mrmitchgro

Thanks Don. I'm pretty sure I overpaid for at least one of them (they were $250 each), but like you I've wanted them for a while.

I picked these up off of eBay a couple of weeks ago. I've been looking for a copy of Tales of Terror for a while, but the Crypt Archives is cool too!

To have a 9.8 with that black cover is truly incredible. Congrats!

I will let you all know what Russ has to say. I think we can put this mystery to bed once he has weighed in.

 

Thanks for running this to ground! I knew that if you didn't have the answer that you'd at least know where to get it (thumbs u

This is quite a shocking development. I'm checking with Russ Cochran to see if he can shed any light on this. He can take a few days to reach sometimes, but I would guess he has the answer.

Thanks Steve! Please keep us posted.

...I just searched around on the boards and found this old thread...check this out: http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2218530&fpart=1

 

Some very knowledgeable people are weighing in there - apparently, Heritage at one point claimed there was only 1; ciorac had a "#2" copy at one point, which implies there were at least 2; metropolis says there actually are zero "true" GFC copies of the VoH 12

 

We need to get to the bottom of this...

Very interesting reading. So no one there knows the circumstances under which more than one VOH 12 was designated a GFC, but now we have proof that it happened. Who would have enough knowledge to fill in the blanks?

Today I was pretty stoked to review and submit to CGC two Gaines File Copy sets of Crime Patrol/Crypt of Terror/Tales from the Crypt ( two copies each of CP 15 and 16, Crypt of Terror 17-19, and Crypt 20-46.) And also 1 set of Vault of Horror (including the 12, of which there are only 3 GFCs.) For a horror collector, there's nothing like having raw runs of these books in your hands - and even though I've submitted them before, the sensation doesn't abate much. Just stunning to see a run of them. I don't smoke, but I craved a cigarette afterwards.

 

It's always been my understanding that there was only one VOH 12 GFC. I even remember someone posting a list of the number of GFCs by issue earlier in this thread that "confirmed" that. Are there actually three?

 

Very cool that you got to review the entire sets! Can you disclose what number they were (assuming they were matching sets)?

 

Mitch - the Mylars on the GFCs had the original stickers, indicating the 'rating' of the particular copy versus the total number of that issue overall. On the VOH 12, the sticker read 1/3.

Thanks for the clarification - that's huge news for EC collectors!

fifties,

 

Is that a list that you could share? Proprietary? I'd love to see a copy of that if it's public knowledge, or was it printed in a book somewhere?

 

 

The list was posted previously in this thread. Not sure how far back though.

Whelp, I obviously need more practice with golden age grading.

 

The #2 just shipped at 5.0, the #3 at 7.5. I think they hammered me with staining on the #2.

 

And the CSS #22 I bought that Metro graded as a 4.5, is a 3.5.

 

Such is life...

 

Sorry to hear that. If you're too disappointed to keep the #2 in your collection just let me know

Today I was pretty stoked to review and submit to CGC two Gaines File Copy sets of Crime Patrol/Crypt of Terror/Tales from the Crypt ( two copies each of CP 15 and 16, Crypt of Terror 17-19, and Crypt 20-46.) And also 1 set of Vault of Horror (including the 12, of which there are only 3 GFCs.) For a horror collector, there's nothing like having raw runs of these books in your hands - and even though I've submitted them before, the sensation doesn't abate much. Just stunning to see a run of them. I don't smoke, but I craved a cigarette afterwards.

It's always been my understanding that there was only one VOH 12 GFC. I even remember someone posting a list of the number of GFCs by issue earlier in this thread that "confirmed" that. Are there actually three?

Very cool that you got to review the entire sets! Can you disclose what number they were (assuming they were matching sets)?

Doesn't bother me that much because I never plan to re-sell.

 

I just thought it was odd because in the same submission, I had Tales of Terror Annuals 2 and 3, and they had comments such as bondage cover, skull cover, etc, and the CSS 22 was blank..

 

I guess given that all books are graded independently, one person might be more thorough than another at any point in the process....

What kind of shape is the TOT Annual 2 in? Looking to sell?

Nice! Looks better than my 5.5

I rarely get a chance to use this gremlin, so...

 

 

If we put our copies together, we have an 11. Take that, Gaines File Copies.

For anyone with Gaines File Copies, does CGC provide you with the cert of authenticity separately from the slab? Is it inside the book that you'd need to crack it open to get it? I was just curious as I've never seen one....

The certs are not slabbed with the comics

...and an Incredible Science Fiction 33.

 

 

 

 

 

It's the last color comic published by EC, and, insomuch as this particular copy is 11 of 11, it's also the last Gaines File copy.

 

 

That's pretty cool! So which would qualify as the first GFC?

I agree. I sometimes think it would be interesting and tough to try to put together a high-grade (say 8.0+) non-pedigree run of and EC title.

 

As a novice to collecting ECs (only a handful graded, all lower grade), and about 200 raws, I'm almost more impressed when I see a non-Gaines File Copy in the 9.0s and up. Just seems like it would be much more difficult to have someone pluck it off a newsstand back in the day, and keep it in that nice of a shape.

 

I definitely plan to get one from each of the major pedigrees as my collection grows, but I still am impressed by the higher grade non-Pedigree books I see...

 

I think you have to distinguish between GFCs and other peds. I have a few Bethlehems, Northfords, and White Mountains for example that were purchased off the rack.

 

I like the idea of putting together a non-GFC collection. My Tales from the Crypt set (4 books short of completion) is all 8.0+ (except for COT 17, which is 7.5) and only includes 3 GFCs.

 

I like the idea of high grade EC's, GFC or no (I just want a GFC eventually, to say I have one! Preferably, horror or sci fi.) But I do have a nice White Mountain Vault 20, and love it -- and a Bethlehem Panic #2. I do love non-Gaines EC pedigrees, just wish I had more!

Let's see that Vault 20!

No, no...you guys just keep going after the GFCs...that's where the action is.

 

Leave the non-GFC pedigrees to me

are you ever going to put together a registry set Ed?

I agree. I sometimes think it would be interesting and tough to try to put together a high-grade (say 8.0+) non-pedigree run of and EC title.

 

As a novice to collecting ECs (only a handful graded, all lower grade), and about 200 raws, I'm almost more impressed when I see a non-Gaines File Copy in the 9.0s and up. Just seems like it would be much more difficult to have someone pluck it off a newsstand back in the day, and keep it in that nice of a shape.

 

I definitely plan to get one from each of the major pedigrees as my collection grows, but I still am impressed by the higher grade non-Pedigree books I see...

I think you have to distinguish between GFCs and other peds. I have a few Bethlehems, Northfords, and White Mountains for example that were purchased off the rack.

I like the idea of putting together a non-GFC collection. My Tales from the Crypt set (4 books short of completion) is all 8.0+ (except for COT 17, which is 7.5) and only includes 3 GFCs.

Very cool book. I was the underbidder in the last ComicConnect auction - glad it ended up in a boardies' collection!

Nice! Looks better than my 5.5

That would explain why only 1 copy of Vault 12 survived -- but you would think Gaines would have noticed how thin that wrapper was long before Cochran cleaned out his closet.

 

I'm not sure how many 9.2 copies of Vault 12 are out there, but perhaps most of them are Gaines File Copies incognito.

There's 1 9.4 on the census, which is the Northford copy. It apparently sold on ComicLink in February for $14k.

I believe Steve said at the time of that sale that Halperin is rumored to own the lone 9.2, which is the Gaines copy.

There are 2 at 9.0, 2 at 8.5, and 5 at 8.0 according to the census.

Hey, leave some for the rest of us! .

Eh I just wait for whatever undercopies Ed doesn't want

Nice books Don! HA Signature wins?

Yeah they're ok

Congrats Don!

This one, too.

 

I would be toast in that explosion. Poor Texas

Northford

 

 

 

 

That one looks ripe for a resub. Great book Brian!