"Back then", bagging and boarding were unheard of.
Inflation;
I remember back about 1957 or so, going to a small used book stand and asking if he had any horror comics. He got out a small box, and sold me two or three PCH's, at I believe it was 50 cents each.
When I got back into collecting PCH in 1973, there were a few used bookstores on Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood that I would drop into, since I was working in that area at the time.
I would go to a rear counter at the largest one, and ask to see their "old comic books". The clerk would bring out a cardboard box, with maybe two-three dozen comics in it, mostly Atlas's, along with a few other publishers, at two dollars each.
It was here that I got a Fair copy of Mister Mystery 12 (the flame toward the eye cover), and a near-mint copy of Black Cat Mystery 33 (electrocution cover), among others. If only I had had the coin to buy all of them!
About 1982 or so, can't remember the exact year, I bought from a Recycler seller who was a comic book dealer, several books, and although I can't remember the others, one was Horrific 3 (bullet hole in the head cover) for the princely sum of 4 dollars.
No bags, no boards, no excessive cost, no speculative purchasing; just a collector buying for the reading enjoyment.
How times have changed, eh eh.
I always imagined Hollywood Blvd to be a mecca for back-issue collectors, especially in the early 70s. Oh for a time machine...