Robot Man

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.

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…

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!

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…

A new one in. Real late in the pre-code run. These actually got a lot more “gritty” by this time. Only down to a small handful to complete this pre code run…

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?

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

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”.

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!

Happy first day of Spring. Boy, am I ready!

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

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…

Love that book. Was one of my first LB Cole purchases from Mr. Redbeard.

A couple nice Thrilling Wonders from the LA Paperback show yesterday.

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.

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?…

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…

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

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

A cheap purchase at the LA Paperback show yesterday. I have never seen one of these subscription issues. I rarely buy these but for $3. I thought it was a no brainer.