namisgr

The Massachusetts copy:

I didn't find that to be true.  Over a half dozen different auctions for around 350 high grade SA and BA slabs, I realized excellent prices overall and the after-commission returns were much better than anticipated based on past market prices.
It's almost certainly not the best venue for realizing the highest prices possible for every era and genre, but for the kinds of things I collected they were a major outlet for buying and selling for 15 years.
 

That stretch from 28 to 37 is one of my favorites .... The first "old" FF I ever had was #35, I was mesmerized by how the original cover was totally different from the MCIC cover ... and it was an early exposure to the MMMS period letters pages. I was hook, line, and sinker at that point. The coverless ASM 10 I got not long after was, as they say down south. "That was ALL she wrote!". I was a zombie from that point on ... well, until I saw my friend's Famous Funnies 214  ... what was a po' boy to do?  GOD BLESS ...
-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

The Massachusetts copy:

For context, this was the X-Men issue on the racks before the new series began.  It's a reprint of X-Men #45, and my original copy bought at the time.  I think it helps explain why comic buyers and readers of the day may have overlooked ish 94:

37 was basically a one-and -done. I always admired those ... anybody can string along a never ending drama fest, but it takes a real pro to tie it up each issue. The Skrull Princess story was just a masterpiece to me. I still re-read it to this day. And go ahead and crucify me, I LOVE Chic Stone ... GOD BLESS ...
-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

The Massachusetts copy:

Game changer?  No.  Multiple copies?  No.
Familiarity was with the original X-Men team.  It took Giant Size #1 and several issues of the regular series to become familiar with the names, powers, and personalities of the new team members.  Yes, I was familiar with Wolvie from his appearances in Hulk, but he didn't strike me as a big deal from those first appearances.  It also took me time to come to enjoy the plots and scripting.
By ish 100, it was apparent this was a cool, fresh, and enjoyable team and title.  But by then, I was heading off to graduate school and starting a five year hiatus from buying and reading any comics.

There were more young adults buying comics in the early 1970s than you might imagine. Unlike 10 years earlier, certain comic titles had appeal to young adults both for their storytelling and the quality of the artwork.  I bought Hulk 181, Giant-Size X-Men 1 and X-Men 94 when I was in college.  There was a news agency right on campus that stocked all the new Marvels and DCs not on spinner racks, but tiered wooden shelves.  And I believe it was the young adults buying, reading, and storing books back at that time with great care (much more so than how pre-teens read and stored them) that accounts for the much, much larger number of copies surviving until today in near mint and better condition than is true for early and mid Silver Age books.
As for buying multiple copies of new issues for speculation purposes, I know lots of the older regular buyers did so, but the selected issues were usually number 1s of new titles, especially those with famous creators.  It's worth a good chuckle to remember the books I bought multiples of back then: #1s of OMAC, Sandman, Shadow, Invaders, PP Spectacular Spiderman, Man Thing, and Iron Fist.  Not exactly books to have gotten rich on.    Swamp Thing #1 would have been a good choice, but I was a predominant Marvel guy and frankly didn't know Berni Wrightson from a hole in the wall when that ish hit the stands.

There were more young adults buying comics in the early 1970s than you might imagine. Unlike 10 years earlier, certain comic titles had appeal to young adults both for their storytelling and the quality of the artwork.  I bought Hulk 181, Giant-Size X-Men 1 and X-Men 94 when I was in college.  There was a news agency right on campus that stocked all the new Marvels and DCs not on spinner racks, but tiered wooden shelves.  And I believe it was the young adults buying, reading, and storing books back at that time with great care (much more so than how pre-teens read and stored them) that accounts for the much, much larger number of copies surviving until today in near mint and better condition than is true for early and mid Silver Age books.
As for buying multiple copies of new issues for speculation purposes, I know lots of the older regular buyers did so, but the selected issues were usually number 1s of new titles, especially those with famous creators.  It's worth a good chuckle to remember the books I bought multiples of back then: #1s of OMAC, Sandman, Shadow, Invaders, PP Spectacular Spiderman, Man Thing, and Iron Fist.  Not exactly books to have gotten rich on.    Swamp Thing #1 would have been a good choice, but I was a predominant Marvel guy and frankly didn't know Berni Wrightson from a hole in the wall when that ish hit the stands.

When it comes to colors on the border.
I do love this TOD, might be the color that hasn't aged that still looks appealing to me.

Massachusetts copy:
   

An early photo of Leonard Brown with a recent “buy”. Yes, people coveted and paid up for Big Little Book back then.
A photo of Malcolm Willitts pulling out unbagged, high grade Batmans out of the vault. Collectors was located in an out of business bank building.
And a business card circa 1962 for Richard and Leonard before they opened the store and were combing the Long Beach area buying up old comics and selling them word of mouth. I got the card from Leonard. Notice he crossed out Richard’s info so I would deal directly with him. 

Another book I didn't have any copy of 2.5 years ago, then @Electron helped a brother out
 

For context, this was the X-Men issue on the racks before the new series began.  It's a reprint of X-Men #45, and my original copy bought at the time.  I think it helps explain why comic buyers and readers of the day may have overlooked ish 94:

For context, this was the X-Men issue on the racks before the new series began.  It's a reprint of X-Men #45, and my original copy bought at the time.  I think it helps explain why comic buyers and readers of the day may have overlooked ish 94:

I was nine years old when GSXM1 and X-Men #94 came out. I wasn't buying regularly but somehow bought both off the stands. They struck me enough that I bought #95, 96, and #97 too. At that age, I definitely didn't know to buy multiple copies or even keep them in nice shape.
The next X-Men issues I remember buying were in the #111 to #115 range. I think by that time there was some buzz about GS #1 and X-Men #1.
I started collecting regularly when X-Men #128 was on the stands. And as mentioned before in this thread, the X-Men were definitely a big deal by then.