Knightsofold

On 6/28/2019 at 6:45 PM, Wayne-Tec said:

Is this the coverless you bought with a reproduced cover added or a different book entirely?

I look forward to seeing the green slab.  What grade u think it'll get?  It looks amazing!  I’ll take it!

On 6/22/2019 at 5:18 PM, bluechip said:

While I agree that the low numbers of the keys means they deserve their place among the top collectibles, I don't think stage used guitars or field worn jerseys compare to original art. 

Worn jerseys and stage used guitars would compare more to the desk where comics were drawn or the typewriter on which they were written.  Possibly creators' personal copies.  Maybe letters or memos about key moments of creation and forth.   Similar but not quite the same because unlike jerseys, bats or guitars the celeb comic creator isn't necessarily seen in public with the item.  But the day may come when Kirby's art desk brings a hefty sum.

In the meantime, the only thing I can think of, off the top of my head, that compares to original art in the rock world might be the hand-written lyrics for a classic song.   

I don't think there are any comparables in the sports world.   The genesis of Ruth's home run record is not something that still exists in tangible form.   It only exists in memory and as described in contemporary printed accounts.  But the genesis of Amazing Fantasy 15 is right there, in pencil and ink on paper, in the Smithsonian.

The comparison I was making was the FMV.  

31 minutes ago, bluechip said:

While the prices realized sometimes surprise me, I also find myself then comparing the prices of the super keys relative to the prices realized for Sports, Movie and Rock memorabilia, and trendy modern art and find myself wondering how it's even possible that a Honus Wagner card is "worth" more than some, if not most, copies of the first appearance of Batman.  Ditto for guitars used in a concert, jerseys worn during a game, etc.   

The more direct comparison to those collectibles would be Comic Book Original art.  But with less than 100 or 200 copies in existence the golden age mega keys deserve their place among those as well.  Especially if their original art has been lost.

3 hours ago, GreatCaesarsGhost said:

I know that. I’ve got 3 of them and just today purchased a 9.0. My point was it’s not on the list posted previously in this string. Overstreet doesn’t give it classic cover status. CGC has started to go around Overstreet by calling it a “classic flag cover”, but that,  to me anyway, doesn’t get it right. Does “classic flag cover” mean the cover isn’t good enough to be a true classic amongst all covers,  only meriting status amongst the sub genre of “flag” covers?  That is faint praise 

  

I’ve found the classic FLAG/BONDAGE/ETC.  note annoying, if it says classic it should be a classic cover, yet it seems the “classic cover” note is known as the true classic and more important.  Any classic cover has a reason why it’s classic but there’s no need to state bondage etc..  

grats on your 4 Cap #37s.  

I had 3 at one point, that was fun.  Great book, CLASSIC cover.  

Recently I was discussing GA covers that transcend their niche and are desirable to a broad range of different GA specialist collectors.  As we discussed the books that transcended their genres, (Phantom Lady 17 to non gga collectors , All Select #1 to non super hero or timely collectors, suspense #3 to .. anyone...). I realized that most or all the books we mentioned are, or once were designated “Classic Cover” by cgc or Overstreet.  

So I think demand outside niche collectors is another way to naturally determine a classic or potential classic cover.

just my 2c.

Moved to ebay.   Let me know if interested.

45 minutes ago, G.A.tor said:

The Verzyl’s still own it and it’s been seen by many 

If it was ever sold, what would it go for Gator?

Thw only blue I have!

20 hours ago, Ricksneatstuff said:

That REALLY says it well Alan. I get at least 10-20 (no exaggeration) messages a week asking advice on what to buy and if this book should be sold or traded, etc. My question comes back to "Why are you doing this?" I also find telling someone to buy "Planet 8" and sell "Fight 33" (just random books I pulled out of the air) sets them up for failure and sets me up for blame. 

I have been watching a lot of people get into gold just the last 6 months - literally the gold rush- with thoughts of buying a book for $500 and selling it for $2000 a few months later and a really scattered collecting focus. Maybe I am even an early part of the last wave of people who came in thinking that too around 5 years ago, even though I had a lot of comic experience in the early 90's. What I found was the first year I didn't know what I was doing and I made really "bad buys" and didn't understand the market and didn't even know what I really liked. Even now I like something and then like something else shortly thereafter, but a LOT of very cool stuff that I think is sweet passes through my hands and some of it sticks around a good while and a lot doesn't. 

I think what has happened is almost everybody (not all- most) are "deallectors", a combination of collector and part time dealer usually to grow their collection. I don't know that it wasn't almost always that way but it definitely is now and it is not a bad thing- BUT it is not for everybody. Your "deallecting" should not be your rent money, your car payment money, your kids college fund. It should be whatever you want to spare and can afford to lose because you never know. I see a lot of people getting in real deep too quick and burning out. Just have fun with it. It has been a 5 year journey for me to get to this stage. I started out buying $30-100 books mostly here just 4 years ago and it has built steadily. Don't focus on building the dream collection in 6 months, think more like 5-10 years where you will be. It will feel like less pressure @explosive&kitkat

Golden age books are cool by the way and there is plenty of interest in a lot of them, but you are right, not all of them.

It seems to me that the rise in GA collectors is also the natural result of the influx of returning to the hobby collectors since the MCU (last 5-7 years).  It doesn’t take long for financially stable collectors to finish up their bronze and silver key list and they move on to the more challenging (and fun imo) hunting that only the Golden Age offers.

How many higher than this 9.4?  Highest should be a 1 mil book imo.

On 6/18/2019 at 8:59 AM, rjpb said:

Has anyone ever done a rough count of the number of WW2 covers from the war era? I realize there are some borderline ones, early covers where the enemy isn't clearly an Axis power, saboteur covers where allegiance is vague,  some late covers where Axis military figures look redrawn in civilian clothes as they torture U.S military personnel or steal weapons plans, home front and war bond covers that don't exactly feature characters fighting Axis powers, but it would be interesting to know roughly how many books would be covered. 

I have WW2 cover numbers etc.  for Timely comics.  If you’re interested I can dig em up.

On 6/19/2019 at 12:27 PM, Cat-Man_America said:

Can’t stop there though.  Hitler was always destined to lead an underground movement ...six feet underground... and this provides proper context, including decomposing green skin, nazi zombie and skeletal minions, even a disgusted worm crawling out of his ear!  

Perhaps the only Nazi Zombies on a Timely cover?

16 hours ago, ender said:

I have insurance  and one of the appealing things to me is they will cover things in the mail if they were to be lost so I don’t feel I have to pay extra for insurance through the post office. Granted I have never had a claim and was told they (CIS) would cover it by the person who was selling the policy. I also think if you have a safe you keep them in and a security system on your home you get a discount.

Claims from mail issues if you’re selling or trading can get your policy cancelled unless you have a dealer policy.

Dropped to 2,000+$35 shipping.  For the rest of the day.  

Paypal only, must pay within 24hours, no returns. 

Usa only.

ASM #2 cgc 3.5 white pages, FF #3 cgc 3.0.

Take both for $2,000 +35 shipping usa

15 hours ago, Artboy99 said:

how does someone assign a value to one of these bound volumes? I was thinking you would grade each book within, giving it a restored grade and then adding up the numbers. While a niche market, bound volumes are collectible.

Am I in the ballpark on value?

I’ve seen many books from bound volumes get a universal label.  They’ve also had some of the deepest and finest cover colors I’ve ever seen.

Does anyone know which books (and their printings) were made available in 3 packs (multi-packs)?

From what I recall getting:

21,22, 23 1st printing pack

2, 26, 27 2nd printing pack

17, 18, 19 2nd printing pack

10, 29, 30 2nd printing (not sure if this was a pack of only joes)

28?? Not sure.  

Thanks

Are Walkthru rates still fast?  Or subject to slow downs as well?

On 5/28/2019 at 12:17 AM, Cat-Man_America said:

Just my impression, but it sure looks like it.  It seems more jacked on newer holder books though. 

Heritage scanned images often look too bright, too color saturated and too flat.  However, it's difficult getting a good scan with newer CGC holders, so this isn't all Heritage's fault.  My HP scanner is pretty darn good, but it's still very difficult getting an accurate image because the lip depth of newer holders prevents books from catching as much light as the label.  Older holders occasionally have other scanning issues, but not this problem.

After rescanning and tweaking images with Photo-bucket editing tools ...including the redacted labels... the images I've posted are very close to how these books look in hand, inside holders, for better or worse.  

 

Here's the comparison shot I made of your 2 books from the other thread.  Left: Heritage, Right: Your color adjusted to match the book in hand after purchasing. 

Is the book still coming out, or has it been cancelled?

3 hours ago, Cat-Man_America said:

Both scans are arguably "off" color-wise.  I suspect the culprit is the CGC "billboard" label.  The color of the label pops at the expense of the book because it's so near the surface of the holder.  It probably forces whoever is in charge of imaging Heritage scans to figure out a way to make the comic book images as bold or bolder than CGC's advertising billboard, ...excuse me, label.

The way this appears to have been done ...and it's purely speculation on my part as I don't have access to Heritage's scanner to cross-reference the settings... is by boosting the color saturation, brightness and white level while tweaking the contrast enough to maintain satisfactory black levels.  Sharpness also seems bumped up (probably via clarity and shadow removal settings).  HA scans look like they've been imaged with lid closed using a solid white backing.  

The end result is an oversaturated color palette for the book with the CGC label's blue changing hue from dark blue to pale blue. Notice that the subtle lighter blue CGC trademark imprinted in the center of the label, seen clearly in the darker scan.  It almost disappears in the brighter image.

This is a rescan of a recent HA win from my HP scanner...

  Hide contents

To get a fair representation of this book in hand it was necessary to adjust settings in the Photo-bucket Editor after scanning the book.  Notice how the label still overwhelms the book, but the colors appear uniform and accurate.  What I think Heritage has been attempting to do is make CGC graded books pop color-wise while walking back the hyper-emphasized, overpowering label.  While I'll give HA props for a noble effort, there's obviously a trade off that results in excessive color saturation.  If I can dig up the original Heritage scan of this book, I'll edit it into this post for comparison.

Back on point, the only way CGC could make these labels more unmissable would be to add Braille bumps.  

 

Here you go, thanks for sharing. I’ve often thought about comparing.  Their colors are certainly misleading.

It was mentioned that Cap#1s were dropping in price?  If we’re still talking about 1.0 universals, I haven’t seen a drop.  

Infact 1.0 entry levels seem to be climbing all the time on key golden age books.  Is AF#15 in a 1.0 really gonna beat a Cap 1 or Marvel 1 or Flash 1, Wonder Woman 1?  Hard to believe it’s worth it...

Is there not a pic of the back cover?  If we have the # on the back of the slab we can look up their graders notes since they’re free.

Any pics?

21 hours ago, Primetime said:

I love Cap as a character, but as a comic book, Marvel 1 always trumps Cap 1 for me due to the great history entrenched in it....Goodman, a master pulp distributer, taking on and publishing a comic book for the first time in his career while enlisting Jacquet's army of qualified artists....Frank Torpey's name appearing later in the Marvel Mystery 9 Torch/Subby battle story is quite entertaining...but I'm the only one that cares about that none sense in the 2019 collector's world. 

There’s at least two of us who care Ben.

20 minutes ago, Frank Mozz said:

Still think M #1 is undervalued in these modern trends setting days of collecting or I am just old. Either way, call it what you will but IMHO it would be a bad @ss comic to add to any serious collection.

I agree.  It’s hard to believe there’s only 61 copies on the census for such a big key.