Westy Steve

Wow, it's so thin! Is the binding stapled like a comic book? I have a low-grade copy on the way now, myself. I saw the posting here, and I just had to get one! I love a book like this that combines a cool cover with genuine rarity (...which brings up my next post topic).

Yes. I think around 35 years ago, William Messner-Loebs was doing some art at a local comic shop as a guest. I went up to see him and he started talking to my girlfriend. We got into a pleasant conversation about general stuff. My Girlfriend then stated that we needed to get back to the house to cook dinner and he made some kind of comment about wanting a home cooked meal. So we invited him to our house for a Chicken Dinner. That was about the extent of it...we just talked about the industry. I don't remember details from the conversation except that he was a really nice guy.

Hey, I found this article about the Coming of the Rats book. Thought you guys might be interested. https://www.blackgate.com/2013/11/28/vintage-treasures-the-coming-of-the-rats-by-george-h-smith/ Steve

Dammit, you guys keep pulling me back into this quagmire! I’m trying to work on my OTHER collections! That’s another one for my “must have” list. Very nice! FWIW, I’ve been doing this long enough that I can spot the “cool AND uncommon “ books. This one ticks a lot of boxes for me. You’ve got sexy lady in distress, horror, period science fiction and H-bomb references. Truth is, I’ve made an offer on a cute scruffy copy of this one.

Hey, I have a picture request. I'm looking for covers "dripping with science fiction" from the early 50's. I'm talking robots, flying saucers, space aliens, etc. Especially from the early 1950's as that particular time period seemed preoccupied with sci-fi. Help me figure out what to hunt down.

The menace book references “Men in Black” who work for the government and try to keep the info squelched.

Hadn't notice that! Not that I'm complaining, I like the hair and makeup styles of that era. I'm tired of seeing women with nothing but straight hair these days...a little curl make it interesting. To be accurate, they should be outside in curlers. Here’s a fun companion piece from 1967 It’s the size of a GA book

Looks like there is a whole lot of Conan stories in there. Nice pulps. I'm amazed they got away with so much nudity back then. I wonder how they sold them? Did they keep them behind the counter?

Here’s one I hunted down last night. It fits the theme. Thought I’d seen all of Bergey’s Popular Library covers but saw this. It’s kind of scarce. Best I could find, but not much of a premium over the others out there. Seller photo. Love the headlights! Like Norman Rockwell meets Frazetta

You’re bringing the cool stuff once again! I think that Chinatown one’s pretty cool because of the webbing and the hand. I’m a huge fan of Schomburg but compared to Belarski his work isn’t photorealistic enough. I really love the Popular Libraries in grade!

Hell yes I do!

Ya'll are going to have to indulge me for a second. It's late, my interest in books is stronger than usual right now, and so "books" are swimming through my thoughts. The original topic of this particular thread is the discrepancy between the price of pulps and books vs. comics. (I know we've hijacked that to share general appreciation for books and pulps, but let me finish my point) Anyway, I was just looking through the comic book sales thread here on the forums, and it really struck me just how big of a $$$ discrepancy it is today. I mean...for example, take Matt Baker art. I'd like to have a nice Matt Baker comic at some point, and if the price was right and the situation was right, I'd likely snag one. I'm sure I will some day. Secondarily, I'm "hard wired" to appreciate the female form, and so I enjoy "headlight" comic book covers and I have a couple nice examples in my collection. All that being said, after spending the evening looking at various paperback covers by some of the master artists in the Sleaze/GGA paperback genre...well...I don't get it. The discrepancy between prices has likely quadrupled since this thread started. I mean, the artwork on some of those paperbacks (IMHO) blows away the finished product of some of the best comic book artists for some logical reasons. I fully understand that they were drawing for their audience, which was predominantly young teenage boys with vigilant mothers, and they were cranking their work out quickly. Heck, ever see the difference between Carl Barks typical (and admittedly great) works and then compare it to what he could do in other mediums like painting ducks with oils? Yes, I'm sure that Matt Baker, if he took the time and used the same materials probably could have rivaled the work of Robert Maguire and Earle Bergey (and so many others that I have yet to discover) but the reality is that Baker didn't do that. Yet some of his Comics sell for 100 times more money for his cover art that is comparably as rare, in comparable grade, and comparably as old. I don't get it. I mean, the only variable left is demand, and I CAN wrap my brain around that economic fact, but I don't understand how human nature can be so stilted. There truly is one he!! of a chasm in price between books and comics, but it seems that the quality of work (to me) actually runs in the other direction. I have some sexy illustrations of Betty and Veronica, but they can't approach enticing photorealistic art calculated to be alluring instead of something non-photorealistic that has limited allure hidden in plain site so as not to alert the parents (though that is part of their charm). In the final analysis, I truly can't justify spending several hundred $$$ on a comic book for just the cover art anymore. Not when I could use that money to buy so many fascinating/interesting books. Understand that I'm happy with the status quo since I have to watch my pennies to enjoy the thrill of the hunt. But I just don't understand it. To the OP's original, insightful point, why indeed? The discrepancy has gotten even more ridiculous. Sorry for the rant.

Makes sense. Some of their listings had multiple entries of the same books, but in different grades.

Gorgeous

Hey, I was scrolling through ebay today looking at books and I happened to notice the MyComicsShop is selling books. Is that a new thing? I don't remember running across their listings before. Steve

I'll edit my initial post to include a spine picture tonight if I get a chance. I know that the book isn't necessarily rare or important, but after seeing that spine, it made me want more like it.

Cool art! Hey, I thought everything you owned is at least a Fine. Does that mean these are hard to find in high grade? I'm figuring out the thicker books like Bantam Giants are harder to find without spine curvature. (Really enjoying the challenge of these PBs)

All erudite, book-collector appreciation not withstanding, My God I Love Women!

Thanks. The spine makes it look unread, so I did order a reprint of this reprint (for less than $5!). I was trying to figure out who did the cover art. Couldn't read the signature. From the seller's picture, I thought it was Bergey until I got it in hand and realized it wasn't his signature. Some elements of the cover art kind of reminds me of the art on the book "Black Opium" from the same period. Wonder if the same artist did both?

I figured I’d buy this one to read and collect. I like the idea of a compendium of short stories since I don’t have much time to read. After I opened the package I realized I will still need a reader copy. I’m conflicted. 🤔

Interesting. I’m kind of a noob. Maybe when I started prices were softer than normal. Could also be that I have a nose for finding bargains. Or perhaps my grading is poor. Book collectors seem to fixate on odd things relative to comic book people and a “fine” book is a high grade. But then, a “fine” is a pretty nice GA book. It’s like their scale needs expansion.

Hey, I was just noticing that some of the cooler books that I track are getting scarcer. Is the market tightening up? A low grade copy of Marihuana used to cost $100 and now they're closer to $200. This is not wishful thinking...I have a long, long, want list and this is going sort of frustrating! Just wondering what you all are observing.

A lot of time has passed since my last entries. At this point, I'm still collecting, but I'm focusing on "stuff" that seems to have a whole lot of bang for the buck. I'm going after Conan's done by Smith in 9.0 or better. Eventually, the keys will be slabbed, but the rest will live out their lives in raw condition in some top-notch mylars and good quality backboards. I'm very passively going after Iron Fist as I run across them in high grade raw. I'm also going after some golden age. Nothing earth shattering, but books that I can get a good deal on that seem very interesting for a less-than-$200 price tag. Lastly, I've moved heavily into paperback books. I just posted this elsewhere, but check out this cover! I love these, and their (still) cheap! Steve

Odd...my post disappeared? Anyway, even though I'm trying not to buy any collectibles right now, this one spoke to me. A nostalgic Bergey cover in nice shape. I tried not to buy it.