JadeGiant

Funny! I was thinking the same thing

Experience is your greatest teacher. Making friends with those that have been in the hobby is a great idea to speed up the learning curve as well. Even said, you are going to make mistakes. You are going to wait too long on some pieces and lose them. You might pay too much. You will lowball and lose out. You are going to buy pieces on impulse and look at them a few weeks (or less) later and ask yourself why you bought this and had to pass on something better because you depleted your funds. Etc. It's the tuition you pay for your education in the hobby (credit to Felix for that analogy - at least that's where I heard it used). Some of us are very conservative and pay a community college tuition to learn the ropes whereas some of us are impulsive and not patient and pay an Ivy league tuition to learn how things work. I have been in the hobby about 10 years and still learn new things all the time.

Terrific looking cover! Congrats!!!!

Great thread and a good read for anyone new to the hobby and looking to grow their collection through purchases from other collectors that might not sell often. I learned a these lessons through trial and error and I am sure it cost me art along the way. I am thankful for those collectors that took the time to exchange their thoughts on their art - from value to advice on buying etc. I did the drive by offers as a newbie and very few of them resulted in sales. I offered low on pieces but not because I wanted to rip anyone off, rather I didn't want to offer too high and get ripped off myself (that was my thinking). I asked about NFS art and then asked the owner to put a price on the art. The one thing I can add to the posts thus far is to make a genuine attempt to have a conversation with the other collector rather than just buy a piece of art. Sometimes you can do a quick offer and it might get accepted but this is a hobby of many people that are like-minded at least on art so striking up a conversation may pay dividends. Most of the time I don't end up buying the art I inquire about (it is truly NFS, too afar on price, etc.), that is just part of the game, but many exchanges have led to great contacts in the hobby and even some people I have developed a friendship outside of the hobby. I have been sent MANY "hey saw this and thought you might be interested" emails on art that is for sale (and sometimes not listed as such). On one occasion I struck up a conversation about some art in a collection. I shared that I was a big fan of the art and story and would love to have an example from the series. He didn't have any for sale but asked if any he had would interest me. I through a couple pages his way and he told me which he would be willing to discuss a sale and which were not for sale. We exchanged several emails and I shared interest in a piece and he asked for an offer. I told him I was not versed in the sales of art from the story and wasn't comfortable making an offer but I would put in some research and get back to him. He ended up sharing what he paid for the page. I asked if he would be willing to sell below his cost and he accepted. So, I inquired about an NFS piece, did not make an offer, and asked for the seller to take a loss (oh yeah, I also asked for time payments). Looking back, I should have probably been laughed at and dismissed from his consideration but I was green and new to buying from other's collections but I was honest and transparent and genuine. I wouldn't likely go this route now but it worked out. I reached out several months after the sale and thanked the seller again and told him what the art meant to me. His response was that he made the deal that he did because he could tell that the art was in a good home and that our exchanges were why he did what he did. Another time I asked about a piece, was told it was not for sale but I could make an offer. I made and offer and the seller replied that he (paraphrasing) offended by my offer. I thanked him for his honesty and gave all my rationale for my offer. Once he saw where the basis of my offer came from he felt better and we continued to talk. Months later I reached out again and upped my offer and we settled on a price that was closer to what he wanted than my initial offer. Sorry for the long winded post but the point I want to make is that communication is key and laying your cards on the table is the way to go when making a deal IMO. I probably made "mistakes" according to conventional hobby wisdom on both of these pieces (and I could cite additional examples) but the deal was eventually made due to an honest an open exchange. Also, be patient with the newbs, we all had to start somewhere.

I have been to the Billy Ireland museum and can verify that Bone artwork is present. I have no idea how much but I have also heard that he donated it all to the museum.

Heroes! next question?

I like it and think it would look good framed on the wall as a conversation piece. I don't follow WD art at all so the art itself is of no interest to me but the signatures make the piece more appealing which goes against my typical views on signed pages.

I love a good grail thread and there are some definite grail-worthy pieces posted in this one. If money were not an object I would love to own a significant piece of early Kirby Hulk (The piece posted as part of Felix's recent podcast is a good example). Or maybe the cover the Hulk 227. For the art in my collection, the piece below is easily the most grail-like that I own. I hunted it for years before finally brining it down. There's a much longer description in my CAF if you are so inclined. http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=1362015

I also see both sides of the equation on this. I actively seek pages from Hulk 227 and have had a great experience where a fellow collector pointed me in the direction of a page that I was able to secure. I also became aware of a page that was listed at several multiples of FMV with an increasing price per inquiry. Needles to say, I bought one page and passed on the other. I am attempting to put a full book together and have left it off CAF until I am successful or give up the hunt. I also seek pages from another story arc and am much less public about it

I was very curious about this once upon a time and I have spoken with several collectors over the years that actually subscribe to the fresh theory. I have a lot of art not on CAF but not due to a goal of freshness.

Saw him Saturday as well and set up a commission. He's at a lot of shows and very accessible.

Great page!

That post is severely lacking in the details department

What is the ID? They have multiple eBay IDs.

I would not buy anything from these clowns. Another level of unbelievable here. Has anyone pointed this out to JB?

That was my initial thought as well. I was just happy to hear that Itoya makes portfolios large enough for DPS, fitting mylar in as well would be a great bonus but I can live without it if not possible.

Good question. I am interested as well. I would love to learn that there is a portfolio solution that can handle not only the art but a mylar as well. And thanks for the info - heading over to check it out now.

Great info - thanks. Are there portfolios out there for DPS pieces as well? I have a few and would keep them folded up in regular portfolios. I would love to get them in mylar and in a portfolio where I can see them laid out complete.

Great stuff - thanks for sharing the story!

I tried to come up with something clever as a way to include the Ham part but I drew a blank.

Yep, same here. I like my eggs green.

Terrific page!!!!

I agree. My guess is that it is someone who has nostalgia for the original story and the budget to buy this page. Probably some rationalizing that great cover/splash images from the original DK story sell for multiples of the cost of this page so it has to be a good investment (or replacement). I just can’t see anyone having an emotional attachment for a new story that drives them to spend this much.

Those are gorgeous! I may have to look into a commission! Congrats!