jlee

Diary Secrets #26 VG $450 Classic Baker cover, no GPA sales

 

Take it

Just got this pressed. It's the Crippen copy, so it had some "waves". My guy got most of them out, in fact it's on his website. Cheap too, in case you want to save some money, I'll post his info.

 

Looks stunning!

Baker cover: Either, neither, or both?

 

 

 

The Adventure is definitely Baker. The Police Cases definitely isn't Baker (but I'm not sure who it is.)

 

Probably right and consistent with the Art of Glamour checklist. The Police Cases seems rather crudely rendered to me. I had a thought that maybe it was an early version by Baker that he never finished. Most likely not, though.

Agree 100% that the Adventure is definitely a Baker cover and the Police Cases is definitely not. The cover reminds me of some of the art and covers from Authentic Police Cases.

Happy with this one. An unnecessary piece of tape on the interior cover at the top staple held down the grade, I think. 3M has a lot to answer for!

 

Stunning copy. Congratulations on a wonderful book!

No, not this one - the other 6.5. But I believe the price set on the CLink copy was baked into the cake on the sale to Harley. I also heard it went to the first person called.

 

For those who are tracking such things - Dolgoff's TAR 38 5.0 just went on Ebay, BIN for $450. Which is in keeping for the pricing on this issue - it's a minor grail, one of the more suggestive with hint of violence covers.

 

Also - there's a CL 26 1.8 on Ebay - $85 with 3 days to go. Now that's one to watch closely. It'll almost certainly break $100 and if it breaks $150....

 

Prices are moving up pretty quickly on the Baker romance

 

I took a look at that TAR 38 from Dolgoff and it looked like there was some rust on the staple. If not for the rust on he staple, I wonder if it would have gone much higher?

 

I think it would have. It would also have helped him to have gotten Baker in the title. Was it a BIN? If so, then I think he would have done better with a higher price and the Best Offer option activated. $450 for a 5.0 OW-W of that book seems like a bargain to me, even with the rust.

 

Edited to add: Apparently an auction, rather than a BiN. Surprising that Gary wasn't on top it being a Baker cover.

When I first looked at the grade and price, seemed like a really fair price. I personally would have bid if not for the rust a few $$ above the starting price.

Those Going Steady's can be tough to find.

 

Very pretty copy of a fantastic Baker cover.

No, not this one - the other 6.5. But I believe the price set on the CLink copy was baked into the cake on the sale to Harley. I also heard it went to the first person called.

 

For those who are tracking such things - Dolgoff's TAR 38 5.0 just went on Ebay, BIN for $450. Which is in keeping for the pricing on this issue - it's a minor grail, one of the more suggestive with hint of violence covers.

 

Also - there's a CL 26 1.8 on Ebay - $85 with 3 days to go. Now that's one to watch closely. It'll almost certainly break $100 and if it breaks $150....

 

Prices are moving up pretty quickly on the Baker romance

I took a look at that TAR 38 from Dolgoff and it looked like there was some rust on the staple. If not for the rust on he staple, I wonder if it would have gone much higher?

Really nice copy, but marred by the missing piece. (Kinda blends in, though, doesn't it? ) Second highest on the census behind a 4.5. These Going Steadys aren't easy to find.

 

Cover image looks very nice despite the missing piece. Wonder what it would grade if the piece wasn't missing?

Another in my ongoing series "Books That Should Never Have Been Slabbed"

 

Picked this up raw a couple of years ago following a tip from a boardie. Still my only copy. Remarkably, it's second highest on the census.

 

I have only seen some really beat up copies on this one over the years. Not surprised at all that this is #2 on the census.

Not a St John romance, but just back from Sarasota. Thought this one would be a 5.0.

 

 

Beautiful copy - out of curiosity, what did the grader notes say?

 

Mike at Hero's submitted it for me under his name so I don't have the grader notes handy. The back cover has some marks, which bring down the grade, but I was surprised at how far it came down. Still seems more like a 5.0 to me.

As some would say, buy the book, not the grade. Definitely an extremely desirable 4.0 and should have 5.0 value.

Not a St John romance, but just back from Sarasota. Thought this one would be a 5.0.

 

Beautiful copy - out of curiosity, what did the grader notes say?

Not a St John romance, but just back from Sarasota. Thought this one would be a 5.0.

 

A bit disappointed in this one. A really pretty book. I thought it had a shot at a 9.0. (Apparently, you should never trust my grading of raw books!) CGC seems to be taking a harder line with the cover staining that St John's were often prone to. That's the only real defect other than a bit of wear at the bottom of the spine.

 

Edited to add: Actually, on closer inspection, there is probably too much spine wear for a 9.0 grade (although an 8.0 would have been reasonable). You definitely shouldn't trust my grading of raw books.

 

Great copy. I used to own the Mile High copy of this book, which had similar cover staining.

Here's a treat for the Baker fans, from Teen-age Romances #17 enjoy.

 

 

Baker romance OA!

 

Fantastic to see Baker romance artwork. Thanks for sharing!

What gorgeous looking copies with stupendous colors! Awesome John.

An updated picture, but I am still missing some books I need to dig up.

 

 

You've got a terrific collection!

I suspect your collection is stronger with many of the finest existing copies.

I've always wondered about those Honeymoon Romance digests... is it a certainty that they contain Baker art? Anyone know for sure?

 

I looked at the two issues and a lot of Baker-ish art but unclear if anything is truly Baker. Very similar to the work in Strange Mysteries and more reminiscent of his early stuff in Fiction House. Below are two panels that looked like Baker from Honeymoon Romance Illustrated 2.

 

 

 

 

Tough to say, but I would lean against this being Baker's work. Still great stuff, though.

 

Those digests aren't included in the Baker checklist in The Art of Glamour book. I think that list mainly represents JV, Jr.'s views and tends toward the conservative side. For instance, it flags the cover to Jo-Jo 25 as probably not by Baker -- although CGC (and most sellers!)

disagree.

For what it's worth, I do not think these pictures are Baker, but Baker inspired.

how rare is the digest: the case of the Winking Buddha???

Personally, I have seen a decent number of copies over the year. For digests, I would put its scarcity as average. But others may have a different take based on their experience and luck.

I've always wondered about those Honeymoon Romance digests... is it a certainty that they contain Baker art? Anyone know for sure?

I looked at the two issues and a lot of Baker-ish art but unclear if anything is truly Baker. Very similar to the work in Strange Mysteries and more reminiscent of his early stuff in Fiction House. Below are two panels that looked like Baker from Honeymoon Romance Illustrated 2.

Impressive set

 

That's a lot of good Baker reading!

Thank you! I was lucky enough to start collecting Baker very seriously in the early 90s. But in a fit of insanity, I sold some of my Baker romance runs. (Fortunately I did keep most though). Looking forward to completing those runs once more.

I will be posting a few more of my runs over the next few days.

Some Romance Related Digests with some Baker:

An updated picture, but I am still missing some books I need to dig up.

My Going Steady Run:

A few random giants:

 

As near as I can tell, you're only missing True Love Pictorial 3, 4, All Picture All True Love Story 2, both All Picture Adventures, and both All True All Picture Police Cases. (Oh, and All Picture Comedy 1.)

A few random giants:

 

Whoa! That's quite a collection. Some very, very tough books in there.