Still Only 35c

A big one for you guys to advise on. Plan to get cleaned & pressed.

Finally got the book back this week via CCS.

So these are actually true UK editions rather than true UK variants which are true variants of the original ¢ copies. What do the interiors look like? I might need to hunt these out as those covers are so retro and copies that they are actually awesome!

My understanding is that examples like the book in my original post above if of high enough quality otherwise would have a ceiling of 9.6. I have one book on its way back to me shortly that is subject to that (has same writing on the back cover and graded 9.6).

Following up on this, I got clarity from Matt Nelson (via email related to another book) who confirmed that the highest possible grade is 9.6 for a book with writing on front or back cover, as it would preclude a book from obtaining a 9.8 grade

Yes, it's a Tales To Astonish 90 from 1967. Graded under Crossover Express from PGX

I have an Express submission that has been sitting at GEI for almost two weeks too. When I called customer service advised they have a backlog, but I've never seen delays like this outside of my dreaded Eastman signing submission which was there for almost two months.

Glad you finally got these back and congrats on the bump... Meanwhile, mine finally arrived back today too and sadly this signing is the gift that just keeps giving. Despite all books being prepped for signing, in the same batch and being charged signing fees for ALL 3 books, one of my ashcans came back unsigned. I'm more than a little ... Hey @Jennifer F., what happened here? What is best course to remedy? Ideally I want my book signed as I paid for it and waited well above and beyond the quoted wait times only to be disappointed.

Wondering if anyone in this group has run a comparison on the various price variants according to census over the years? I've recently picked up a high grade Eternals #2 UK price variant and noted the difference in copies of 30c (189 9.8s and 447 9.6s) vs 35c (only 2 9.8 and 4 9.6) vs UK price variants (none above 8.5). Be interesting to see if that same mix happens across other books and may highlight the scarcity and future desirability for these books in high grade.

Mine was 4/13/21, hence the frustration throughout. I think mine was also in the original in-house signing too. Seems to be no rhyme or reason to these delays...

My books finally changed to Grading/Quality Control. I'd just about given up.

Looks good for a possible 9.8 grade

I'm at 5.0

Last one for today.

Second attempt with this book (1st time didn't end that well - more later). Appreciate views on possible grade.

Appreciate thoughts on possible grade here. Of note, the line on right hand side is not a crease and seems to be from original printing.

This is the same spiel they've been giving me for over 2 months stating books are graded in encapsulation. Frankly, this is terrible customer service especially when you consider they originally quoted 6 weeks for grading and pressing. Not holding my breath...

Still SFG for me. I have given up on these books.. they were at SFG on 4/13/2021!!!!!!!

Got email from customer service yesterday after asking for clarity on why we are having substantial delays with Eastman signing. This is what I got back... Unfortunately, I don't 100% buy this rationale. I've submitted a number of magazine submissions over the years and never experienced delays like this (usually the magazines are encapsulated at most within a week of grading). I still suspect they are having issues with supplies; otherwise why else would these books by sitting in encapsulation for over 7 weeks now? I just wish they were honest with us especially as they originally quoted TATs of 3 weeks pressing and 3 weeks grading...

My latest delivery (some headed for evilbay).

Got my Claremont CGC In-House Private Signing books back this week. Very happy with the results, most of these were old CGC labels prior and were pressed by CCS with all, but one getting grade bumps. Unfortunately two have to go back as the graders missed noting the Byrne and Austin sigs on 1st page on a couple of the books. As an aside, love the different color sigs that Claremont did on some of these.

Absolutely agree. I've been scouring for high grade UK variants and been lucky enough to grade a 9.6 X-Men 129 and Werewolf By Night 32 9.2. Wonder what those are worth nowadays given the scarcity?

It's starting to as collectors discover that these books were printed at the same time and on the same press as the US books (some believe the UK variants were actually first of the press run). They were however only a fraction of the print run, making high grade copies scarce. Like all things it depends on the book, grade and/or if a key issue; whilst some collectors will always favour the US version, some UK variant pricing books are seeing significant price premiums (ie. Werewolf By Night 32). Other region price variants are seeing similar gains when available (ie. Canadian, Australia, etc).

It would appear so...

I have a working theory that CGC is out of magazine encapsulation supplies. It is the only reason I can come up with for why both my Eastman signing (been at Encapsulation for over 3 weeks according to CGC customer service and despite been listed as Scheduled for Grading) and Magazine Walkthrough Press & Grade (still sitting at Received since 4/11/2021 - even with new TATs well over a week late) submissions are significantly delayed. I've given up trying to get any sense or comfort from CGC Customer Service.