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Cosmic Boy
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Posts posted by Cosmic Boy
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Well, not be a wet blanket about your dream book cuz its also one of mine, but Gary Dolgoff just sold a Action 13 on ebay in blue 3.5 for $34k.... That seems high to me, but it is the "Tec 31" of Action covers.
Yikers. Wasn't there a copy that listed recently for $15k? Or was that it? Pretty sad when it's a years mortgage to get a book like Action #13.
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Hey guys,
Just to clarify a few things about my earlier post:
1) My post wasn't meant as an indictment of the seller. I was simply bummed with what I received. To his credit, I was immediately offered the standard "shipping's on you" refund. So I have that as an option here, though it's not really the one I wanted and I'm probably just gonna end up eating this one.
2) The slab arrived missing its top sticker (not label), and it had clearly been cracked open after slabbing as the sides of the case were easily splitting apart. So yes, it looks like it has been tampered with (not maliciously) and then put back together. Either that or it's the worst, loosest seal I've ever seen on a CGC book. Anything's possible, but I'm guessing the original slabber just didn't like the grade, cracked the book out to inspect something and then shottily pieced the slab back together. Nobody was trying to deceive anybody here, but none-the-less it's something that clearly needs to be mentioned on a listing as the seller was selling it as an clean slab.
3) The issue is not with the integrity of the book. I wholeheartedly believe it to be a slightly restored 3.0. I don't suspect the original slabber or seller of mischief of any kind to intentionally deceive about the book's condition or anything like that. However, since the integrity of the slab is now tampered with, I am stuck eating the cost of getting it slabbed again. This isn't a simple crack or scuff on the case, and I cannot just have it re-slabbed. I will have to pay the full slabbing costs in this situation.
The bottom line is that this bummer of situation all could have been avoided had the seller disclosed this obvious issue. You win some, you lose some.
Did the seller say it was a surprise to him that the slab had been opened? If so, he should be apologizing, taking it back, and refunding your shipping costs. I thought eBay's buyer protection obliges him to refund shipping costs in a case like this. If I'm remembering correctly (and I easily may not be!), if he refuses to refund shipping, eBay will refund it and dock him for it.
If he knew the slab had been opened and didn't mention it, then I think you are being charitable in saying that no deception was involved. It's something that absolutely has to be mentioned.
To this point, the transaction would seem to merit negative fb. If I were the seller, I would be bending over backwards to avoid that outcome.
It was apparently a consignment item. So who knows. You would have thought he would have caught it, given that he's a well known dealer, but everybody is entitled to a few mistakes.
Bottom line is that I want to keep the book, despite being bummed about the issues with the slab. It's a hard book to come by for the price I got it at, so I guess I just chalk it up to that. I'll just get it slabbed again and pray nothing else happened to the book when/if it was cracked (sure looks like it was).
Don't know whether I should consider negative feedback, but he certainly isn't getting positive.
I guess if you the feel the price you paid plus the fees to get the book regraded are less than the price you would have been willing to pay, you will come out ok -- except for the aggravation and wait while the book goes through the grading process.
Still surprising that the seller wasn't willing to do more when told he had sold a book in a slab that had been opened.
I was initially bummed and a little bit disturbed, but it's Thanksgiving and life's too short to worry about an oversight (intentional or otherwise). I've got plenty to be thankful for! (thumbs u
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Hey guys,
Just to clarify a few things about my earlier post:
1) My post wasn't meant as an indictment of the seller. I was simply bummed with what I received. To his credit, I was immediately offered the standard "shipping's on you" refund. So I have that as an option here, though it's not really the one I wanted and I'm probably just gonna end up eating this one.
2) The slab arrived missing its top sticker (not label), and it had clearly been cracked open after slabbing as the sides of the case were easily splitting apart. So yes, it looks like it has been tampered with (not maliciously) and then put back together. Either that or it's the worst, loosest seal I've ever seen on a CGC book. Anything's possible, but I'm guessing the original slabber just didn't like the grade, cracked the book out to inspect something and then shottily pieced the slab back together. Nobody was trying to deceive anybody here, but none-the-less it's something that clearly needs to be mentioned on a listing as the seller was selling it as an clean slab.
3) The issue is not with the integrity of the book. I wholeheartedly believe it to be a slightly restored 3.0. I don't suspect the original slabber or seller of mischief of any kind to intentionally deceive about the book's condition or anything like that. However, since the integrity of the slab is now tampered with, I am stuck eating the cost of getting it slabbed again. This isn't a simple crack or scuff on the case, and I cannot just have it re-slabbed. I will have to pay the full slabbing costs in this situation.
The bottom line is that this bummer of situation all could have been avoided had the seller disclosed this obvious issue. You win some, you lose some.
Did the seller say it was a surprise to him that the slab had been opened? If so, he should be apologizing, taking it back, and refunding your shipping costs. I thought eBay's buyer protection obliges him to refund shipping costs in a case like this. If I'm remembering correctly (and I easily may not be!), if he refuses to refund shipping, eBay will refund it and dock him for it.
If he knew the slab had been opened and didn't mention it, then I think you are being charitable in saying that no deception was involved. It's something that absolutely has to be mentioned.
To this point, the transaction would seem to merit negative fb. If I were the seller, I would be bending over backwards to avoid that outcome.
It was apparently a consignment item. So who knows. You would have thought he would have caught it, given that he's a well known dealer, but everybody is entitled to a few mistakes.
Bottom line is that I want to keep the book, despite being bummed about the issues with the slab. It's a hard book to come by for the price I got it at, so I guess I just chalk it up to that. I'll just get it slabbed again and pray nothing else happened to the book when/if it was cracked (sure looks like it was).
Don't know whether I should consider negative feedback, but he certainly isn't getting positive.
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That book was sold on 11/02/13 when a best offer was accepted:
It was then re-listed and sold to you on 11/24/13:
Is it possible it was a return?
That would be my guess as well.
But like I said, you live and you learn. It's still a cool book. I just have to sink a little more money into it now at no fault of my own. I'm sure we can all attest, that's just how this hobby works sometimes.
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Hey guys,
Just to clarify a few things about my earlier post:
1) My post wasn't meant as an indictment of the seller. I was simply bummed with what I received. To his credit, I was immediately offered the standard "shipping's on you" refund. So I have that as an option here, though it's not really the one I wanted and I'm probably just gonna end up eating this one.
2) The slab arrived missing its top sticker (not label), and it had clearly been cracked open after slabbing as the sides of the case were easily splitting apart. So yes, it looks like it has been tampered with (not maliciously) and then put back together. Either that or it's the worst, loosest seal I've ever seen on a CGC book. Anything's possible, but I'm guessing the original slabber just didn't like the grade, cracked the book out to inspect something and then shottily pieced the slab back together. Nobody was trying to deceive anybody here, but none-the-less it's something that clearly needs to be mentioned on a listing as the seller was selling it as an clean slab.
3) The issue is not with the integrity of the book. I wholeheartedly believe it to be a slightly restored 3.0. I don't suspect the original slabber or seller of mischief of any kind to intentionally deceive about the book's condition or anything like that. However, since the integrity of the slab is now tampered with, I am stuck eating the cost of getting it slabbed again. This isn't a simple crack or scuff on the case, and I cannot just have it re-slabbed. I will have to pay the full slabbing costs in this situation.
The bottom line is that this bummer of situation all could have been avoided had the seller disclosed this obvious issue. You win some, you lose some.
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Book number four is on its way to the collection!
I consider this one an absolute steal. It's purple, but only because of a small amount of amateur color touch to the cover. I look forward to figuring out where exactly when it arrives.
DETECTIVE COMICS #45 (1st Joker story in Detective) (CGC Restored 3.0)
Well, the 'Tec #45 arrived today. Unfortunately, some bad news. It's missing its top label and has clearly been cracked out at some point. My guess is somebody was not too happy with the slight amateur color touch distinction.
Problem is, none of this was mentioned in the listing. I've reached out to the seller, and am hoping they will make it right somehow, slabbing costs at the least. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now. But this was pretty glaringly obvious and would make one wonder how it could go unnoticed (if they weren't the crackers themselves-- which would be even more negligent). At any rate, we'll see.
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Book number four is on its way to the collection!
I consider this one an absolute steal. It's purple, but only because of a small amount of amateur color touch to the cover. I look forward to figuring out where exactly when it arrives.
DETECTIVE COMICS #45 (1st Joker story in Detective) (CGC Restored 3.0)
I was watching that auction and almost bid, glad you ended up winning it. great book at a steal of a price. (thumbs u
Thanks! I'm really astonished that I got it for the price I did. Very happy with that. I'm just really curious to know where the color touch is. I'll let everybody know when I find it.
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...... The tail end of the Flash Comics run is also some of the best the GA has to offer. If you can find one (not easy)..... a Flash 96 is one of my all time favorite comics. GOD BLESS....
-jimbo(a friend of jesus) (thumbs u
Flash 96 is wicked tough. In the four years I've been (diligently) following Flash, I've seen fewest of that issue. The only one I've seen that isn't near PR is the one I own....and it's only a 3.0.
About 2 years ago, I passed on one auctioned off on ebay that had part of the cover ripped off.
Haven't seen one since.
..... the Rose and Thorn splash from the Flash story is worth the price of admission alone. It wouldn't surprise me to see a real pretty Fine break the 1K barrier...... GOD BLESS.....
-jimbo(a friend of jesus) (thumbs u
I've actually never seen this splash, Jimbo. Do you have a scan? Sounds awesome.
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Book number four is on its way to the collection!
I consider this one an absolute steal. It's purple, but only because of a small amount of amateur color touch to the cover. I look forward to figuring out where exactly when it arrives.
DETECTIVE COMICS #45 (1st Joker story in Detective) (CGC Restored 3.0)
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yeah i liked the twist on Count Vertigo but the actor overplays it abit too much, cool concept though
Yeah, it's ridiculous how much they let him ham it up. Doesn't make sense. He's the only one doing it too. Everybody else plays it so straight. And what's weirder is that he was pretty decent on Fringe, so it must be a conscious choice. One that just doesn't make sense tonally with the rest of the show.
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I know Larry and Todd will be thrilled for you as well.
if I won a duplicate at HA that is on your want list, I'll let you know
I may just have
Always, Bill. And my list is, of course, much bigger than the little one in my sig. But please do think of me for your undercopies when you upgrade.
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Just picked up piece number three for the collection from Heritage today. More than I wanted to spend, and I'm worried I overpaid, but happy none-the-less. It's not like the book's getting cheaper by the day.
SUPERMAN #2 (CGC 1.0)
Very excited for you on this one
I was actually watching Superman II during the auction and the final hammer hit right as Superman threw the emblem from his chest. I considered that a win.
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Just picked up piece number three for the collection from Heritage today. More than I wanted to spend, and I'm worried I overpaid, but happy none-the-less. It's not like the book's getting cheaper by the day.
SUPERMAN #2 (CGC 1.0)
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Anybody else super pumped about Solomon Grundy being in the next two along with Barry Allen?
yeah but a little worried on how they'll make them work...
I think they've done a really good job with most of the DC characters so far. They all make plausible sense in a real world context. Obviously, Brother Blood's gonna hop him up on Miraclo and he'll be a "zombie" but not a zombie. Still better than no Solomon Grundy.
This show is exceeding expectations for me right now. It's really been a surprise after an up and down first season.
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Anybody else super pumped about Solomon Grundy being in the next two along with Barry Allen?
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I started that route in 1983. Still missing 26 including AA 61 & Flash 96
(along with most of the big buck keys). Alas, there are also 95 that are
incomplete (mostly coverless but some down to fragments). There are also
a bunch of complete but really low grade issues to replace.
Pick a cutoff date. I suggest Feb 1951 (when All Star 57 came out along with
Detective 168 ). Also, by that time all DC super hero titles
were gone (or switched away from super heroes) except the ones that lasted
for decades afterwards.
Take your time. It may take you 40 - 50 years to get there but you are a
young kid and you will outlive most of the older collectors.
If I had concentrated more on the keys (other than the top 5), today I would
be missing more books but the missing books (other than those 5) would
be going up by $100 per year per book instead of by $1000 (or more) per
year.
Currently restored books are way low and that may not last. I think the
appropriate value for a professionally restored book (light or moderate)
should be around 1/2 of the guide price of the unrestored book in the same
condition. My most recent big expense was a slabbed, restored
All American 19 that I got for slightly less that 18 % of the Overstreet
guide price for the book in that grade for an unrestored copy.
Granted, I want unrestored, un-slabbed books in at least G+ but I take
what I can get and hope to update eventually.
Best of luck on getting what you are looking for (as long as I get the
AA 61 and Flash 96 before you do). :-)
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The first (and so far only) book in my Golden Age DC collection.
DETECTIVE COMICS #40 (1st Joker Cover) (CGC Qualified 2.0)
Great start!
Their innovation, colors, vibrancy... Golden Age DC comics are the backbone of this genre. And it's taken me a long time to realize I was denying myself that fact. But now, I truly believe that they are capable of reinvigorating my collecting spirit. So in short, that's what I'm going to chase.I said much the same thing some 12 or so years ago. In that time, I've amassed a po'boy collection of early Actions, Supermans, Detectives and Batmans. They are awesomely cool books that I'm thrilled to own in any condition... and indeed, my screen name was chosen as a wink and a nod to that philosophy. I still get excited when a new one rolls in.
Looking forward to watching your collection grow!
I'm right there with you now! I'm all in. Even willing to sell my AF #15 if something really tasty comes up. Say, a More Fun #73 for example. Probably my ultimate grail book alongside Action #13 (which I'll never sniff).
Stay tuned tomorrow as I've got a neat little piece coming into the collection!
..... only one mistake I see in here.... the part about the Action 13. You WILL own a Action 13...... you just don't have it YET. Some advice Judy gave me.....(the most awesome girl on the planet
) ...... you can be frugal and buy lots of cheap stuff that you kind of want..... or save up for that really nice item. You'll probably end up trying to sell off most of the cheap stuff eventually. Just like the SA ...... get the grails first. ..... and remember, a grail doesn't have to be a key. GOD BLESS...-jimbo(a friend of jesus) (thumbs u
I'll keep my fingers crossed, jimbo. But I've got a little girl's college fund to be thinking of too, so I don't really envision ever dropping 8-10k on a book.
..... she's going to get a full ride scholarship, bro ..... and that's when you're going to get the 13...... sorry to spoil the surprise. GOD BLESS...
-jimbo(a friend of jesus) (thumbs u
haha... a man can dream... -
The first (and so far only) book in my Golden Age DC collection.
DETECTIVE COMICS #40 (1st Joker Cover) (CGC Qualified 2.0)
Great start!
Their innovation, colors, vibrancy... Golden Age DC comics are the backbone of this genre. And it's taken me a long time to realize I was denying myself that fact. But now, I truly believe that they are capable of reinvigorating my collecting spirit. So in short, that's what I'm going to chase.I said much the same thing some 12 or so years ago. In that time, I've amassed a po'boy collection of early Actions, Supermans, Detectives and Batmans. They are awesomely cool books that I'm thrilled to own in any condition... and indeed, my screen name was chosen as a wink and a nod to that philosophy. I still get excited when a new one rolls in.
Looking forward to watching your collection grow!
I'm right there with you now! I'm all in. Even willing to sell my AF #15 if something really tasty comes up. Say, a More Fun #73 for example. Probably my ultimate grail book alongside Action #13 (which I'll never sniff).
Stay tuned tomorrow as I've got a neat little piece coming into the collection!
..... only one mistake I see in here.... the part about the Action 13. You WILL own a Action 13...... you just don't have it YET. Some advice Judy gave me.....(the most awesome girl on the planet
) ...... you can be frugal and buy lots of cheap stuff that you kind of want..... or save up for that really nice item. You'll probably end up trying to sell off most of the cheap stuff eventually. Just like the SA ...... get the grails first. ..... and remember, a grail doesn't have to be a key. GOD BLESS...-jimbo(a friend of jesus) (thumbs u
I'll keep my fingers crossed, jimbo. But I've got a little girl's college fund to be thinking of too, so I don't really envision ever dropping 8-10k on a book.
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Good luck with the hunt, Cosmic Boy - it takes fortitude to start a DC Golden Age collection nowadays.
I hope you continue this thread over time as it's fun to watch another hobbyist build his collection from the ground floor.
Oh, good to see All American #25 in your Top Ten list - it's a great book (my copy would come back as a PLOD due a tear seal, but I love it just the same) that generally doesn't get a lot of love at the moment (IIRC, you moved the Larson copy to Pons?).
Yep. I once had the Larson AA #25. Probably a dumb move to have unloaded it, but things come and go. Hindsight is what it is. I enjoyed owning it for a while, and it has a very good home now.
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Here's the second "book" added to my collection. Picked this up this morning.
FLASH COMICS #1 (11th Page Only) (CGC NG Restored Trimmed)
About the only way I was ever going to get a piece of this one. But at least it's the Hawkman splash! Pumped to have picked up this little piece of history.
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Great start with a great book!
Your list of books is very well within reach.
I will give you a few pointers:
1. Don't worry about what others think about the books you buy, everyone has different tastes
2. Be Patient
3. As you have probably already seen, there are great books in restored and qualified holders, give them a chance
4. Buy what you love, don't worry about future value
5. Be patient
6. Most importantly....have fun!
Thanks for the tips, AnkurJ! For the first time in my collecting career I really feel like I'm collecting solely for me. I'm not speculating on Silver & Bronze books any more. I'm just going to collect what makes me happy. It's the being patient part that is the hardest! But like I said, that's the chase.
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I would suggest: early World's Finest, Adventure with Fless Sandman covers, early Newsboy Legion Star Spangled, more Tecs, and some Actions. I'd shy away from keys at first, till you've laid your foundation.
I would love to add a Star Spangled #7! I've always thought Guardian was one of the more underrated characters of the GA, and I've always been intrigued by the Newsboy Legion & Suicide Slums as a reflection of Kirby's own adolescence.
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I think a lot of collectors our age (I'm assuming you're early 30s, as I am) have had similar trajectories. I put together a complete X-Men run when I got back into collecting since that's what I read as a kid, but I found as you did that buying SA books is just a matter of bankroll size, where the "thrill of the chase" doesn't really exist.
Since I started putting together my EC run, I've been much more satisfied as a collector, and while it's frustrating sometimes (i.e. if cheetah is missing the same Tales from the Crypt issue as you, just wait for the next copy to show up in a couple of years
) I feel like it's kept me more engaged in the hobby in the long run. So congrats on the new focus! I don't think you'll regret it.
Really good to know! Pretty much echoes my situation. I see all these Hulk #271's and Walking Dead #1's reaching ridiculous prices, and I wonder what's it all for. And yep, we're in the same age bracket. Good to know I won't be the only Golden Age collector in that range!
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Have you decided on a focus? Or is it too early to decide.
Interesting question. Superman and Batman for sure. But I'd like to pick up all of the minor and major keys I can afford.
I know I'll never be able to sniff my biggest grails: Action #1, 7, 13 and 'Tec #27, 29, 31, 33. Well, at least not until I win the lottery.
My goal was to raise 10k in seed money and see where that took me. Looking for value and depth, but not picking anything up at random to start with. I want to start with the most important books I can get a hold of on my budget.
My Realistic Top 10:
1. More Fun #73
2. Action #23
3. More Fun #55
4. Adventure #61
5. All-American #61
6. Superman #3
7. Superman #4
8. Adventure #48
9. All-American #25
10. New York World's Fair 1939 (might be out of my budget)
A healthy smattering! (thumbs u
) ...... you can be frugal and buy lots of cheap stuff that you kind of want..... or save up for that really nice item. You'll probably end up trying to sell off most of the cheap stuff eventually. Just like the SA ...... get the grails first. ..... and remember, a grail doesn't have to be a key. GOD BLESS...
) I feel like it's kept me more engaged in the hobby in the long run.
Building a Golden Age DC collection from the ground up
in Golden Age Comic Books
Posted
Good grief, I thought that was BIN when I first looked at it.