*paull*

Here's my newest LB Cole book, Contact Comics #12, a book that I have wanted for many years. I consider the cover of this book to be among Cole's best... along with Captain Flight #11, Thrilling Crime Cases #49, Suspense #8, and Blue Bolt #111 and #115. This copy is really nice, and I got it for what I consider to be lower than market price. Flat, glossy, staples very firm, no brittleness, off-white pages, and no tears or tape. There is an erased arrival date (why? I like arrival dates!) in the yellow on the right edge. I'd call it a Fine- Were Aviation Press books related to Continental Comics (Suspense Comics)? The books have similar color and paper quality. If they are, though, I'm surprised this one is so nice because most Continental books are ragged, particularly on the spine. Next up are Captain Flight #11 and Captain Aero #26. Could take me a while...

The pre-code horror scarcity estimates may be way off as well, since most of the rare and sought-after books of today were underappreciated pre-Gerber.

33 Only been collecting GA for a few years.

I can't imagine what that CGC 7.5 copy would sell for... It's got to be a $2000 book, easy.

Here's a Gerber 7.... Voodoo Annual in about VG- condition. I've seen a few in VG-, but nothing for sale that was better. This book is _scarce_ in high grade.

Great cover and great deal, SH! I've always liked that one and will probably seek one out at some point.

Thanks for posting your great article, Jon. Excellent research! I'm amazed that you were able to track down the exact origin of the signatures.

I probably agree with what he is saying, but it would help if his writing wasn't so shrill.

I'm perfectly happy with solid copies of any pre-code horror book on my want list in roughly VG condition. The only books that I'm looking for in higher than that are the Farrell books, otherwise the majority of my books are in VG- to VG+. Not afraid to read those! A BCM #50 in 9.2 would never get read by me (especially since it's a $1000+ book. It would sit in a mylar forever. Keith... nice Witches Tales #25! Is that yours? What grade?

Now that the holidays are over, it's back to the pre-code horror scene... Watch, as I make money disappear from my wallet.... Here are my two most recent additions... Tomb of Terror #15 and Black Cat Mystery #50. TOT #15 is in VG- condition with even wear, just what I was looking for, since I wasn't looking to spend big bucks on this book. Same with BCM #50... VG- with a small piece missing on the upper left and a small hole above the word "FEAR", but this copy fits the bill perfectly for me. Now looking for a Witches Tales #25 in similar condition...

Boy Commandos #9 is one of my all-time favorite covers... great book!

That's my favorite Cole Catman cover... I love it! Sfilosa.... at least you're realistic about it Start saving your pennies...! If I could have one super high-grade Cole cover, it would probably be one of the black covers.... Blue Bolt 111 or 115 or Mask Comics #1.

sfilosa, what Cole books do you own in 8.0 or higher? I have only one in my collection, Great Comics #1, which if submitted, would probably grade at 8.5 or 9.0. Other than that, my highest is maybe a couple of non-key Star books in 5.0 - 6.0.

I think that Thrilling Crime Cases is one of the few L.B. Cole covered books that is undervalued in guide.

sfilosa... I wish you luck with the collection. A 8.0/9.0 Star collection would be amazing. I started grabbing Star books a while ago in low grade (G/VG, VG, VG+) thinking that they would be enough to satisfy my need to collect them, but I think I would like to upgrade a number of them. I think the peak for me would be at about 6.0 for these books, because the key books in higher grades are priced higher than I would pay. For instance, Startling Terror Tales #11 in 8.0 and up is probably a $2500 book.

No offense, but I think you're a glutton for punishment looking for Star books over 8.0. I think it would still be tough to have a collection of them at 6.0 or 7.0.

Thanks for the compliments... I paid $160 for it. That's close to guide for this copy. I don't like re-buying books (I had hopes of coming home with something new today), but when I saw this one, I had to upgrade. I saw that 9.0 on eBay... stunning.... and it's for a book that doesn't turn up in high grade often. It doesn't even turn up in the condition that the above book is in.

I went to a local show in Philadelphia today planning to pick up some pre-code horror books, but saw nothing that I thought was reasonably priced. However I did see something that would serve as a nice upgrade to a book I already have: Thrilling Crime Cases #49. My first copy is probably a Good minus, and this new copy of probably a VG/F. Soft corners, tiny pieces missing at corners and a non-color breaking crease on the cover. Otherwise bright colors and very presentable. Surprisingly good pages on this book. Most Star books I see have Tanning or Cream to Off-White pages. These look off-white to me.

I was reading the Overstreet guide #11 last night which has a lengthy article on L.B. Cole. It appears that he did a number of re-creations (no idea how many), but Overstreet and Hamilton had an ad in the book soliciting requests for them in three sizes, 1x, 1.5x and 2x original size. Considering the fact that I've only seen about four of them for sale over the past decade means that people are in no rush to sell them.

It's a large-size Cole recreation. While he's not going to get 18K for it, I certainly think it's worth in the area of 8-10K.

Anyone with some post-holiday cash to burn? Check this out... Mask #2 original painting

Mask #1 was the first Golden Age book that I every bought, and it's my favorite cover ever. I bought my VG+ copy about 5-6 years ago for about $400. And I bought my VG copy of Mask #2 for about the same amount two years ago. I would say that you'd probably have to spend close to guide for both of them. Mask #1 guides at $560 in VG and Mask #2 $352 in VG. Metropolis has a copy of #1 in Good (with a taped spine) for $300. I would expect them to sell a VG copy for close to guide, since their Good price is slightly over guide. Maybe another dealer would cut you a break. I wouldn't call either book super scarce, but I do believe that I see less copies of #2 than I do #1. A few copies (lower than VG) of #1 have shown up on eBay in the past year.

I also collect vintage postcards, 1950's Polynesian records, 1970s Japanese movie posters, and vintage Japanese pop records.

Wow... great books, rjpb! I love the Speed #35!