marvelmaniac

I am/was a collector looking to complete runs on a tight budget. That is a "Very Well Loved Copy" and I have a number of early books that look just like that. If I needed/wanted an ASM 13 to fill a hole in my ASM collection and that book was on eBay at the right price I would certainly give it a good home. I would "hug it, squeeze it, love it, stroke its feathers and name it George, hey wait, comics don't have feathers".

Just curious... Is there a point to this hypothetical situation? OR Did this really happen and you own the book or are looking to buy the book?

If it helps, recent eBay auction sales for CGC Universal Blue Label ASM 2 were. FR/GD 1.5 $625.00 (March 25) GD- 1.8 $690.00 (March 27) GD/VG 3.0 $1,026.36 (March 17)

What is your end goal here? Are you looking to purchase books for investment purposes only? Are you looking to buy cheap and hope to flip for a profit in the future? OR... Are you looking to collect for the "joy" of collecting?

I understand completely and this is what makes grading very subjective and difficult for everybody and in turn creates problems. As a collector of raw books and being "old school" where I was taught and told by numerous dealers over the years that The Overstreet Price Guide is the "Bible Of the Industry" I use the grading standards that are published in black and white which if I am not mistaken cannot be said for CGC. If CGC did publish their grading standards and you could point me to the site where I could see/read them I would be more than happy to use those grading standards so we could all be on the same page. When I grade my books or books on this site all books get graded equally by the "written" grading standards and illustrations in the Overstreet Grading Guide showing each defect specifically allowed whether they are from 1948 or 1998.

I would also assume that prove of the collectible as described and ownership would be a great help when filing a claim. That is why I have pictures and detailed lists of everything and have sent all of that info to them to keep in my file.

As a collector I understand completely, however over the years I have learned to show restraint although for some folks that is difficult, especially for younger folks with disposable income. For years (before eBay came along) I was searching for a JIM 91 with absolutely no luck, then at a small, local show I came across a copy with the centerfold missing for $10.00, I snapped it up, filled my run and upgraded the copy years later at the right price. I needed a Sad Sack #1 to complete my run of 10 cent copies (1-124) and came across a coverless copy on eBay for $25.00 and bought that copy immediately, guide for a GD 2.0 is $123.00 so I paid 20% of the GD 2.0 price for a complete although coverless copy and I am fine with that. I am only stating this so you do not allow your emotions to get the better of you and overspend for a copy that you may regret later on. Be patient (difficult I know) and keep your eyes open for another coverless/remainder copy at the RIGHT PRICE which as i already stated should be around the $400.00 - $600.00 range. Ultimately the decision is all yours... Good Luck on your Final Decision and Search.

Actually it is from "Heritage Auctions" and if they use the "Overstreet Grading Standards" then who am I to disagree. These are the standards I use for buying and grading my books. Also... That is not "writing on the cover" it is a store stamp not scribble with a pen done by a kid. https://comics.ha.com/tutorial/comics-grading.s?show=comicdefinitions

I cannot offer any advice on marrying the copies, however... Was just wondering how this book would garner a VG-3.5 to VG 4.0 with a missing centerfold. For a Universal Blue Label the book as is would not garner a better grade than a FR 1.0 which the grading standards state... "The centerfold may be missing if readability is generally preserved" In order to garner a grade of VG- 3.5 to VG 4.0 a book with a missing centerfold would have to get a "Qualified Green Label". The question then becomes does a book with married pages/cover count as "restoration" in which case the book would get a "Purple Restored Label". If you are looking at this as an investment and plan on selling the book my suggestion would be to contact CGC, ask them about marrying the copies and then weigh the options as to what label it will get, price to have the books married, price to grade, how much you will have invested, how much you can sell it for, etc. Are you looking at the coverless copy at MCS? A consignment book, coverless with a detached centerfold for $1730.00??? A Superman 3 CGC 2.0 sold on eBay on March 24 for $1843.88 Guide for this book in a raw GD 2.0 is about $1300.00 so a coverless copy should IMO only cost 1/3 - 1/2 of the GD 2.0 price. (Naturally this all depends on the book IE: Action Comics 1, TEC 27, Showcase 4, AF 15, etc. would probably bring more.) Since I am a "Collector Only" if I had a book with a full cover that was only missing the centerfold and I only wanted another "complete copy" for my collection to read I would certainly buy a coverless copy if the Price Was Right and keep both just as they were.

According to the grading standards VF 8.0 allows for an "unnoticeable 1/4" crease if color is not broken." How would CGC grade your book with the crease being 1" and on the back cover assuming the rest of the book actually is a NM/MT 9.8... 9.8 NEAR MINT/MINT (NM/MT): Back to TopNearly perfect in every way with only minor imperfections that keep it from the next higher grade. Only subtle bindery or printing defects are allowed. Cover is flat with no surface wear. Inks are bright with high reflectivity and minimal fading. Corners are cut square and sharp. Small, inconspicuous, lightly penciled, stamped or inked arrival dates are acceptable as long as they are in an unobtrusive location. Spine is tight and flat. Staples must be original, generally centered and clean with no rust. Paper is white, supple and fresh. Only the slightest interior tears are allowed. 8.0 VERY FINE (VF): Back to TopAn excellent copy with outstanding eye appeal. A limited accumulation of minor bindery/printing defects is allowed. Cover is relatively flat with minimal surface wear beginning to show, possibly including some minute wear at corners. Inks are generally bright with moderate to high reflectivity. An unnoticeable 1/4" crease is acceptable if color is not broken. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. Minor foxing. Spine is almost completely flat with a possible minor color break. Staples may show some discoloration. Very slight staple tears and a few almost insignificant stress lines may be present. Paper is cream to tan and supple. Centerfold is mostly secure. Minor interior tears at the margin may be present.

VG 4.0 is the highest grade where writing on the cover other than arrival dates is mentioned and allowed so how much it will drop the grade on your book depends on the actual overall grade of the book. 4.0 VERY GOOD (VG): Back to TopThe average used comic book. Cover shows moderate to significant wear, and may be loose but not completely detached. Cover reflectivity is low. Can have moderate creases or dimples. Corners may be blunted. Store stamps, name stamps, arrival dates, initials, etc. have no effect on this grade. Some discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor soiling is allowed. As much as a 1/4" triangle can be missing out of the corner or edge; a missing 1/8" square is also acceptable. Only minor unobtrusive tape and other amateur repair allowed on otherwise high grade copies. Moderate spine roll may be present and/or a 1" spine split. Staples may be discolored. Minor to moderate staple tears and stress lines may be present, as well as some rust migration. Paper is brown but not brittle. Minor to moderate interior tears may be present. Centerfold may be loose or detached at one stapl

The "Raw" copy even with the "Amateur Restoration" presents much nicer than the CGC graded book which is missing 1/2 the cover. Your copy which is a "Well Loved Book" and "Worthy To Be In Any Collection" does not present that well although it is complete, however, as I have said before about other "Well Loved Books"... Having that copy of an Original Hulk #1 is better than not having an original copy at all. Having said that, I am not a fan of "pence" copies and as others have already stated it will probably bring less $$$, what it will actually bring is all a shoot, you could put it up for auction and hope for the best (eBay, Comic Connect) or sell it as a BIN on eBay, as a Consignment on MCS, the For Sale section on this site and wait to see if it sells. Getting it graded will probably increase its value.

IMO your book grades at a FR 1.0. On January 21 a CGC PR 0.5 which appears to be in much worse shape than yours sold for $2650.00 on eBay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Incredible-Hulk-1-CGC-0-5-5-1962-Graded-Off-White-Pages-1235438002-/273657448830?_trksid=p2047675.m43663.l10137&nordt=true&rt=nc&orig_cvip=true Also on January 4 a Raw PR 0.5 (as graded by the seller) sold for $4433.00 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Incredible-Hulk-1-/132902227116?_trksid=p2047675.m43663.l10137&nordt=true&rt=nc&orig_cvip=true

You can also go to Walmart and buy these to keep the flaps closed on your Mylites. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Avery-Neon-Dot-3-4-Asst-Colors-315ct/641238878?wpa_bd=1553692173263&wpa_pg_seller_id=F55CDC31AB754BB68FE0B39041159D63&wpa_ref_id=34462f174b3ad536f64ea1790f56821b&wpa_aux_info=__aux_info__&wpa_tag=__tag__&wpa_pos=3&wpa_plmt=__plmt__&wpa_aduid=__aduid__

Not True. I have been using "Scotch Magic Tape" for years and it becomes very difficult to remove when it has been on there for awhile and it does leave residue, just ask my Daredevil 131 which is no longer a FN- 5.5 due to tape residue.

I only own two CGC graded books, both were bought because I needed the issue to complete my runs of that series and the price was right for the book, did not care at all about it being graded.

That book presents extremely well and IMO would grade at a FN 6.0 except for... The piece missing from the top right edge. How much of a hit does the book take for that??? IMO it drops it at a "MINIMUM" of one point, how does CGC feel?

Maybe things have changed but when I was going to shows, large or small (have not gone to any in about 10 years) every dealer and almost all perspectives buyers were walking around with their copy of the Overstreet Price Guide in hand.

Tape, Tape, Tape, Blah, Blah, Blah... My feeling on this issue and others is this... They are comic books, they were originally published as "inexpensive, disposable" entertainment for kids and that is why I have them and had them as a kid in the 60's. My goal in collecting has/had nothing to do with monetary value. I collect to read the stories and complete my runs so if I feel the need I can read the entire storyline of a character without missing an issue. I was and am not going to spend bookoo to complete runs so they can be read and handled, PR/FR reading copies held together with tape, remainder copies, faded covers, water damage, etc mean nothing to me if the price is right and the story is preserved. I do however only own one coverless book, Sad Sack #1 from 1949 which I purchased for $20.00 and needed that to complete my run of 10 cent covers (#'s 1 - 124) I can also say this... If any of the books I currently need (Kid Colt Outlaw 1 and 2, Rawhide Kid 1, JIM 1, Strange Tales 1) showed up coverless/remaindered/taped/falling apart and the PRICE WAS RIGHT I would probably buy them. OK, now that I've gotten that out of my system and I am done listening to myself talk, carry on and Thanks for listening.

Just out of curiosity, what is he asking for it? Generally a PR 0.5 will bring 1/4 of the GD 2.0 price so according to Overstreet that would be $90.00. ($360.00 in GD 2.0)

Tape is Absolutely NOT an issue for me. Again for the umpteenth time I will send chills up everyone's spine... I use tape!!! It keeps my very low grade reading copies that are already falling apart from falling apart even more when and if they are handled which puts a Big on my face. And as far as the skeptics and haters go I will tell you what my Grandson says... "Too Bad, So Sad"

Just curious, do you also have the Official Marvel Binders that you had to send away for? Complete sets with the Holograms and the Official Marvel Binders will probably be worth more.

I know you did not write the book or have anything to do with its publication but... Why do issues 208 - 213 get excluded??? (or at least 210 -213)

Exactly what he said. 9.0 VERY FINE/NEAR MINT (VF/NM): Back to TopNearly perfect with outstanding eye appeal. A limited number of bindery/printing defects are allowed. Cover is almost flat with almost imperceptible wear. Inks are bright with slightly diminished reflectivity. An 1/8" bend is allowed if color is not broken. Corners are cut square and sharp with ever-so-slight blunting permitted but no creases. Several lightly penciled, stamped or inked arrival dates are acceptable. Very minor foxing. Spine is tight and flat. Staples may show some discoloration. Only the slightest staple tears are allowed. A very minor accumulation of stress lines may be present if they are nearly imperceptible. Paper is off-white to cream and supple. Very minor interior tears may be present.

2.5 GOOD+ (GD+): Back to TopFits the criteria for Good but with an additional virtue or small accumulation of virtues that improves the book's appearance by a perceptible amount. 3.0 GOOD/VERY GOOD (GD/VG): Back to TopA used comic book showing some substantial wear. Cover shows significant wear, and may be loose or even detached at one staple. Cover reflectivity is very low. Can have a book-length crease and/or dimples. Corners may be blunted or even rounded. Discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor to moderate soiling is allowed. A triangle from 1/4" to 1/2" can be missing out of the corner or edge; a missing 1/8" to 1/4" square is also acceptable. Tape and other amateur repair may be present. Moderate spine roll likely. May have a spine split of anywhere from 1" to 1-1/2". Staples may be rusted or replaced. Minor to moderate staple tears and moderate stress lines may be present, as well as some rust migration. Paper is brown but not brittle. Centerfold may be loose or detached at one staple. Minor to moderate interior tears may be present.