marvelmaniac

What are you scared about?, Did you just purchase the book?

We are all "assuming" the MVS is still present and intact?

It is not CGC graded, it is only a VF/NM 9.0 by my grading standards but I only payed $1.25 for it in 1992... Sorry, had to, just reminded me of one of my favorite scenes from American Graffiti. Toad - "I got a problem. See, I lost my I. D. In a flood", "and I was wondering, since you're going in there anyway,"could you pick me some Old Harper? Hard stuff?". Wino - "Why, certainly.", "I lost my wife, too.", "Her name wasn't Idy, though, and it wasn't in a flood."

FN+ 6.5 6.5 FINE+ (FN+): Back to Top Fits the criteria for Fine but with an additional virtue or small accumulation of virtues that improves the book's appearance by a perceptible amount. 6.0 FINE (FN): Back to Top An above-average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with no significant creasing or other serious defects. Some accumulation of minor bindery/printing defects is allowed. Minor cover wear apparent, with minor to moderate creases. Inks show a significant reduction in reflectivity. Blunted corners are more common, as is minor staining, soiling, discoloration, and/or foxing. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. A minor spine roll is allowed. There can also be a 1/4" spine split or severe color break. Staples may show minor discoloration. Minor staple tears and a few slight stress lines may be present, as well as minor rust migration. Paper is tan to brown and fairly supple with no signs of brittleness. Minor interior tears at the margin may be present. Centerfold may be loose.

And as I posted earlier in another thread, any PR 0.5 or FR 1.0 "Well Loved Key" is better than not having an original copy at all.

I know you were disappointed/unhappy with the book but I just need to say... Even an "X-Men #1 with lots of ugly tape" (well Loved to me) is better than not having an original X-Men #1 at all.

When I was a kid we traded comic books (and baseball cards) all the time. As a grown up (physically only) collector that is into completing runs I would not trade any book I have for another of "equal: value because I would never be able to replace the book I traded so there is actually nothing to gain. Right now I have a Raw FN/VF 7.0 Incredible Hulk 181 but do not own original copies of X-Men 1 (have MME), JIM 83 (Have GRR) or TOS 39 (Have MME) and I am fine with that, although #1's are Great To Have. As already stated it all depends on what your collecting goals are... Do you collect as an investment or collect for the fun/joy of collecting? It's a tough call and I am feeling anxiety just thinking about it.

IMO from the pictures posted... X-MEN #1 (Due to the tear/missing piece by the top staple) 2.0 GOOD (GD): Back to TopShows substantial wear; often considered a "reading copy." Cover shows significant wear and may even be detached. Cover reflectivity is low and in some cases completely absent. Book-length creases and dimples may be present. Rounded corners are more common. Moderate soiling, staining, discoloration and foxing may be present. The largest piece allowed missing from the front or back cover is usually a 1/2" triangle or a 1/4" square, although some Silver Age books such as 1960s Marvels have had the price corner box clipped from the top left front cover and may be considered Good if they would otherwise have graded higher. Tape and other forms of amateur repair are common in Silver Age and older books. Spine roll is likely. May have up to a 2" spine split. Staples may be degraded, replaced or missing. Moderate staple tears and stress lines may be present, as well as rust migration. Paper is brown but not brittle. Centerfold may be loose or detached. Moderate interior tears may be present. AVENGERS #4 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. AVENGERS #1 1.5 FAIR/GOOD (FR/GD): Back to TopShows substantial to heavy wear. Books in this grade are commonly creased, scuffed, abraded, soiled, and possibly unattractive, but still generally readable. Cover shows considerable wear and may be detached. Almost no cover reflectivity remaining. Book-length creases, tears and folds may be present. Rounded corners are increasingly common. Soiling, staining, discoloration and foxing is generally present. Up to 1/10 of the back cover may be missing. Tape and other forms of amateur repair are increasingly common in Silver Age and older books. Spine roll is common. May have a spine split between 2" and 2/3 the length of the book. Staples may be degraded, replaced or missing. Staple tears and stress lines are common, as well as rust migration. Paper is brown and may show brittleness around the edges. Acidic odor may be present. Centerfold may be loose or detached. Interior tears are common. ALL NICE BOOKS!!!

OR...

Even though I totally agree with the above statement... Just to put ALL available options out there... https://www.gemstonepub.com/en/the-overstreet-guide-to-grading-comics-2016-edition ($17.00 on Amazon) OR https://comics.ha.com/tutorial/comics-grading.s?show=comicdefinitions http://www.teako170.com/grade.html

IDK

Free...??? https://comics.ha.com/overstreet/comic-book-price-guide.s

FN 6.0

The book is a FR 1.0 with or without the tape and extra staples, however it is also a UK edition which is not my cup of tea (pardon the pun) but there may/will be a specialized collector looking for UK books.

IMO you are pretty accurate on your grade estimate. The book lies very flat and has no apparent staple tears or discoloration. All I see is a minor color break at the top left above the "V" (first pic) , minor stress lines, blunted corners and a crease at the top right corner. IMO FN 6.0 - FN + 6.5 (I am hesitate to go FN/VF 7.0) 6.0 FINE (FN): Back to TopAn above-average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with no significant creasing or other serious defects. Some accumulation of minor bindery/printing defects is allowed. Minor cover wear apparent, with minor to moderate creases. Inks show a significant reduction in reflectivity. Blunted corners are more common, as is minor staining, soiling, discoloration, and/or foxing. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. A minor spine roll is allowed. There can also be a 1/4" spine split or severe color break. Staples may show minor discoloration. Minor staple tears and a few slight stress lines may be present, as well as minor rust migration. Paper is tan to brown and fairly supple with no signs of brittleness. Minor interior tears at the margin may be present. Centerfold may be loose

I also had a friend whose dad worked for Topps in Phila when I was 7/8 years old and used to bring us home uncut sheets of the latest series of baseball cards and we cut them up and put them in the spokes of our bikes with cloth pins, am I absolved from that also??? (Everytime I think about it I get a sick feeling inside)

Wanna Cringe... When I was a kid and first started collecting Marvel back in the 60's (started in 65) me and my collector friends would take apart Marvel Collectors Items Classics and Marvel Tales and use them as individual issues for our collection.

Unfortunately I cannot get to my books right now but I must say... I have numerous reading copies and Love them and that is one "Well Loved Copy" of ASM 45, makes me feel all Warm and Fuzzy Inside. (That statement is 100% Sincere, no sarcasm intended.)

8.5 VERY FINE+ (VF+): Back to Top Fits the criteria for Very Fine but with an additional virtue or small accumulation of virtues that improves the book's appearance by a perceptible amount. 8.0 VERY FINE (VF): Back to Top An 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.

Although not Silver Age but reprinting the key #1's of the SA, do not forget about "Marvel Milestone Editions" if you are looking for an affordable way to read those books.

To slab or not to slab... All depends on what you plan to do with it. From what I have read slabbing does not provide any more protection than proper storage in a Mylite with an acid free board. If it is for investment purposes...Recent eBay sold auctions for Incredible Hulk #3. (Seems high to me... I track prices for sold eBay auction listings 3 times a year for my key books and the average price for an Incredible Hulk #3 FR/GD 1.5 in 2018 was $150.00, $330.00 for GD 2.0?) 1/22 - Raw - GD 2.0 $330.00 (17 bids/9 bidders) 1/17 - CGC 3.0 $537.00 (38 bids/15 bidders) 1/8 - CGC 3.0 $520.00 (33 bids/14 bidders) Seeing that the CGC GD/VG 3.0's sold for over $500.00 I would "estimate" your book would be at least $650.00+ with the grade I see it as. 5.0 VERY GOOD/FINE (VG/FN): Back to TopAn above-average but well used comic book. An accumulation of bindery/printing defects is allowed. Minor to moderate cover wear apparent, with minor to moderate creases and/or dimples. Inks have moderate to low reflectivity. Blunted corners are increasingly common, as is minor to moderate staining, discoloration, and/or foxing. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. A minor to moderate spine roll is allowed. A spine split of up to 1/2" may be present. Staples may show minor discoloration. Minor staple tears and minor stress lines may also be present, as well as minor rust migration. Paper is tan to brown with no signs of brittleness. Centerfold may be loose. Minor interior tears may also be present.

Let us know how the process with CIS goes.

Going by the grading standards I think you are OK at VG- 3.5. GD/VG 3.0 states..."Tape and other amateur repair may be present. "Minor to moderate interior tears may be present." VG 4.0 states..."Only minor unobtrusive tape and other amateur repair allowed on otherwise high grade copies." "Minor to moderate interior tears may be present."

You are absolutely correct!!! I cannot get to my books at the moment so I was using MCS (Lonestar) to gets dates on which books to post and their listings are incorrect. According to MCS TGK 42 is June 1958 (which I still did not get right ) and TGK 43 is August 59...??? Issue #42 From MCS...Two-Gun Kid (1948) #42 Published Jun 1958 by Marvel. Two-Gun Kid (1948) #43 Published Aug 1959 by Marvel The actual TGK issue I should have posted for 1959 would be #46 February 1959. (MCS is also a year off...) Two-Gun Kid (1948) #46 Published Feb 1960 by Marvel Here is my correction.

WOW, you guys are tough, Granted it is a lower grade book but IMO it is still a GD 2.0 at "minimum". I have seen GD 2.0 books in worse shape. Other than the stain and moderate staple tear in the middle, this book would grade at VG 4.0 IMO and staining will have less of an impact on a lower grade book, especially on the back cover, again, all IMO.