PedigreeMan

I do at least have the stories I want to read in the Archives for those books. OK so they are different print and don't have the same smell... I rest my case .... Come on, it's not like they're 9.6 Edgar Churches or anything! Even I wouldn't dream of cra- ... er, never mind. Alan

Crack 'em and read 'em! And then give 'em a good whiff while you're at it! Alan

Pedigree hater! Turn in your member's card! And to answer Mephisto's question: I asked Steve at the 2002 Chicago Comicon if they kept "D Copy" codes in their grader's database, and he told me, "No." Damn shame, too, because I bet someone like ValiantMan or Fantastic Four could crack the meaning of the code in short order if they were provided enough samples of it. Alan

Ian, do you know for certain that the seller was aware you needed it? Could this have just been a case of "let's throw it up on eBay with a ridiculous reserve to test the waters and see what it's worth?" Unless you're 100% positive about the seller's motivation, statements like, "Quite frankly I think it's extortion" and "Pure highway robbery!!!" could get you sued for libel / slander! Whatever the case, this was clearly an instance when you should have walked away. Seeing as how you were bidding against yourself, I don't think that book would have gone for more than the $22 it's listed at in the guide were you not aware of its sale. If the seller truly had no clue as to your needing the book, you could have then swooped in privately after the auction ended (without meeting reserve) and offered what you felt to be "fair" market value for it. On the other hand, if the seller was truly trying to extort you, your walking away would have put all of the power into your hands. At the very least it would have shown other would-be "extorters" that you are not afraid to walk away from books on your list and thus make them think twice about setting such high reserves in the future. At best, your refusing to meet the seller's reserve may have actually enabled you to open a negotiating track with him that would have netted you the book for substantially less than you ended up paying for it. Ian, your quest is still a marathon, and despite your wanting to sprint to the end you need to keep a slow and steady pace. Otherwise you're going to stroke out! Oh, and you do know they have medicine out there now to control OCD, right? Alan

"Killer" books, rjpb!

Schweeeet. How about the "D Copy" code on the first page? (And if you didn't own this book raw, I think it's time you busted it open and checked for me, right? ) Alan

As per usual, fantastic book, Timely! How's the back look? Does it have the characteristic "D Copy" sunburn? Alan

Have you called Mark and asked why? The only conceivable reason I can think of is the page quality ... weren't Pennsylvania's supposed to have white pages? Alan

Right, Jake. Now I gotta go get me some dry white toast. And a glass of water.

Hey West, How many more `Timely's do you need for a complete set? Alan

Gorgeous book, Win. And with white pages, to boot. Hey, where are you at in Chicago? Exact address, time and days you're away from home, any security codes at your place -- you know, basic info -- would be great ...! Alan

This theory will only work on the assumption that ALL of the existing high grade copies have already been graded. Right now this is not very likely since CGC is still relatively new. Most of the long-term collectors with high grade books have not even given any thought to getting their books CGC'd yet since they don't have any current intention of selling. I agree wholeheartedly .... for Modern Bronze and Silver. But specifically in this case, and generally for similar books, I am talking about the 9.4 Human Torch, and some of the wildly nice MH lesser #1s (Crack, Wow etc) where the best copy, whether 9.2 4 or 6 or even 8 is less important than the fact that its the best copy and where we can already assume that the census will not change dramatically. Lots more books to be graded sitting in collections....but not so many for early GA in HG..Agree?? Timely has an awesome collection, I presume, Geppi has a warehouse rivalling the last scene in Indiana Jones. But How many other Human Torch #1s above 9.0 do you think there are? I don't know, Aman ... remember, the Lost Valley pedigree just discovered this past summer had a lot of really nice books from the 1930s in it. I don't think anyone can make a valid claim that every original owner, Golden Age collection out there has been uncovered until everyone who was of buying / collecting age during that time has passed on. That's a couple more decades! Alan

If I may ask, at what are you upset? The introduction of Mr. Church? The description of the art in Action Comics #1? Or something else? (darn greamlins don't tell a person anything!) -- Joanna

WOO-HOO! I'm "Hour Guy!" Much better than Minute Guy or *shudder* Second Guy!