Jaydogrules

Perhaps. But that's based on the spiked GPA data after those sketchy auction results. Even legitimate sellers price their books based on GPA, regardless of whether or not said data is based on fraudulent input. This is why shilling sucks. Like I said, buyer should beware at these price points. It's deja vu all over again. -J.

I understand where you're seeing some of this, but... I think with this comic in particular, what we're seeing is a Star Wars fan base that far, far, far, exceeds that of the comic collecting community. Yes, there are tons of this comic that's been hoarded - in COMIC BOOK terms. But the fan base of Star Wars is just far BIGGER than what has been hoarded, and the Star Wars fan base that's interested in this first Star Wars comic is bigger than what's been hoarded. How big? Well the new #1 sold over a million copies.... and there aren't a million copies of the 1977 #1. I'm not saying you're wrong - eBay is a grotesque cesspool of weasel-like half humans preying upon the unwitting - I'm just not surprised at the rise in this book, heading into the movie. I agree that with the release of the new comic and the new movies on the way, "some" increase in value and interest is to be expected. But how much validity can truly be found in these new and sudden apparent price points when all three of the auctions that establish said price points are tainted by what are fairly obvious shill bidders/buyers? -J.

This book is form the late Bronze Age, so we already know it isn't the least bit "rare" in any grade. Secondly, it was printed as a "collector's item", souvenir book for a movie that was immediately popular. So we know that the books has been saved/hoarded in large numbers over the years. SW 1 is following the identical trend of essentially every other common book that suddenly experiences an inexplicable and unwarranted rise in value, as well as the accompanying irrational exuberance/explanations from fans/dealers in an attempt to reason/justify why/how something that has been a known "collector's item" for nearly 40 years should plausibly triple in "value" in a seven week period. There is no explanation. Actually, yes there is. Wait for it........ SHILLING!! And here we go.... It usually starts with couple exorbitantly high "buy-it-nows" being popped on ebay to get the ball rolling: http://www.ebay.com/itm/STAR-WARS-1-CGC-9-8-WHITE-PAGES-MARVEL-1977-/151563634354?pt=US_Comic_Books&hash=item2349e586b2 Then the fun begins: http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=171655306446&showauto=true You'll notice that in the above auction that two bidders, e**r (549) and e**3 (229) are responsible for running up the bid to well over $1400, which at the time was $300 more than that previous "buy-it-now" that shattered the previous GPA high just a week earlier. Then four days later this auction happened: http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=151577356284&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565 Notice the same two bidders again running up the auction, e**r (549) and e**3 (229). Except congrats to our friend e**3 who looks like he won this one for a new GPA shattering $1875. By now the damage has been done to GPA and the market believes that this books is suddenly now "worth" $1800+. Which now takes us to this still ongoing auction: http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=231479894655&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565 Where our friends e**r* (549) and e**3 (229) are this time the only two participants. Oh, and lookie-here, it looks like e**r (229) is on track again to pay a record shattering price for an SW #1, 9.8 for the second time in two weeks. This guy must really be a fan. (thumbs u The problem with shilling, as I have said before and it bears repeating, is not only that it artificially drives up the price for legitimate buyers, but it also creates a false demand for a book, which in turn can cause panic buying amongst bandwagon collectors. This however can only sustain "value" on a book in the short term. This is what we are seeing now. From my cursory analysis of the above auctions, I see extreme anomalies in the bidding and pricing on this book, that certainly warrant it a "buyer beware". -J.

They will be a good blue chip now. Star Wars was the most popular comic book of the 1970s. So many people were introduced to comics because of Star Wars. Star Wars kept Marvel in business. Star Wars comic saved Marvel. Leave it to Roy Thomas to add a little common sense to the over the top exaggeration: “Marvel benefitted tremendously,” Thomas says. “At that time, comics were having problems because newsstands and mom and pop stores were drying up. I don’t know if you could call Star Wars the comic that saved Marvel, but it certainly came along at a time when it made a big difference.” There aren't a lot of numbers for publisher's during that time, but Amazing Spider-man went from 273,000 in 1975 total paid circulation to 281,000 in 1977, a small dip in 1978 to 258,000 (no numbers in 1979) to 296,000 in 1980. Similar type of deal with other Marvel Comics during that period. I think saying Star Wars kept Marvel in business is an extreme over statement. +1 To all of this. And it also underscores how utterly common the book really is. This book and a few others in the copper/modern age are on very serious "bubble watch" right now. -J. I have been patiently waiting for one of your "shilled auctions" reports for Star Wars #1. -J.

They will be a good blue chip now. Star Wars was the most popular comic book of the 1970s. So many people were introduced to comics because of Star Wars. Star Wars kept Marvel in business. Star Wars comic saved Marvel. Leave it to Roy Thomas to add a little common sense to the over the top exaggeration: “Marvel benefitted tremendously,” Thomas says. “At that time, comics were having problems because newsstands and mom and pop stores were drying up. I don’t know if you could call Star Wars the comic that saved Marvel, but it certainly came along at a time when it made a big difference.” There aren't a lot of numbers for publisher's during that time, but Amazing Spider-man went from 273,000 in 1975 total paid circulation to 281,000 in 1977, a small dip in 1978 to 258,000 (no numbers in 1979) to 296,000 in 1980. Similar type of deal with other Marvel Comics during that period. I think saying Star Wars kept Marvel in business is an extreme over statement. +1 To all of this. And it also underscores how utterly common the book really is. This book and a few others in the copper/modern age are on very serious "bubble watch" right now. -J.

Although very unlikely, if something like that were to happen, it would likely pull the chair out from underneath the entire hobby, SA on down to moderns, as AF 15 is literally one of the tent poles of the industry (like IH 181 for bronze and yes even walking dead 1 for the modern era). -J.

Nice copy! Better late than never. (thumbs u -J.

That variant is so tough to get. I was figuring at least 1000 were around. There's more than 2000. (thumbs u -J.

Mighty fine pair you have there. (thumbs u -J.

What the heck, I'll respond since this thread is still open for the time being. It isn't rare so much as getting prohibitively expensive. CR-OW PQ is also fairly common on AF #15, nothing to be concerned about at all. That's a great copy with exceptional centering! +1 Great copy. Congratulations. -J.

0 fb winner, though. There was an under-bidder at $7800. There's a less nice presenting 1.5 on heritage now as well. That one is worth a watch too. Although that restored "other grading company" 3.0 going for $7200 after the movie announcement was also pretty wacky. http://www.ebay.com/sch/?_nkw=-qzkgwxbbcvsqvpjmzr+191508345230&LH_Complete=1&LH_BIN=1&LH_BO=1&_pppn=v3&_ipg=200&_pgn=1&rmvSB=true -J.

$7900 for a 1.5. That just destroys GPA by a whole lot. Guess that answers the question as to whether or not spidey going to his cinematic home can give AF 15 an additional bump: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251826185111?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT -J.

As mentioned (just to keep it clear), the book was released before the comic: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_From_the_Adventures_of_Luke_Skywalker In my previous post, I mentioned that I wasn't including the novel. The novel just doesn't carry the same weight as the comics or the toys. The number of people who collect the comics/toys vs the novel is extremely disproportionate. Plus, this is a comic book forum....so speaking in terms of comics, this is Luke's first appearance. This is an ADAPTATION. It is not original comic book material. Let's not try so hard to make it into something more than it is -J. Ok so by that same logic I could ask why Batman Adventures #12 is known as the First Harley Quinn, when in fact she first appeared in the animated series a year before. Not trying to be a butthead here.....just so many times things are viewed differently, and then change later (in general consensus). (thumbs u I actually wonder the same thing about that one as well. -J.

As mentioned (just to keep it clear), the book was released before the comic: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_From_the_Adventures_of_Luke_Skywalker In my previous post, I mentioned that I wasn't including the novel. The novel just doesn't carry the same weight as the comics or the toys. The number of people who collect the comics/toys vs the novel is extremely disproportionate. Plus, this is a comic book forum....so speaking in terms of comics, this is Luke's first appearance. This is an ADAPTATION. It is not original comic book material. Let's not try so hard to make it into something more than it is -J.

Star Wars #1 was definitely on the stands before the movie. Star Wars #2 could have been on the stands as well. So....would that make it the first appearance of Luke and the gang? No it would not. It is still only a late bronze age comic book adaptation of a movie. -J. J, is this another one you missed the boat on ? Nope! Common books do not organically "double in price" in two weeks for no reason usually either. Oy vay, don't get me started. -J. I am not sure about "no reason". Marvel just released 1 million copies of Star Wars #1 into the market in January. If .1% (1,000 issues) of those found new readers now interested in the initial series, it would cause a dramatic uptick in the market for the initial Star Wars #1 almost instantly. So you mean this time will be different ? (I kid, I kid. Sort of) -J. I took your initial comment to mean you could not find a reason for the sudden spike. I think the reasons are actually pretty obvious (release of new movie trailer, release of new Star Wars comic series by marvel, etc). However, I think what you are really saying is you doubt this spike will sustain itself and it is just a "bubble" that will eventually burst as supply will quickly outstrip demand given this "common book". I think that is a completely understandable point of view! Time will tell. As a side note, I personally could care less about the money side of this over time. I collect Star Wars because it was the first movie I remember as a kid sitting through and being blown away at the movie theater. It stuck with me and I waited for each movie to come out after with great anticipation. I sat, dumbfounded, at the end of empire strikes back because I never sat in a movie before that so clearly left so much "unanswered". I could not believe I would have to wait months and months to finish the story. It brings back some great memories. They could be worth zero to everyone else in 10 years and would still be worth a lot to me just for those memories alone! I respect and appreciate your passion for the franchise, vint. With apologies, as my ever-so-slightly sarcastic quip was a bit on the in-jokey side. -J.

Star Wars #1 was definitely on the stands before the movie. Star Wars #2 could have been on the stands as well. So....would that make it the first appearance of Luke and the gang? No it would not. It is still only a late bronze age comic book adaptation of a movie. -J. J, is this another one you missed the boat on ? Nope! Common books do not organically "double in price" in two weeks for no reason usually either. Oy vay, don't get me started. -J. Too easy -J.

Star Wars #1 was definitely on the stands before the movie. Star Wars #2 could have been on the stands as well. So....would that make it the first appearance of Luke and the gang? No it would not. It is still only a late bronze age comic book adaptation of a movie. -J. J, is this another one you missed the boat on ? Nope! Common books do not organically "double in price" in two weeks for no reason usually either. Oy vay, don't get me started. -J. I am not sure about "no reason". Marvel just released 1 million copies of Star Wars #1 into the market in January. If .1% (1,000 issues) of those found new readers now interested in the initial series, it would cause a dramatic uptick in the market for the initial Star Wars #1 almost instantly. So you mean this time will be different ? (I kid, I kid. Sort of) -J.

Star Wars #1 was definitely on the stands before the movie. Star Wars #2 could have been on the stands as well. So....would that make it the first appearance of Luke and the gang? No it would not. It is still only a late bronze age comic book adaptation of a movie. -J. J, is this another one you missed the boat on ? Nope! Common books do not organically "double in price" in two weeks for no reason usually either. Oy vay, don't get me started. -J.

Star Wars #1 was definitely on the stands before the movie. Star Wars #2 could have been on the stands as well. So....would that make it the first appearance of Luke and the gang? No it would not. It is still only a late bronze age comic book adaptation of a movie. -J.

Now THAT'S more like it. Great books RMA. What took you so long to get around to post them ? -J.

Explain to me why it is going to sky rocket? Just because the board hates Sony's depiction of the Spidey movies the movies are a mega hits world wide. I don't see where a Marvel/Disney movie is going to demand a spike. Better movies maybe but has'nt the train left the station on AF 15? Maybe if some HG copies are flushed out and sell way over #s. But I'd say AF 15 keeps on climbing steady switch or no switch. Now if you told me Spidey villians might be finally done right and those should be hot I'd agree with that. I think he was speaking (typing) with a hint of sarcasm. And I would agree with you. The blue chip Spidey Villains should get a little push. 3,14,50,300 in particular. Can't rule out 4,15 & 20 either. Yeah, I was typing with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek. We need to decide on a standard emoji to use when making a sarcastic comment. Obviously, AF#15 is already in the stratosphere as far as prices go. No movie is going to push it higher. Just like the Bats/Supes Movie (even if it's the best superhero movie ever) will have minimal (zero?) effect on the prices of Action 1 or Tec 27. I'm not so sure. This 1.5 that is currently at auction has already beaten the prior GPA high by more than 10%, with two days still to go. http://www.ebay.com/itm/251826185111?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT The movie announcement(s) may very well spur fence-sitters to jump in, as we are very likely guaranteed (now more quality) mass media exposure for our favourite wall crawler for the next decade, at least. -J.

Yes 7 copies in six months have come up for sale (3 of the 35 slabs, 4 raw), all selling at ever increasing, record breaking prices, whether slabbed or raw. Now go find one of either for sale. Getting the point yet ? If not feel free to PM me for additional clarifications. Can we see some more awesome books now please ? -J.

These things have been progressively rising in value and becoming tougher and tougher to find for years now. And there's still only 35 on the census. I don't think anyone needs to worry about copies of sandman 8b's suddenly "flooding the market". Unless of course mschmidt decides to cash out his hoard. -J.

Mmmm...very nice. Excellent presentation as well. -J.

You said it brother. -J.