thethedew

For some time, I've let these things pile up, thinking I might want to flip through them in future. BUT. I find I don't. 'Micronauts' just doesn't come up that often in auctions, and I'm not enough of a generalist to find the rest of these worth more than the initial perusal. I think others will do a better job of keeping these things as a reference/record. Anyone else have trouble making this realization? Out they go!

Anybody wonder if a convention in this all-art, all-artist format would work in the States? Any particular reason it needs to be Europe-only?

Bought one piece only, a MICRONAUTS page, which I was not expecting. Also; at a reasonable price, which I was also not expecting. I don't know why I was so surprised, CAL has been pretty good to me the past few years, a DYNAMO JOE page last year. A few people viewed it before I did but either didn't like it much, or decided to leave it for me. If the 2nd, thanks for cutting a guy a break!

This thread has been just as enlightening as I'd hoped. Thanks to all who have responded, hope there's more. My story IS from the opposite perspective, somewhat, except without all the misrepresentation. In brief: In hopes of triggering a trade (in which I'd been given NO promises, mind you; was a collecting rookie at the time) I convinced a well-known collector to part with a page he liked immensely. I recall I'd caught him at a time when he DID need some cash for some home renovations, and he may have taken a little pity on me as my father had just died, and I was... so, so sad. He was well aware that I was acquiring it for a potential trade, and that it could disappear forever. So, in comes this pretty amazing tradebait, if not 'grail quality' then at least grail-adjacent. Presented to my erstwhile trade partner, who promptly... turned me down flat. As is his right, OF COURSE. But, would you believe that I was SURPRISED? Well, yes, I actually was. What a silly boy I was then. So, I proceed to hold on to supposed 'tradebait' in hopes... that Trade Target Guy would.... get this....change his mind!! Held on to it for years. Checked back every couple of years, trying to not be a pest. Nadda. no dicenero. I think about seven years go by this way. Original Sale Guy then, (if I recall correctly), posts on a 'one that got away' regrets thread, maybe on this very board. And we get back in contact about the page. I have absolutely NO doubt that he still loved the page, and honestly regretted letting it go. And I realized a few things in a flash: 1) HE was the one who'd done ME the favor in the first place, 2) I'd FAILED in my attempts to use it for the purpose it was acquired. 3) While an impressive page with many views, it was a poor fit for my collection. 4) Why withhold the page because I'D failed. Trade Target Guy clearly DIDN"T CARE that I had it available. But, I had the power to change MY mind, at least. So, I sold it back to Original Sale Guy... for the same price from seven years prior. I saw absolutely no reason to ask for more, just because time had passed. That's my call, that's what I needed to do to be able to look myself in the mirror. Lots of collectors who have read my posts for years are likely rolling their eyes now. "Andrew's feeling pretty pleased with himself tonight, OMG." And that's fair and accurate. Bring your slings and arrows, if you like. But... a) I was able to use the returned cash to purchase a Michael Golden page, if I recall correctly, and b) declining to markup the page hopefully brought me a stronger relationship with an Elder Statesman in the hobby. It was also the beginning, I think, of my personal journey to begin to relax about what IS and ISN'T in my collection. Funny that, the realization of my failure was what brought on the growth. That's peace of mind that a page or cash can't buy.

Is this really A Thing? Claiming to represent say, a nascent comic art museum, or something? 'cause if it is, good for you! Show me your completed 501(c)(3) application, build your organization a public website, survive a few years (with certified financial disclosures, natch), and maybe I'll consider you in my will. Good luck!

I've never really looked at this thread, apologies if I've misinterpreted the intent. Star Wars Weekly # 46 page pg 01 sold on Heritage a month ago (April 2023). Star Wars on HA Since it's: 1) Published in the U.K. only 2) A 'recap of our story so far' type page, standard for weekly books, but usually retards the result considerably 3) Attributed to Howard Bender, not Infantino. 'H.B.' written in pencil along the top. ...it was only able to muster a $1,320 win. A month later, here's the same page on eBay, Howard Bender not mentioned, but Infantino certainly is. The price is a little... hopeful? Aggressive? Star Wars on eBay He can try to get whatever price he likes, but trying to sell that as published Infantino shouldn't be accepted. I dropped him a line, but I doubt he'll change anything.

https://comicartexpo.com/ Newsletter link at the bottom of the page.

That's the one!

I'll go first - to get some obvious ones out of the way - - Back in the day, the Michael Golden 'Patience Is A Virue' Doctor Strange commission was actually available on eBay. I really regret not going for that one, would be a hoot to own now. - Admit it, it would be kinda hilarious to own that Liefeld Captain America pinup. You know the one. - I'd probably be willing to spend real money to land an art-free Byrne page from the 'Snowblind' issue of Alpha Flight. (#6) I'm sure there are more? Andrew

Oh, all right. For YOUR sake, Grape, I'll do one. Probably not much of a surprise that I have this page, but hasn't been publicly confirmed before now.

For years now, I've owned a Weiringo splash from Fantastic Four, framed and on my wall. I've felt the whole time that it didn't display as such very well, as it is pencils only, and I don't own the Kesel inks. I recently muttered to a couple professional inker friends that I was thinking of inking the page myself, so it would display better. They were, of course, aghast that I would consider touching a Ringo original. (Settle down, guys, OF COURSE I'd be inking a blueline print. Sheesh! Probably should have mentioned that first, eh?) I was pretty happy with the inked version, similar to the published version, I presume. But I'd realized early on I'd rather have a version for display that was obviously distinct from the published version. So I invested in some Manga screentones and tried my hand at Zip-style toning. Turned out well. Screentones create a fun effect, but they are expensive, fussy, and really really fragile.

Woooof. Somebody is going to be...disappointed. And the seller supposedly doesn't take returns. Heh. We'll see about that.

John, Just to clarify, please: does your PRINT have the SAME ARTWORK as the print in the eBay auction, or does it have something else? AcA

Does anyone grade 'Sketch Cards' anymore?

I've never seen an example, but supposedly Barry Windsor-Smith stamps the reverse of each of his pages with a contract calling for any and all future sales to send him a percentage, presumably on the Honor System. If true, unenforceable but interesting. Can anyone confirm, or is that an Old Collector's Wive's Tale?

It's funny, considering the size of my collection, I have yet to encounter the personalities you describe. Don't know if that's just luck, or the obvious focus of my collection, or whatever. As for how I post, my CAF gallery doesn't reflect my entire collection by a long chalk. I used to feverishly post whatever I got once it arrived, but have backed off that pace considerably. Any chance at my proceeding within the hobby with subtle discretion has long since passed, that lady has sung. I wish I'd known better when I first started out, would have spent less money, and my collection would probably be larger. A pity, really. Generally speaking, I now try to post one thing a week on Fridays. Doesn't need to be a Big Deal piece. Just a weekly drumbeat, helping promote the titles I'm collecting. So I guess my posting habits are pretty self-serving. I do like to use CAF as a visual reference, easier for me to look online at (most of) my own collection than drag out the Itoyas.

....aaaaannnnndd, looks like after I've tried your patience with all my fretting and whining, USPS apparently LOCATED THE PARCEL TONIGHT. Your positive vibes were the difference.

Well, the package indicated above has STILL not materialized, and I'm not too ashamed to tell you all I've got a baaaad feeling about this. This is pretty unusual for the Twin Cities USPS to be this late. Their wwwsite indicates the shipper and I have 60 days from the shipping date (Nov 1) to decide to actually lodge an insurance claim. (Thankfully, it was shipped insured.) So, we're not even halfway there yet. But, again; I'm pretty concerned. It's been nearly a month. My questions to the Hive Mind are: 1) Assuming an insurance claim is registered: Does this trigger a more deliberate search on the part of USPS? (My impression so far is that their definition of 'searching' is actually 'waiting until someone stumbles over it.') Or does the issue go straight to an adjuster for payment judgement, and any attempts at searching are called off? I'd always believed that the USPS rouses itself when it's being forced to consider ponying up a settlement. 2) Assuming an insurance claim is actually paid to my shipper and myself: Should the package actually surface after that point, is USPS the owner, and the claimant can go hang? Or is any sort of courtesy call made to the claimant to see if a re-reimbursement is an option? I just want to be prepared for what might happen. Thanks, Hive Mind. Your positive vibes are appreciated. Andrew

Not in Walt's basement, presumably?

Toploaders are useful for short-term situations; travel, conventions or shipping.

Maybe I should have taken the time to include 'Moving Through Multiverse' but that would have taken more digital jiggery-pokery than I was willing to do.

Ordered a nice Original Art cover, been waiting on USPS for weeks now...

Has anyone ever seen or owned a page where Ditko apparently doodled on the reverse side? I don't have any certain examples in my collection. Doesn't mean there aren't any out there, though... hence the Hive Mind question.

Followed up with a larger gift this year. MCAD now probably has one of the larger collections of Comic Art Books in their library.