The Black Hand ®

I can't decide

Great post! I've always considered the boards to be a great equalizer. Maybe some people want to create an untouchable mystique around themselves. After all...it's comic books were talking about. But as with all of society, people have the need to create some form of pecking order. It's not the books people have that earn my respect, it's the way they behave that does. One good example of an all around good guy , who in my estimation doesn't take himself too seriously, is John Berk. Very nice man and very entertaining posts.

I also examined that book in San Diego last year. It is a gorgeous copy, and was definitely better than the beautiful 4.5 copy I used to own. No comment on the price. BTW, this was the original posted description of the book (which Steve got for a steal as far as I am concerned) and the accompanying images: All American Comics #16 CA.Com FN- 5.5 ow (Jul 1940) Detroit Trolley RARE Origin/1st Appearance of The Green Lantern by Sheldon Moldoff (c/a) & the beginning of this series. Green Lantern appears only on cover & one inside panel. Created by Martin Nodel. Inspired in 1940 by a switchman's green lantern that would give trains the go ahead to proceed, and how appropriate that this copy was originally purchased by a trip on the Detroit Trumble Trolley! Very beautiful solid copy, mostly clean, with freshly preserved pages and a few color flakes at top right margin; a tiny bindery tear at top of spine, semi tight staples, and two extremely light non color paper breaking creases. The first, a 6" f/c center crease, the second, a 3" faint top right corner crease, both of which unseen on this scan. The overall appearance gives it VF 8.0 eye appeal, thus despite it's defects, the FN- 5.5 grade. Any manipulation to this book will always be identifiable. But at this moment in time, a 66-year old restoration press free non-compromised classic!!! That's a nice looking All American 16, looks like a solid 5.5 or better to me. The way I read metropolisent's description of it on page 5 of this thread I would have thought it was a lot less desirable. I remember selling a book to a guy years ago who insisted it was a g/vg and quite common. I later saw it on ebay hyped as a rare vg++.Go figurel, Anyway, that's a nice looking copy of a truly rare book.That is Sacentaur's copy, right? As to what it's worth? I guess the market will have to decide that, but I've seen some pretty big asking prices on a lot less appealing books. Boy those are nice colors

I don't think we'll ever know since there will be no debate on this according to his statement. That's his right, these boards can be brutal. But after getting an undisclosed brittle book from him I tend to lean towards Steve's version of things. I'm also of the mind though that this thread will not resolve anything and most likely be counterproductive and that's my final word on the subject.

After not pulling the trigger way to many times on an Archie 1, I'd have to have it, even though it's low grade. I had a chance back in 1997 to buy Archie 1-10 for 1100.00, all in g-vg range and instead I used the money to pay for my wife's surgery. This story is half true. Substitute wife's surgery for my stupidity! It's only a comic book,,,it's only a comic book....it's only a comic book.....it's only a comic book.....it's only a comic book.....

Yeah, I have to go Cap 3 also. The pattern for me, since this is a fantasy exercise, is the same as my regular collecting. I choose the books I enjoy, who's covers, stories and characters I like, whose historical impact appeal to me and that have some sort of emotianal impact.

Without a doubt.F3. Hey, does anybody know how the stories are in that book? It's such an iconic cover and you see the image so often, but I've never actually seen one, whereas I've read all the golden age batman.

No argument there! Same here!

Also, you can read it and it still presents well, which is a big plus for picking up those books that might not ever be reprinted.

Submariner #1.

what did you get in trade? I got screwed is what I got. I was 15 or 16 and an older collector hounded me for weeks and finnaly got me to bring the comic over, He and his brother wouldn't let me leave until the could convince me to trade. I got a Superboy 1, a Superman 5, a Submariner 19 a Pep 32, a Captain Marvei Junior 29 and an All Star 18 all in low to mid grade. The Action 3 was about a vg/fine.

Action 3. I traded away one in a stupid trade and regreted it ever since. I just love that cover.

Holy Toledo!

You know what, I bet there will be others. It's only a comic and sooner or later you'll find another one. Haven't you found some major collections in your time?

Since 4 is no longer the first Nazi War cover, as Top Notch 2 was published a month earlier, I'll takemarvel Mystery 14 14.

Don't kill me but I'm not all that big of a Schomburg fan, but I do love Suspense 3 and Terrific 5. S3 is a lot less cluttered than most of his stuff and beautifully composed and framed. I think it's a masterpiece, as far a comic book art goes.

I think that laugh may have some Kirby art in it.

Is that slab damage on the tip of the upper right hand cover? Suspense 3.

I love that Fight 32.

I have a lot more pics of early comic book racks, am saving a lot of them for my book I for one will be buying this book, so hurry up!

Have to be the Superman, but I'd buy a poster of the Suspense and put it on my wall. I do think that the suspense would be almost as good an investment, but maybe someone else with more knowledge on that could chime in.

Thank's for the link! I just read that too and it just confirms my choice for the pay copy. How many of these are known to exist? I love batman, but I'd still have to go MP.

Pay copy, That's a significant book.