Robot Man

On 3/21/2024 at 6:30 PM, szav said:

You'll know by the flood of PMs you're about to get.

On 3/21/2024 at 2:02 PM, samfromcalifornia said:

I stopped collecting about 30 years ago(after about 25 years in the hobby). Yet, here I am, checking the CGC two or three times a day. I stopped collecting, not because I lost interest or enthusiasm in the subject, but because I was alienated by the trend of overarching commercialization of a hobby I enjoyed.  Now, I am not naive enough to claim that financial considerations have not always played an important, even central, role in comics fandom. I just feel we're approaching a time when they might be the sole consideration. As more long time collectors pass from the scene, I feel their places are taken by people who regard comic book collecting in the same way another person might regard wheat futures. Long ago, when I tried to explain why I was so enthusiastic about comic book collecting, I spoke of how in, say, coin collecting, a 1909s VDB Lincoln penny looks pretty much like every other Lincoln penny ever minted. In comics, though, when you open them, there are so many different elements to appreciate(character, artist, first appearance, even the ads and many more). I think I made the case for my hobby well. Now, you can appreciate the cover and that's about it. You may dream about the first work of your favorite artist gracing a back up feature, but to actually look at it may impose a severe financial penalty.

That's why, in my original post, I stated that I didn't see the same magic of collecting as I experienced it, not that I stopped enjoying the hobby. Now, if the new collectors of today get as much enjoyment as I did in the days of yore, I couldn't be happier. I just don't think I would enjoy collecting in the current environment. But there were probably similar comments from the times of the pharaohs to the effect that the ankhs made at the time weren't as good as the ones of their youth. The phrase "the good old days" reflects less a relative quality than the magic of our younger days.

I completely understand what you are saying. Things have really changed over my lifetime of collecting. Mainly, the values of the books I have enjoyed for all these years. Maybe bad for buyers and good for sellers. They have become “widgets” to many. Maybe to some, it legitimates their hobby.

I tend to limit my reading and participation in threads here on auction prices and threads with a big key in the title. Frankly, the money talk really bores me. Any big keys I have aren’t going anywhere and I have long been priced out on most of the rest. Not that I’m not acutely aware of current pricing. But, this is not why I got into this hobby in the first place.

None of this has really diminished my enjoyment of the hobby. I have just adjusted my interests and maybe lowered my grading expectations in order to keep my foot in the door.

The love of the hobby is still very strong. There is a wonderful group of true lovers of the medium here on the boards. We share information freely and still show off the books we love. At the end of the day, it is the love of the books themselves that keep us all in the game. 

On 3/19/2024 at 11:04 PM, adamstrange said:

 

All very pretty! Many years ago when I discovered PBs, Avons were my favorites. But it got to the point where I just had two many and the prices started going locally so high I sold off a lot to buy comics instead. I could also at that time still find plenty out in “the wild” to replace them.

I saw several copies of “Earthman” and “Ship of Ishtar” in nice grade at the PB show last weekend. I was surprised to see the prices were still quite reasonable and nothing like the rising prices of comics from back when I sold mine.

Never seen that Sat Evening Post book though…

Probably the first comics I bought were those “still 10 cents” logo DCs. Then, came that fateful day when they became 12 cents! I don’t think I ever saw or bought the Fly. One day, I saw a new 12 center, The Amazing Spiderman #3 from some company called Marvel. I was hooked hard for life…

On 3/19/2024 at 7:33 PM, samfromcalifornia said:

I had a table at San Diego in the mid-80s and a young man came up, asking me if I had a copy of Nature Boy. I said yes, issue #3. He was dumbfounded, He said he couldn't count the number of conventions he had gone to, trying to find a copy of that run. I sold it to him for a reasonable price and he thanked me vociferously. I'll bet he remembered that find for quite a while. It gave me a good feeling as I hitched up my covered wagon for the trip back to LA, of course carrying my long rifle in case of grizzly attack.

Now he could go online and find 50 copies offered for sale, most of them encapsulated to protect the market value. I sorry, I just don't see the same magic of collecting as I experienced. 

I thought you were going to say, the next day you saw it on EBay or saw him selling it to the next guy.

In all my years buying and selling comics, I have probably heard every senario or reason why I should sell a book cheap to someone.

Like you, it is always very satisfying to get a book into the hands of someone who really wants and treasures it.

We now live in a world of money and the quick flip. That’s how it is and I really don’t care what you do with it once it’s paid for. Just don’t think everybody is stupid enough to fall for some age old story.

Am I jaded? No, not really just a little smarter than some people give me credit for.

I still enjoy this hobby! 

On 3/19/2024 at 10:58 AM, Hudson said:

I can see how that would be frustrating and cause people not to want to go to that thread.

I have not used the WTB thread too often, however, I believe anytime someone has contacted me with a book I am looking for, we have made a deal.   Then again, I am not a "dealer" or "flipper"; I am a collector.  As such, the exact price point is not as important to me, as it would be if I were trying to locate a book to make a profit.  In the cases when I want a certain grade, I always am specific about that (as to avoid the situation you described).  In MOST cases, I will take any grade if it is a book I am trying that hard to find.  Honestly, I sometimes like a "well loved" copy of a book (books after all were intended to be read).

We sound like brothers from different mothers…

I love high grade books as much as everyone else does and have a lot of them. But I love the books first and formost. I have long ago realized that what I collect, obscure GA, sometimes it is wise to, within reason, go for any copy available. Might never get the chance. And, if I wanted an upgrade, I can keep looking but the hole is filled for the time being.

I guess, to some extent, I have always been a bit of a dealer or flipper. In looking for stuff I want, I often bump into stuff I don’t want but others do. I have sold off that stuff to pay for what I want. My collection has almost always been totally self funded. A process that has worked out very well for me and kept my family happy…

On 3/17/2024 at 2:53 PM, Paul © ® ⚽️💙™ said:

Latest buy....

 

One of my all time favorites. What would this go for if it were a comic book? 

Happy first day of Spring!

Never heard of Jimmy Jacobs and I live in LA. You would have thought there would have been some talk locally. Sounds like a jaw dropping collection. Wonder what happened to it? 

On 3/19/2024 at 9:26 AM, Straw-Man said:

...looks better now!!

Cool book! Looks like the same to me other than that distracting label at the top…

On 3/19/2024 at 5:21 AM, marmat said:

 

Why would anyone take stuff like that to them? They have no idea as to rarity or value. Why? Because people just want to get on TV…

The problem with the “Wanted to Buy” thread is that every time I respond to some one, it is never the right grade or price or some other reason why they don’t want what they asked for. I have spent way too much time wasted to help someone out. I just don’t bother anymore.

Same thing with “trades”. Everyone wants the edge. In these days of run away pricing no one wants to show their cards. Was a whole lot easier when we just used “the guide”. 

On 3/18/2024 at 10:25 AM, Surfing Alien said:

 

My assessment, as well as most of the dealers I spoke to was that it was "vibrant". From open to close there were more people coming in and the variety of people was much greater than at Windy City for pulps. I'm sure it has to do with the fact that there's really something for everybody in paperbacks and the affordability factor. There were rows and rows of 4 for $10 and 1/2 price and just generally inexpensive vintage pbs from the 40's through the present of every genre. Exactly the kind of stuff that has general appeal to folks of all ages and budgets.

I bought all I could carry, as I've mentioned, I wish I had a truck (or brought a carry-on at least ). For someone who loves vintage pbs it's kinda like heaven to be around so many

As mentioned above - great overall selection - I didn't find a few particular grails I was looking for, but I'm used to that   I was kinda hoping there would be a whale there with copies of RSG and other big books on the wall, but no RSG, not even a copy of the Ace "Junkie", which was somewhat surprising because it's relatively common, if expensive. Kayo and Terry had some bigger books, but I already have the ones I want of those, although I would have bought Kayo's "Marihuana" if it was still there went I did my second round.

Prices ranged from dirt cheap to fair market. Everyone gave good discounts on a stack.

I've already posted some standouts in the pulp section, here's a couple more:

I did get one Cole (that has become impossible to find lately)

These you don't see every day:

 

It was worth the trip for sure. Everyone had great attitudes and the conversations were fun.

It is definitely dizzying to look at so many spines. I'm not used to seeing so many pbs displayed that way. I literally did not know which way to turn at certain points of the day

Vibrant and busy was a good way to describe it. In the era of digital reading, always nice to see “page turners” of all ages. Glad to hear it was a worthwhile trip.

Sorry to miss that “Love Hungry” one I’ve never seen before. I would have been on that like flies on you know what! I also missed a couple of pulps from the guy in the back by Terry. He had a nice selection at very fair pre-CGC prices. One of my buddies got a couple I’d have jumped if I got there first. I eyed Kayo’s “Marijuana” long and hard but in the end just couldn’t justify it.

I got a lot of great deals and came home with a nice pile of a bit of everything for a tiny fraction of what I would have spent on GA comics. Fun show!

On 3/18/2024 at 11:37 PM, Tri-Color Brian said:

Huh!...I bought a couple Four Colors today...here's one of them...

Same era as Toby Tyler but not one I remember. I’m a sucker for The Hardy Boys and Spin & Marty if super cheap…

On 3/18/2024 at 1:19 PM, Hap Hazard said:

Purchase from Sunday's LA Paperback Show, Four Color 108 Donald duck In the Terror of the River.

Glad you got it Steve. One of my favorites. Even though I have one in my bound volume, I’m always tempted to buy another…

Picked up the two Planet Stories at the LA Paperback show yesterday. Both rather cheap. I have never seen a British copy like this #4. 

On 3/18/2024 at 8:11 AM, OtherEric said:

See, I've got Kayo down as the amazing book store in SF proper and Moe's Books as the amazing bookstore in Berkley.  The problem with that definition is what to call Borderlands in that case, I supposed we could claim Haight is not only another city but since 1968 has been another planet entirely?

Yeah, you are right. Moe’s is in Berkeley. Both great “old school” bookshops. Shops like that are disappearing fast, sadly.

So what was your assessment of the show? Sounds like you bought a lot. Good selection? Good prices? Any standouts? Worth a trip across country? Are you as “spine blind” as I am?…

On 3/18/2024 at 4:47 AM, jimjum12 said:

Did you see any "unicorns" at the show, you know, the stuff you never see? GOD BLESS ...

-jimbo(a freind of jesus)

I saw the Amazing Detective Tales drug cover pulp. Just wasn’t nice enough to warrant $300. For me that day. Also saw a very nice copy of the Marijuana Dell 10 cent book for $250. Terry had some nice pulps but they were at, well, Terry prices…

On 3/18/2024 at 8:01 AM, Surfing Alien said:

It's a great drug book and great cover. When you look at the copyright page, it says "Second Printing" but it's actually the Second Printing of "Beyond Desire" with a new title and same cover art.  That used to confuse the heck out of people who went looking for the First Printing of "Dream Club" and thought it was a unicorn (well, Beyond Desire is a bit of a unicorn )

I dunno but I was “hooked” when I saw it…

On 3/18/2024 at 7:59 AM, OtherEric said:

I thought KAYO was still in SF on Post street, even after the recent move?

I've gotten so many great books from them over the years it's ridiculous.

Well, technically Berkeley is in San Francisco. Haven’t been up there since Covid though.