:

Flash #140 -- 1st appearance of Heat Wave -- VG -- 4.0 -- $65

Justice League of America #78 -- 1st S.A. appearance of The Vigilante, 1st Justice League Satellite -- VG/F -- 5.0 -- $15

both @ 30> off

Uncanny X-Men #137 -- Death of The Phoenix -- VF -- 8.0 -- $45 @ 20% off

All yours, Ed, and thank you!  

On 5/26/2024 at 2:42 PM, Djohnson321 said:

Take @ 20% off

On 5/26/2024 at 2:47 PM, Djohnson321 said:

Take @ 30% off

Added to your stack, and thank you again! 

On 5/26/2024 at 2:07 PM, Artboy99 said:

Incredible Hulk #191 -- VF+ -- 8.5 -- $20

Incredible Hulk #192 -- VF/NM -- 9.0 -- $20

@30% off!

 

All yours, and thank you! 

On 5/26/2024 at 1:49 PM, Djohnson321 said:

Take @ 30% off

And yours as well! 

On 5/26/2024 at 1:39 PM, Djohnson321 said:

Take @ 30% off

Added to your stack, and thank you again! 

EVERYTHING in the thread is now discounted, ranging from 10% to 30% off!   Check the recaps on Page 1 to see current discounted prices!  Thread will be closing tomorrow night, so if you're on the fence about something, now's the time to grab it -- this will be the last discount on the thread,  Thanks for looking and to everyone who's purchased so far!

Weird War Tales #4 has SOLD VIA PM!