vaillant

Not a western, but within this italian Sgt. Fury there is a Marvel western (either Rawhide Kid or Two-Gun Kid) – I post this because these are pretty hard to find, especially in this grade:

I was thinking the same thing. Also, I'm surprised at some of the recent auctions for books that, while cool, aren't really very uncommon or high grade or particularly worthwhile. Mostly that’s the point for me. For common books… they might just eat space for the regular sales threads… :shrug:

Gosh! Breathtaking copies… Hey Bill, you’re on fire! – at this ongoing rate you will complete the collection in no time! That #13 is wonderful…

Omigosh! That FC #9 is just dreamy…

The velcro dots are an interesting solution, but I use myself the method shown in the YouTube video as well (I just apply the tape in the other direction, keeping it on the flap) and never had a tape pull since I am doing it this way.

Better than most Halloween costumes for sure.

Love it! Mine is signed by Jack (yes, I have had two signed… )

I finally managed to pick a copy of this series, which has been the very first Marvel age title published in Italy. It lasted 12-13 issues, all are black and white, not common to find, usually pricey (and not in this grade). For now it stays in my ever-reducing collection of italian editions.

I’ll scan my #73, it‘s pretty white. Now we have to see your #67!

Beautiful! I love this issue and hope to upgrade some day. My copy is a FR placeholder.

Want. And righteously so! My dream would be to hire Ryan to do a cover if some day I will manage to publish some comics reprint here.

Apple has become just a fad now. You should have been aboard in 1984-1994 to be cool.

Indeed. That’s so beautiful I could cry…

Whiteness… I have some VERY whites in the higher numbers as well… I think that at some point they changed the cover paper stock, as otherwise it’s not explainable. I have had a dozen (so to speak) of #67, but no one is white as issues in the #70s or #80s.

I love that issue… I did not know it was the first story featuring Blade outside Dracula. I am sorting the books I got recently, here’s Howard the Duck #1, which I was missing (I think I am also missing #2, I have to check, I do not have all the early issues).

And here’s some Karel Thole, which I am sure you know (from the italian edition of an Eric Frank Russell novel, from 1969).

BTW, I know Statten by having read this novel by him – not sure how the original title is because the italian edition reported a french title as the original title: Cover art is by Curt Caesar, leading italo-german artist which led an exceptional life, being a wehrmacht officer (working as an interpreter for Rommel in Africa) and then helping the partisan forces in Italy (at the risk of his own life) at the end of the conflict. Many people know him just for his 1950s and 1960s illustrations, but he has also been one of the leading italian comic artists since the 1930s.

Wow – these are wonderful… I need to take time to look at these. Pat, I seem to recall your name by fame: what would you say if I propose a thread devoted to science fiction illustration (mostly novel and magazine covers, but everything would be great)? I mean it from the beginnings up to the point mainstream american science fiction becomes "mature", slightly before the "contamination" with fantasy and the (mostly late) 1970s. I would love it! A reason for this is that, while the focus could be on mainstream US/UK science fiction, there has been several countries which have had production of sci-fi (and related) literature in their own right, and also editions of the english and american famous novels and authors. In Italy, for example, we have had editions which featured original covers which sported the art of some awesome talents, including the dutch-born Karel Thole (which moved to Italy in 1958). I would love that, as it would allow reflections on science fiction and its origins, as a follow-up of fantastic literature of the 19th century.

That‘s sweet!

Yes, the white of the cover paper is one of the things I value most. Downgrading in such cases (when the books appears great looking) is most likely due to a very minor defect they tend to hammer: in the case of my #36 it’s a dust shadow on the back cover, it might be a partially detached centerfold or some other (to me ininfluential) minor defect.

I am sad because I did not follow your dedicated work for some time now… I love the cover of #61…

Yes I have…

This cover illustration is wonderful! Has BangZoom thread turned into a thread about sience fiction novels? If not, we should have one.

Don’t know about Billy but I am missing it…

White cover, and it looks wonderful!