marvelmaniac

Here are all of the books published in March 1963 by Marvel. https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Category:1963,_March Go to eBay and look for pics that show the back cover.

Whatever board you use you want the board to completely fill the bag side to side so the book in question will be completely protected. The book on the other hand should not be squeezed into the bag, it should have a least an 1/8" room on either side to it is not being bent in the bag. If all of the books in question are the same size it makes it much easier. I have found that Golden/Silver Age books can vary in size depending on the time of printing which makes it difficult to maintain the same size bags in the same box, I am not sure about 80's/90's and up modern books since I do not collect them. If the run starts with Gold and ends with Silver (such as Journey Into Mystery/Strange Tales or the Marvel Westerns such as Kid Colt Outlaw and Two Gun Kid (I only collect 10 cent cover issues of the Westerns) I just use Golden Age Bags and Boards for all of them even though the later books (late 50's/early 60's) are smaller in size but it makes it much neater when they are all in the same box. MICROCHAMBER PAPER http://www.conservationresources.com/Main/S CATALOG/MicroChamber.htm Before CGC encase the comics, they add microchamber paper between the cover and pages of the book. What this little piece of paper does is absorb the acids in the pages of a comic, especially older comics, and helps prevent any further damage. What these acids do is cause a yellowing to the cover over time. It's suggested to have your comics "reholdered" every seven or eight years to have be microchamber paper replaced, but that can get quite expensive and isn't really necessary. Leaving the paper in longer that 7 years won't cause extra damage to your comic.

https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Category:1962,_November Take the list and go on eBay and look for these books for sale and see if they show pics of the back covers.

Extremely hard to narrow down to one book because there are lots I Love and even though Galactus is "The S$&T" I have to go with... (I know this is "two" but they go "hand in hand".) This is the book that back in 65 made me say "WOW!!!" and got me started on Marvel, so along with the follow up issue with an "AVENGERS CROSSOVER"!!!...

Hello and Welcome!!! Just my opinion as a 40 year collector, not a seller... eBay requires a lot of time and work, you have to list, package, ship and deal with people trying to get over on you. From what I can see the ASM 361/362/363 are the only books of any value and that is "right now" due to a supposed movie appearance and there are ton's for sale on eBay right now, most being sold as a lots. Current eBay auction sales show ASM 361 raw VF/NM 9.0 selling for about $75.00 while a CGC NM+ 9.6 sold for $186.00 and a CGC NM 9.4 sold for $154.00, factoring in the cost to grade is there any real profit there in grading for a quick sale? IMO if these books do not really mean anything to you and you are just looking to get rid of them check with your LCS, you may only get pennies on the dollar but it would be quick and easy or a yard sale, etc. Or as was already stated... "Why not sell them to the CGC guy?"

Hello and Welcome!!! I see you are in N.J., South, Central. North??? You can also check with your LCS, some will sell consignment books (or at least they used to). My F.F. 11 and 12 were both consignment books purchased from an LCS but that was 20 years ago. (Purchased from ComicCrypt in Oaklyn N.J.) Again I am going back a few years but you can also rent a table at a local weekend show to sell your books, there used to be a monthly show at the National Guard Armory in Bordentown. Maybe this will help... http://www.njcomicbookshows.com/

Hello and Welcome!!! Grading is subjective since people seem to see the same thing differently, especially if it is yours, however, there are grading standards, here is some info that will help you. First, if you are interested in learning to grade you should invest in this book, it details all grades from PR 0.5 to MT 10.0 with illustrations to point out the defects allowed in each grade and showing them. (You can purchase on Amazon) https://www.gemstonepub.com/en/the-overstreet-guide-to-grading-comics-2016-edition Here are two links to the Grading Standards and Comic Book Terminology. https://comics.ha.com/tutorial/comics-grading.s?show=comicdefinitions http://www.teako170.com/grade.html ENJOY!!!

Hello and Welcome!!! Although I do not send books in to be graded I can still shed some light on your questions. 1)Yes, send the book with the ripped out page, depending on the overall grade of the book it is likely to receive a "Green Qualified Label" which means the book will be graded as if the defect (ripped out page") was not present but the defect will be noted on the label. If the book were to receive a "Universal Blue Label" (graded with the defect) it probably would not receive a grade higher than a GD+ 2.5 taking all other defects/factors into consideration. CGC LABEL DESIGNATIONS https://www.cgccomics.com/comic-grading/labels/ 2)Your stains sound like they may be mold, pics of the books would certainly help and again, the overall condition of the book will determine the grade with the stains/ There have been a couple of threads opened recently pertaining to mold, here are some links to sites I posted on the subject. https://inspectapedia.com/mold/Foxing_Stains.php https://periodfinebindings.typepad.com/paper_conservation_remove/ https://www.loc.gov/preservation/outreach/tops/foxing/index.html I would recommend that you post pics of the books in the "Hey Buddy, Can You Spare A Grade" section.

Having a copy of the Overstreet Grading Guide will help you understand grading and help you to grade your books properly, a small investment now to help prevent you from making a larger uneducated investment later on. Even though it is usually outdated by the time of print as far as actual market prices the Overstreet Price Guide can provide you with valuable info about all comic books, both books IMO are a MUST for any collector. (Both can be purchased on Amazon) https://www.gemstonepub.com/en/the-overstreet-comic-book-price-guide-48-glflash-hc https://www.gemstonepub.com/en/the-overstreet-guide-to-grading-comics-2016-edition Just an FYI...If you are considering sending books to be graded and are going to look to get an approximate grade beforehand remember... You need to look at your books without bias and grade conservatively. Here are two links to grading and comic book terminology. https://comics.ha.com/tutorial/comics-grading.s?show=comicdefinitions http://www.teako170.com/grade.html ENJOY!!!

Slight wear at the top corners and minor stress lines on the spine, IMO... 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.

https://inspectapedia.com/mold/Foxing_Stains.php https://periodfinebindings.typepad.com/paper_conservation_remove/ https://www.loc.gov/preservation/outreach/tops/foxing/index.html

Also, slabbing does not provide any more protection than a Mylite and Acid Free Board taking all other storage conditions/factors into consideration. Here is some info from the Library Of Congress about Mold on paper. https://www.loc.gov/preservation/about/faqs/disaster.html Also, all of this speaking about mold got me thinking/remembering . I bought this book 20/25 years ago to fill a hole in my TOS run, probably for a $1.00 or 2 and it has been stored in the same Mylite in the box with all of the other TOS books ever since, the mold has not spread to other books nor has it gotten worse and there are no signs of mold on the board in that time and it has no "musty" smell. That book serves its purpose, my run of TOS is complete (1-99) and that particular book is not that important in the run that it needs to be replaced or upgraded.

The only info I can come up with is... Battlefield Action #59 A FR/GD raw sold for .99 cents on eBay, Lonestar Comics is selling a GD+ 2.5 Raw for $3.20 and the 2016 Overstreet Price Guide lists this book for $32.00 in Raw NM- 9.2, my educated guess on a CGC 9.4 depending on demand would be around $50 -$60...?? Warfront Presents Dynamite Joe #38 Currently selling on eBay is a raw VG 4.0 for $4.99 and a BIN or BO for a VF+ 8.5 raw for $60.00, Lonestar is selling a CGC VF/NM 9.0 for $52.00, 2016 Overstreet lists the book in a raw NM-9.2 at $60.00, so...

I do not have any other answers other than, "Google is your best friend", Good Luck!!!

If you interested in preserving your books you have then the books need to be placed individually in Bags (preferably Mylites) with Acid Free Boards and Stored away from All Light (Standard Comic Storage Boxes are fine), in a Controlled Environment (Temperature/Humidity, No Basements/Garages/Attics) and away from all Heat Sources. The mold will not spread to other books if they are kept in their own individual bags away from Water/Moisture. How to clean/remove mold...?? As far as Grading... IMO the WF 169 is a GD- 1.8 only because of the tear at the top left and the WF 174 is a GD 2.0. The Mold/Staining/Rust Migration has no affect on books in this grade. There is nothing wrong with Lower Grade Books (Also known as Reading Copies, I refer to them as "Well Loved"), I own many Well Loved Books myself. Here is some info that will help you with grading. https://comics.ha.com/tutorial/comics-grading.s?show=comicdefinitions https://www.gemstonepub.com/en/the-overstreet-guide-to-grading-comics-2016-edition (Amazon for less $)

Comic books, especially gold/silver/bronze were printed on newspaper stock which is the cheapest form of printed paper and contains lots of acids with acidic inks. Comic books will over time decay regardless of what you do, the key is to SloooooooooooW down the process as much as possible. The more the paper expands and contracts the faster the paper/ink create acids which decay the paper so you want consistency. The key to proper storage of comic books is, proper temperature, proper humidity, keep away from all light and heat sources in Archival Acid Free Materials. I have been using Mylites since the late 80's when I first found out about them from my LCS so a lot of my books have been in the same 1 Mil Mylites W/Halfbacks for 30+ years, I later started using 1.4 Mylites and have some 2 Mil Mylites, personally I prefer the 1.4 Mil, they are like the porridge in the three bears, just right. Do not use tape on the flap (although I do because I am old and stubborn), use something that will not leave a residue that the book can be snagged on when removing/inserting into the bag. Use something like this to seal the flap. https://www.dollartree.com/color-coding-labels-315ct-packs/178433 Here is a link to proper storage supplies https://www.bcwsupplies.com/

Always happy to help with advice when I can. Let us know what you decide and what the dealer says. BTW, just out of curiosity, what is the dealer asking for this book? Recent eBay sales of CGC F.F. 25 were... VG/FN 5.0 $197.51 2/3/19 FN+ 6.5 $206.50 1/13/19 VG 4.0 $153.50 12/20/18 This F.F. 25 CGC VG 4.0 is currently up for auction on eBay, it appears to be in better shape than the supposed VG/FN 5.0 (as graded by the dealer) that you posted, compare the pics and you will see CGC's standard for this book. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fantastic-Four-25-CGC-4-0-Hulk-VS-Thing-2nd-Silver-Age-Captain-America/202613282964?hash=item2f2cb15894:g:4oQAAOSw~gZccD7i:rk:1:pf:1&LH_Auction=1

Also, where will this book be stored, encasing in a CGC slab does not offer any better protection than proper storage in a Mylite and Acid Free board taking all storage conditions/factors into consideration. https://www.loc.gov/preservation/care/paper.html https://www.domtar.com/en/resources/paper-information/paper-insights-library/four-tips-proper-paper-handling-and-storage https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/03/02/cgc-insider-5-rusty-staples/ Also, this is from this thread... "When I asked a comic restoration person about replacing the staples with rust migration, he told me if the rust migrated it's too late for replacement or cleaning. Even if you replace the staples, the rust is still in the paper and can possibly spread."

https://www.biblio.com/book-collecting/care-preservation/prevent-remove-mold-mildew/

BTW... Just for S#%&ts and Giggles I keep tabs on eBay selling prices throughout the year (every 4 month's) for my more expensive and favorite books. The average selling price for a Raw F.F. 25 in VG 4.0 in 2018 was... $92.33 (April $96.00, August $76.00, December $105.00)

If you are going to send this to CGC for grading and expect a VG/FN 5.0 you will need to grade conservatively and you will need to know more about the book to determine a "true, overall" grade. As others have stated you do need to see the back cover and you will need to know if there is any spine split, if the cover is detached at one or both staples, if the centerfold is detached, if there is any staining, page quality, are any pages torn/missing, coupons cut out, etc. F.F. 25 is very special to me since it was the book that made me say "WOW" when I saw the cover and got me started collecting Marvel back in 65, here is front cover pic of mine and I graded this a VG 4.0 (I grade conservatively) and there are no hidden defects. The book you pictured seems to have excessive spine stress lines so IMO this book will not garner a CGC VG/FN 5.0. Below the pic I posted the grading standards so you can make an educated decision. 5.0 VERY GOOD/FINE (VG/FN): Back to Top An 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. 4.5 VERY GOOD+ (VG): Back to Top Fits the criteria for Very Good but with an additional virtue or small accumulation of virtues that improves the book's appearance by a perceptible amount. 4.0 VERY GOOD (VG): Back to Top The 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 staple.

Just a little side note from a seasoned collector to a new collector... When I was attempting to complete my runs I always started with the higher numbered books and worked my way down. IE: If I was attempting to collect ASM 1-100 I would start by attempting to complete books 90 -100 first so I had some semblance of order in what I was looking for and not jumping all over the place and having no idea what I had. The exceptions to this would be if you really like a certain character/book go for it or if you find a more expensive lower numbered book or key at a really good price. Depending on what you are looking for as far as grade will determine how quickly you can afford to complete these runs, me personally, I have no problem with "Well Loved Copies" (FR 1.0, FR/GD 1.5, GD 2.0) of the lower numbered, more expensive books. If you do purchase lower grade books you can always upgrade the copy at a later date. Again, this all depends on your grade/condition preferences and budget. The MAIN thing to remember is HAVE FUN and ENJOY!!!

I consider myself a collector. I started as a kid in the 60's with my friends and when I restarted again in the late 70's my goal was to regain the books I had to leave behind from the 60's and complete all of the runs of the Marvel characters I fell in love with as a kid. Being a "Collector" on a budget I have/had no issue with lower grade books (FR 1.0, FR/GD 1.5, etc) for the more expensive key/lower numbered books, fortunately books like Avengers 4, ASM 14, were purchased in the 80's for $10 - $15 and IH 181 was given to me for Christmas in 82/83. Once I accomplished the goal of completing the runs for the "Super Hero's" I moved onto other titles I liked from TV shows I watched as a kid and other funny books I enjoyed before super hero's. Most of my runs are now complete and all of my books are stored away in their Mylites/WBoards in their respective box and every once in a while I will take them out just to look at the covers and be nostalgic. I have absolutely no plans of ever selling any of them.

And while you are saving to get original copies of these first appearances you can read all of them in Marvel Tales for a couple of $ each. Start with issue 137 which reprints Amazing Fantasy 15 and issue 138 which reprints amazing Spider-Man 1 with original covers. Issues 139-149 reprint ASM 2-10, 150 Reprints ASM Annual 1 and so on... You can see them all right here. https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?tid=85061&pgi=101

https://www.amazon.com/COMIC-BOOK-LIBRARY-DVD-ROM-COLLECTION/dp/B0002VJVXY