mwotka

https://comics.ha.com/itm/golden-age-1938-1955-/science-fiction/planet-comics-1-fiction-house-1940-cgc-fn-55-off-white-pages/a/121909-11945.s?ic2=mytracked-lotspage-lotlinks-12202013&tab=MyTrackedLots-101116

I watched this Planet Comics 1 in 5.5 sell yesterday for $6,600.  I apologize in advance if you won this auction and are psyched about the book, as I'm chasing one too and I'd be excited about it.  But it has clearly had color touch removed from the spine with an exacto knife or similar tool, and it appears there are even holes in the cover from this process.  Leaving aside whether the grade is correct, I am of the opinion that this book should NOT be receiving a blue label.  I don't believe CGC should set things up to incentivize cutting on classic books, and I'd bet the seller made a few grand off this "process".  I personally think the book looks hideous now.  These books have had a tough enough time lasting 80 years, why get a new generation cutting and modifying them to chase a buck?  When someone is removing color touch, and in the process removing original color from the cover, they are pretty much by definition restoring/changing/conserving (take your pick) the book.  I think these books should get at a minimum a Conserved label, and I think you could even argue this is a type of trimming.  I'd appreciate hearing what some of you think about this issue.

This also raises the secondary question of tracking provenance.  I think CGC should be trying to provide provenance/history of books that have been re-subbed after these types of operations (when possible)  This is no different than chain of title for a classic car or provenance for a piece of art, and would provide a buyer MORE info to tell them the history of the item and where it has been, which will help the market more fully understand one that is for sale.  I realize this may not be easy.  But with a Planet 1 with only 60 total graded books, it shouldn't be impossible to find out what this book was before, if it had been previously graded (obviously this would be far more difficult for a Hulk 181).  And it would both cut down on re-sub grade chasers and restorers who can hide what a book was.  Which also inflates the pool of information about what actually exists (and it wouldn't surprise me if they have an internal process for tracking some of these).  After all what good is a census if some percentage of the total has been counted multiple times?  But this is a different problem and somewhat distinct from the above.  

Just picked this piece up last weekend at a Flea Market (sorry it is a little blurry).  I believe it is a page from Speed Comics 32 by Jill Elgin, from a feature called Girl Commandos, 1944.  I grabbed it mainly because of the dark war subject matter.  I've never heard of the artist but I'd be curious to hear what some of you think of it.  

You all are seriously amazing to watch in action.  What books to sell, what books to buy!   

7 hours ago, tabcom said:

The frantic stash. With performance by Franz Schumann.

Stupendous show!  Clearly this should've been the winner for Best Short Film.

Fantastic books, what a beautiful run!!   

My only Crippen.

US Marines 3, per PM.  Great books on offer!

17 hours ago, SushiX said:

ahhh heck why not! all mine now....

Holy cow!! Amazing, many congrats on a major score!!  

Definitely curious if you have an undercopy...  

This should be fun! 

4 hours ago, Spyder! said:

The latest arrival!  I'm very happy with this copy.  I thought it was interesting, when looking on cgcdata.org, I discovered that this was the first copy of issue 7 to hit the census, back in April of 2001.  23 Universal copies have been graded since, but only a handful higher.

I noticed this was missing from your Want to Buy line a few days back so I figured something was imminent.  But wow, what a pickup!! 

1939 was a great year for the industry.  Hard competing with some of you heavy hitters, although viewing what you have is a real pleasure!  Here a few of mine...

Being of a somewhat younger generation and only collecting GA for the last decade, I have not been privileged to grow into the hobby with many folks like Marty around.  It is so fascinating to me to hear these stories.  But I have met one local guy who is about Marty's age I think.  He has let go of pretty much all his comics over the years, but I know he still has the New York World's Fair 1939 issue that his aunt brought him back as a present/souvenir from when she visited the fair.   It is super rough, since he was a young kid at the time, but I always thought that story was so cool, especially since it is a 1930s book.   Not an online guy at all though.  So Marty is likely reigning champ on here.  

Beautiful book!  GLWTS!  

Holy Planets!  Very nice, both of you!  

Great examples!!

Thanks! Yes I just won it from eBay.  Thought it was a great deal at that price.  

I was hoping the incomplete Contact 12 would've been more reasonable, but no...  

I saw a 105 for sale at C2E2 last year in about 1.0 for I think $1100 or $1200.  So this seems like a deal in comparison, and I think this one presents nicer too.