rjpb

Here's a scan of the Thing #6 I just bought on ebay. While the front cover looks alot better than a VG, the book has had a spine roll pressed out, leaving a big crease in the back cover, and has tanning in the page margins, as well as a nearly 1" tear at the bottom of the last few pages. All this was aknowledged by the seller in his listing. The book looks far glossier in person than it did in the listing.

I definetley own fewer ECs than I would if they had not all been reprinted. Currently the only originals I have are a couple of Crime Suspenstories, a VG 20 and a F/VF 22. I've traditionally been a cover collector when it comes to pre-code books, but I've been picking up more books for their interiors lately - and ebay has definetly brought the prices down on non-classic cover horror books. I just picked up a solid VG+ Thing 6 for the 2.0 guide price.

I don't actively look for Ajax/Farrell books (except for Fantastic Fears #6 - which I never see), but it has seemed that they are more likely than some other pre-code publishers to be low grade based on my casual obsevance. As for my own collecting preferences, I used to pick up higher grade pre-code books now and then, if they were the first copy I found, back when they were still pretty cheap, but these days when I buy them they're usually in the 2.0 to 5.0 range. If I own a GA or Atom Age book in 4.0 or better, I don't feel any urge to upgrade, and I can't resist lower grade when the price is right.

Between that Skull cover and that "Fatal Scalpel" splash, I might have to add HT#5 to my want list. Nice books by the way.

Punyhuman, Great cover on the Marvel Mystery 29 - I like to buy the war covers from 1944-1945, mostly because they're pretty cheap as Timelys go - but the some of the covers in the 20s are very cool! Eventually, I'll be looking for them as well.

This arrived in today's mail - now I'll have to buy a #19. I don't think this is as scarce as Overstreet says, as there are 17 copies in the census, although the OPG definition of scarce is 20-100 copies existant. Any guesses, on average, as to what percentage of GA Timelys are in the census?

Whether by Shelly or Kubert, those old Hawkman covers on Flash Comics are great! Nice aquisition.

Here is a recent Ebay purchase. Patience pays off. I like buying Schomburg war covers when I can find them for a good price, and I watched a copy of this book in similar condition get bid up well over guide a couple of months ago, this copy comes along with a below guide starting bid, and I'm the only bidder - go figure. While the Schomburg war cover Harvey books often feature heroes even more obscure than Nedor's (Black Cat & Green Hornet excepted) some, including this one, have great early Kubert art inside.

I've seen that cover in Gerber, but never read the dialog before. Cap's line is priceless, especially if you imagine him doing it in an Edward G. Robinson voice. One of these days I'll have to find me a copy.

I finally upgraded my pos copy of this comic, and it was my first non-ebay purchase of an atom age book in a couple of years. One of my fave covers and grossly undervalued in Overstreet. The overhang next to the spine is from the teachers supplement that is attached to the back.

great cover on the action 50. Alot of early 40s Actions have very dynamic covers - but I can't afford to collect everything.

Outside of the miscut- that looks pretty nice for a 4.5. What keeps the grade down? Great cover as well!

Mmmmm - Schomburg war cover.

Nice Pep 34! I need to upgrade my raggedy copy.

That Schomburg guy is terrible - If you have any of his stuff you should sell it now, at fire sale prices, before the bottom drops out - especially his WW2 covers - hurry! I might know some poor fool wiling to buy them from you.

I don't know what Terrors of the Jungle usually sell for, but it looks like you got a great deal for a VF.

Nice! Good looking copy, was it an Ebay purchase?

Ooops, I guess I can afford to put it on my list. Is that good? Something tells me that if I found a lower grade copy at guide I'd be one lucky MF - or has the guide caught up with this book's actual value?

Sweeet!

Stop posting that Wonderworld 3 - I can't afford to add it to my want list!

Here is another recent Ebay win. Sold as a 2.5 due to a loose cover, this is the kind of high eye-appeal/low grade copy I love to find. Considering a 1.0 copy is currently at $161 w ith BP in today's Heritage Auction, I think $200 was a bargain for this one. 1943-45 Marvel Mysteries can be a steal compared to other Timelys, if you have a little patience.

While not nearly as nice as Timely's copy, I am completely stoked about picking up this copy of Young Allies #9 on Ebay last month. It ran me about 1.5X guide, but I expect to pay a premium for any Schomburg Hitler cover.

Thanks lou_ fine for doing the research, Actually you do confirm what I recall, as I posted that I that I remembered reading that "newspaper reprint comics from the 30s & early 40s were more valued than GA Superhero books for the most part" - I would have been surprised if they had exceeded the value of the big three GA keys. I wish I'd kept my old price guides, I think the first one I bought was the 3rd edition when I was in 8th grade. I remember I was too cheap to spring for the 2nd, and just memorized the prices from my friend's copy when looking for books at comic-cons. I still remember the the 2nd con I ever went to in 1971, it was also the first time I set up as a dealer. I was 12 years old, and was dumping my DC books to raise money for early Marvels. I rented a table for $5, automatically saving $2 on admission for me and a friend, and had all my comics sitting in wooden crates - unbagged. I remember being thrilled at selling a small stack of early 50s Blackhawks for a buck apiece, since I had purchased them for only a quarter apiece a few months earlier. My big purchasess for the day were JIM 83 for $17, and Hulk 1-6 for a total of $35. Condition was probably around VG for all of them, but back then, when the Good/Mint gap was only 2:1 condition wasn't as important as having the books.

- I seem to remember reading that in the first OSPG, newspaper reprint comics from the 30s & early 40s were more valued than GA Superhero books for the most part - can anyone verify this?

Yes he did, here is a link to Zip 9