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gozer

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Posts posted by gozer

  1. A bit of a curiosity item here.

    In 1994, the JC Penney Christmas Catalog offered a set of 15 Marvel comic reprints (for $14.99 plus shipping).

    They have the cover and the stories. AAF 13 has the original fan letter page. Most (all?) ads are replaced by modern ones. The back cover is usually an ad for Stridex acne pads.

    The indicia adds "Second Printing" or "SECOND PRINTING."

    Except AAF 13. It has no indicia anywhere. A bit strange.

    The color covers on these are great, they really pop. These are in nice shape, sharp cover corners and edges. Call them F+/VF.

    This lot of 7 issues reprints:

    Amazing Adult Fantasy        13
    Avengers                            88
    Hulk                                   140
    Sgt Fury and HHCs            13
    Thor King Size Special        2
    X-Men                                62 & 63


    $130 for the set, and I'll pay shipping. Will be boxed and well packed. Returns accepted.
    Payment by PayPal, check, or MO.

    Thanks for looking.

     

    marvel_reprints_02.thumb.jpg.e8714154c8875182d57b954ea2fa246c.jpg

    marvel_reprints_hulk.thumb.jpg.7819d55a6ad7623bd3623f20a7e08865.jpg

    marvel_reprints_xmen.thumb.jpg.b4f0596b123bd41b3759042afb04c178.jpg

     

  2. I've got a few golden age books, in high grade (e.g. 9.4, 9.6), for which there's just no sales data.  They only changed hands through private transactions, and it all happened many years ago.

    So trying to figure out an asking price is a challenge.

    But there IS some data for lower grade copies.  And for copies from 15 or more years ago.  I'm wondering, is it useful?

    For comic X (in CGC 9.4) does it help to know that a 6.0 copy sold in 2018 for $1600?  Or that a 9.0 copy sold in 2004 for $1000?
    Is it relevant?

  3. OtherEric is correct. Asimov's first published story was "Marooned off Vesta," published in the March 1939 issue of Amazing Stories.

    From the Wikipedia entry:

    It was the third story he wrote, and the first to be published. Written in July 1938 when Asimov was 18, it was REJECTED (emphasis mine)
    by Astounding Science Fiction in August, then accepted in October by Amazing Stories

    Sheesh, he was 18!
    I wonder how many typewriters he wore out during his lifetime?

    The others:

    A. E. Van Vogt -- Black Destroyer -- July 1939 (even made the cover)
    Robert Heinlein -- Life-Line -- August 1939 
    Theodore Sturgeon -- Ether Breather -- Sept 1939

    Opinion: Van Vogt's best work, Slan, was first serialized in the September to December 1940 issues of ASF.

  4. Thought this might be of some interest - some of the early history of the magazine.
    I can't guarantee the accuracy, but I think I've got most things right.
    Corrections welcome!

    1930 - Jan
    First issue of Astounding Stories of Super-Science.
    The editor is Harry Bates.

    1931 - Feb
    Name changes to Astounding Stories.

    1933 - Jan
    Name changes BACK to Astounding Stories of Super-Science.

    1933 - Oct
    Name changes BACK AGAIN to Astounding Stories.
    F. Orlin Tremaine takes over as editor.

    1937 - Oct
    John W. Campbell, Jr. takes over as editor.

    1938 - March
    Name changes to Astounding Science Fiction
    (and stays ASF for 22 years).

    1960 - Feb
    Name changes to Astounding Science Fact & Fiction.

    In the 1960s and later, the title got confusing - they
    went a little bananas. JWC reportedly hated the word
    ASTOUNDING in the title. Several issues had both words
    ASTOUNDING and ANALOG on the cover.

    Later issues mostly had the word ANALOG in a giant font,
    with "SCIENCE FICTION" above it and "SCIENCE FACT" below.
    The spines had just:
    Analog Science Fiction - Science Fact
    (and the "dash" was an odd arrow symbol that JWC devised)

    1971 - July 11
    John Wood Campbell, Jr. died.

    1972 - Jan
    Ben Bova becomes editor.

    Isaac Asimov, A. E. van Vogt, Robert Heinlein, Theodore Sturgeon -- all had
    their first published work in ASF.

  5. Allow me to stick my nose in here.

     >> as an investment

    Of course all the usual caveats apply when investing in collectibles.  But having said that, it's fun to speculate.

    IMO the really eye-popping rise in prices have been with books in super high grade (same as with coins and stamps). Which might be 9.8 for SA, and more likely 8.0-9.something for GA. But buy the nicest copies you can. Stick with higher grade books.

    For really blue chip material, stick to Superman/Batman.  Hard to go wrong there. But even with $15K it's hard to play with the big boys. But ... there are plenty of "off brands" out there that are also highly sought after.

    How about Phantom Lady #23 in 8.0 for $14K (Feb 2018)?
    Startling 49? (or any with Schomburg air-brush covers)?
    Famous Funnies with a Frazetta cover?
    Four Color 386 - Scrooge on Money Lake?
    Human Torch 12 - burning the guy's arm off

    There are plenty of other fish in the sea.
    And for pete's sake, instead of a comic page, consider some original art.

    gozer
    My eyes! The goggles do nothing.

  6. Both are sold - thank you.

    Rangers Comics #21 (Feb 1945)

    $3500

    CGC 8.5, white pages
    Fiction House
    Lost Valley copy

    First appearance of Firehair.

    Cover art is Joe Doolin (I think). A stalwart soldier is saving the about-to-be-beheaded brunette, while in the background GIs are storming some walled compound (or something).

    Anyway, a great cover.  "The Nipponese Temple of Swinging Death"
    Fiction House, high-grade, WW2 theme, bondage, white pages -- a pretty good combo IMO.

    And just a few months ago (may 2019) the 9.2 copy sold on Heritage for $6300.  That's an interesting data point.

    There are 28 blue-label copies in the census.
    Census data on this book, for the copies 8.0 and above:
    9.2 - 1
    9.0 - none
    8.5 - 3
    8.0 - 4

    The other two 8.5 copies are the Crippen "D" copy and the Big Apple copy.
    I think that's another thing in this book's favor, there just aren't that many high-grade copies out there.

    And let's not forget Firehair!

    Rangers 21 is the first appearance of Firehair! A take-charge gal of the old west.

    Lynn Cabot is with her father and some others in a wagon train (and for some reason they have a load of rifles).  They're attacked by (perhaps fake?) Indians and everyone but Lynn is killed. Oh NO!  Golly gee.  I wonder what will happen next?

    Firehair turned out to be sorta/kinda popular - she was in the next 40+ issues. And Rangers, starting with issue #40, started featuring her on the cover. She also had an 11-issue run under her own title a few years later.

    rangers_21.thumb.jpg.338fb89792e3cb7b5ced2fedd2bec5ac.jpg

     

     

    The Saint #1 (Aug 1947)

    Sold

  7. 10 Mickey Mouse Magazines from 1938 and 1939.

    Vol 3   Num 6  (March 1938)
    Vol 3   Num 9
    Vol 3   Num 11

    Vol 4   Num 1
    Vol 4   Num 3
    Vol 4   Num 4

    Vol 4    Num 7 (Mama and baby duck)
    Vol 4    Num 7 (Goofy fishing)

    Vol 4    Num 8
    Vol 4    Num 9  (June 1939)

    $1800 for all ten.
    Plus $35 shipping.
    Not accepting offers for single copies.
    Payment by check/MO only.
    Full refund if not satisfied, you pay return shipping.

    Let me know if you would like other pictures.

    group_01.thumb.jpg.a7583f5335facfea0e2c862b093ca518.jpggroup_02.thumb.jpg.1e1b2c015ed05e63ff45339fc7b99da4.jpg

     

    I would grade most of these as a solid VG, and a few sliding toward VG/F.

    The good news is that all 10 are solidly held together.  You can hold these, and page through them,
    and not feel like they're going to come apart.  Pages are solidly attached at the staples, all centerfolds present.
    No pieces missing, nothing clipped out.

    Paper quality is good - off white.  No brittleness at all - pages are supple.

    The covers have no pieces missing.  Yes, there's some paper loss and a few holes here and there, but
    overall the covers have a lot of eye appeal.

    The bad news:

    There's a moderate amount of "paper loss" on several book's front and back covers.

    NOTE: By paper loss, I mean: small areas where the top layer is gone.  Like a tape pull.  It's not
    a hole through the paper (although there are a few of those).  Not sure what causes them.  Insects?

    Assorted corner creases, some places with edge damage to the cover (V 3, N 11 is probably the worst).

    There is writing on a few of the covers.  Looks like "Little Jimi Holder" owned some of these.
    If you're looking forward to doing the crossword puzzles, too late.  Someone beat you to it.

    I've tried to show the worst of these in the pictures at the end of this post.  Here's a verbal
    description of the books.

    Vol 3   Num 6
        Has the second (and final) part of the story Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

        "The little dwarts were very happy as they watched her ride off beside her Prince, to his Castle
        of Dreams, because they knew it was her dream come true."

        Paper loss on upper right side of FC.  Staples are solid, crease on lower right FC.

    Vol 3   Num 9
        Spine is split about a half inch on top, and about 1/4 inch on bottom.
        Top staple is coming loose, paper loss on lower FC, and lower BC.

    Vol 3   Num 11
        This is probably the roughest copy of the bunch.  Bit of paper gone on bottom of FC, plus paper loss (like
        a tape pull) on bottom corner of FC.   A smear of something across the top of the BC.

    Vol 4   Num 1
        Spine is a bit rough, with paper loss at one spot on spine near top staple.  Book lays flat, but still has some spine roll.

    Vol 4   Num 3
        Paper loss on right side of FC.
        Name and address written on cover in ink.
        "Little Jimi Holder" in Fayetteville, GA.

    Vol 4   Num 4

        Rough around top staple.

    Vol 4    Num 7a  (Mama and baby duck)
        Small stain on lower left FC, dark staining around bottom staple, staining on lower BC.

    Vol 4    Num 7b  (Goofy fishing) Yes, there are two number 7s.
        Paper loss on upper right FC, crease on bottom BC.

    Vol 4    Num 8
        Staples are solid, paper loss on lower BC,  two spots of color loss on FC.
        Nice eye appeal, FC corners are nice.

    Vol 4    Num 9
        Cover features a nice pic of Mickey solo - lot of eye appeal.
        FC has several small spots of paper loss.  Several spots on lower BC have holes though the paper.

     

     

    v3_n6_01.jpg.d9daf583816318d05ac55893a75a4f18.jpgv3_n6_02.thumb.jpg.74182981bad8843f23b44070fa46ad9b.jpgv3_n9_01.jpg.349b48db74920a759a8d8fa011e5324c.jpgv3_n9_02.thumb.jpg.4699bc8e4eabe260ef66c3599cb95df1.jpgv3_n11_01.jpg.b61425d46765babbefc2f42c1f3c0b9f.jpgv3_n11_02.thumb.jpg.5af9fdc3dc6b22a905b17ae0ae7ce88d.jpgv3_n11_03.thumb.jpg.3f27bcb4fff90bbddcb6be96dfdda605.jpgv3_n11_04.thumb.jpg.a11249df4ce0692e8923afcbc96859a9.jpgv4_n1_01.jpg.e5bcf541b51a64e5faf3937ec8a40b6e.jpgv4_n3_01.jpg.23657b4d6470c18e160d455b19aac314.jpgv4_n4_01.jpg.025ec22d5cccf996279761bfc05c1f19.jpgv4_n4_02.jpg.a99c1dba5bfbd84f6c50d836deea473f.jpgv4_n7a_01.jpg.191c3866bfada7dbc6e7a6767b401c71.jpgv4_n7a_02.thumb.jpg.0cbe2cece7416521aa1bcdc04591e48a.jpgv4_n7b_01.thumb.jpg.2094681ccc7e4699144208a46192306f.jpgv4_n8_01.jpg.4b742e65d8dc99a7e9e41e478306d8c8.jpgv4_n9_01.jpg.6b79198d1173bcf38a86c058f50465e0.jpgv4_n9_02.jpg.3a397e5110b3c9076fedf5525bb07a33.jpg

     

  8. Space Western 40 (1952) is one of those oddball genre comics.
    "Let's blend science fiction and westerns!"  It can't miss.

    The cover has an evil troll/gnome/something carrying a woman in the
    foreground, a person on horseback behind them, and a space ship in the background.

    Ok, seems sane.

    Here's the cover -- but with the figure on horseback hidden.

    sw_1.jpg.774b8c54f8d4be5ef836dcc329b3eb45.jpgx

     

     

    So let's zoom in a little.  Here's a closeup of the rider -- but with the face hidden.

    sw_2.jpg.12c7ae0395b08da7e3d981a1ca2138f9.jpg

     

    Hmmm.  Showing LOTS of leg.  Vibrantly colored clothes - RED short shorts, and a bright
    yellow shirt.  Small waist? (hard to tell).  And some odd, almost-hairy cleavage.  But cleavage nevertheless.

    So who is that mystery person on the horse?

    sw_3.jpg.49de45c053e44813042ae5a3a54dc24c.jpg

     

    It's your standard, stalwart Robert Taylor kind of macho guy.  Holding a whip.
    Rescuing the damsel.

    Just dressed very ... oddly?

    What the heck?  The artists were bored and having fun?  Some sort of in-joke?
    The hero was going to be a woman, but that got changed at the last moment?

    Maybe that's how he-men dress in their alternate world?  As a fashion statement,
    this did not seem to catch on.