gino2paulus2

If they could figure out a way to center the book in the slab it wouldn't be as bad imo but they seemingly never can because they always have to use the wedge. Makes it look off which is the reason I too don't like the magazine slabs. That and they are hard to store obviously.

I don’t think I ever implied kissing anyone’s ring by any stretch of the imagination but when it comes to grading comic books CGC is viewed as a standard whether you agree with it or not and there is absolutely no arguing that. For your example of raw grades I guess yes I would disclose that if I used the spare a grade section and it depends who gave their opinion on the grade. Was it my opinion (someone who’s collected comics for years to read and appreciate but never really got too much into looking at books and counting spine ticks on high grade books as I collect rags anyways) or is it someone like Roy @VintageComics who is renowned for his subjectivity and accuracy to the pinpoint grade because if I bought a book from him raw and resold the answer is absolutely yes I would disclose his opinion whether mine was .2 away from his or not. In a market where 1 full point can make the difference in hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars the information is what is ultimately the most important. So here is a question for you using your own example. I don’t swim in this pool or collect near mint books but have always highly respected those that do as it adds an entirely new later to the equation of collecting. Let’s say you buy an AF15 in a CGC 9.0 and you pay about 400K for said book. You get the book and think it looks nicer more like a 9.4 and are pumped. Are you cool cracking the book and listing it as a 9.4 raw with a new price of 700K because that’s at least what it’s worth now in your subjective grade and if you do list it you are telling me you wouldn’t mention that you just cracked it as soon as you got it in the mail, list it’s flaws, and why you think the book is better than the grade it was assigned by one of the hobbies largest standards in grading?

Good info to know Rick thanks man 👍

Full book all the way. Cap 3 comes to mind you could have had my copy I recently put up to market and had money to spare and that book has everything going for it. I also think buy what YOU love then if it declines in value any you will still appreciate it. I’m a GA guy but also love the Silver Age keys. I don’t really buy for investment purposes but why not AF15? I’m sure you could snag a 2.5-3.0 and just sit on it. I think that book has done pretty well over the past 10 years. It probably won’t quintuple in value like it has but it is a book that changes hands often enough to establish true market value. A page is a shot in the dark they don’t change hands often enough and there are too many variables. One page could be worth x amount and another completely different from the same book plus The market narrows very much for pieces I would think so the resell isn’t certain. I feel like this question gets asked a lot but good luck and let us know what you ultimately decide!!

@Dr. Love I really couldn’t have said it better than @Black_Adam just did here. I have many many books with detached covers that make up for it on the presentation and affordability side so yes some could say I welcome them. Undisclosed is obviously frowned upon as @fifties stated but probably not a deal breaker for me personally if said book fit my other criteria. With that being stated this book doesn’t really get high marks for presentation with the mold and tape etc. so it better make it up on technical side if doesn’t want to be just a 1.0. BUT WAIT, it was a 1.0!!

Look at this from the stance of my original post. This was never meant to be about any one book specifically I’ve been pretty crystal about that with more than one post. It was an example used with the the fewest amount of specifics as I could to get my question across which was, “is this a common practice in the GA community to crack and relist” and my question was answered by a few folks. This can turn into the subjectivity of grading and OS vs CGC grading standards that’s fine by me. Ive never done business with Worldwide this wasnt meant to be about them and to be quite honest this won’t deter me from doing so in the future either if they have a tough book I need at what I can live with price wise I’m a buyer whether that is raw or slabbed I agree with the old adage buy the book not just the label and I put a premium on cover presentation first and foremost. Everyone has their likes and dislikes, phobias of certain flaws etc this wasn’t meant to be about that but i’m ok if it goes there it is always an interesting debate. Crack and relist without mention of just being cracked was my question and any specifics used in this story were only meant to paint a picture 👍

I am now sure how @Black_Adam figured that out other than he is indeed got his detective skills from a wizard as his name would suggest haha!! Seriously impressive man. I didn’t mention the auction house or the dealer or even the publisher of the book haha!! That was mainly because I wasn’t calling anyone out but that is indeed the book. It sold on CC last month for $930. Same copy Again NOT judging the price or anything just was curious about overall practice in our hobby and greatly appreciate everyone’s input it is certainly enlightening

That’s a good point Karl and that does bring in the subjectivity of it all. Even then though you were taking that risk that it might come back higher, lower, or the same. You didn’t just list it raw and completely neglect the original grade. And what does a guy like you even need to buy comics for anyways when you can draw better ones yourself 🤟😁

Thanks @jimbo_707 and @AJD I appreciate the answers. Just so anyone reading this is aware again I wasn’t pointing at any specific dealer just to clarify as everyone seems to be a dealer nowadays anyways in some fashion or another just the practice of cracking and proclaiming a higher grade with a significant price hike and how it spanned across the GA comic community. I’ve seen many folks do the CPR, remove resto etc but even then the person is taking a risk and spending money to change the grade, label color, or both. Again this specific scenario just seemed different to me and I was cautiously optomistic it wasn’t common but sounds like it is.

So I was perusing some recent comic convention wall pics early this week when I noticed a pretty tough book I have been mildly chasing. I zoomed in to the raw copy and said hey that looks familiar. I checked and there is no mistaking the markings. It was a CGC 1.0 that I had been outbid on less than a month ago but now it was cracked out. I checked the dealers site (i’m not naming who it is or what book because one this is not a witch-hunt and two I don’t want to show my cards of the book I am in the market for). Anyways the book is now raw and listed for darn near twice the price it sold for at auction. It is also listed as being G- with G/VG eye appeal so it got a nice little subjective grade bump as well. I have personally cracked out a few slabs to get to the treats on the insides over the years and if I ever sold them I would certainly list them as ex-cgc graded and include the label. Obviously there is CPR nowadays etc but the book appeared the exact same from the raw dealer scan and the auction cgc scan. I know grading is subjective and I don’t even consider myself to be an expert grader by a long stretch but isn’t that one of the reasons we have a 3rd party grader like CGC? What I don’t like is that now the seller can just say well look at GPA a 1.0 just sold for let’s say $900. This is closer to a 1.8 with 2.5-3.0 eye appeal (it doesn’t really but it’s listed that way) hence the $1600 sticker. Once its yours it’s yours to do whatever you like with I won’t ever argue that and I am all for making profit buying and selling if that is your thing but this seems slightly shady to me. If this was still in the CGC slab on the wall I would probably reach out and say hey I was an underbidder I can make it worth your while but now I just can’t. I am SURE this happens quite frequently especially with bronze to silver age keys but it’s just off putting to me for some reason. Can anyone tell me is this normal in their eyes or is it wrong and we just have to live with it as the comic market is booming and with big business comes shady practices to stay afloat?

This is a great thread idea bro and I am blown away by some of the multiples here it is quite astonishing really. I have personally yet to keep two copies (on purpose) of anything but I love seeing 2 especially of tough books side by side!! I have several more than this somewhere in my old photos but here are a few I was able to dig up quick. Off the top of my head Boy Comics 10, Banner Comics 4 and Prize 43 (still have both), Speed 28, and All-American 61 come to mind of books I have owned 2 copies of at the same time and photographed gotta find those. I almost always sold the second.

My Oh My these beauties at sweet!! You are right @lpsunburst putting together a run today would most likely cost a majority of anyone daring the feats appendages for sure haha!! I love this book my copy has a glaring flaw which I conveniently covered up with my thumb 😊 I love er nonetheless. Here is a stamped US Jones 2 I had a little help finally landing 😉

There ya go!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that is a sweeeeet copy!! So happy you landed one bro!!

That is one tough book!!!!

what a great thread!!!!!!

Thanks C!!!!! As you know it cost me an arm and leg but so proud to add it the collection. I LOVE That idea btw lets do it!!!

This is a universal 1.8 from the other guys so had to crop out the label. Probably gonna have it CGCd. Love it!!

That’s a CLASSIC through my eyes!!!!!

Well done brother!!!!!!!!! Love em both!!!

Wow congrats bro!!!!!!!

Great books buddy!!!! Buy this man’s books folks he is ROCK SOLID!!!

Yes I agree I haven’t seen anyone mention the Heritage Sunday auction of the Aman 22 yet. 12K with the BP!!!! Rare Classic covers have reached whatever is beyond fire at this point. Maybe the word Supernova could apply that’s like 100 billion degrees celsius. Seems like an adequate comparison haha!! Great book btw brother!!

this is just awesome!!! congrats!!

Love this book!! GLWTS bro

Thread will now be closed thanks everyone for looking and all the nice comments!! Love these boards!!