HENRYSPENCER

Perhaps the new owner can convince the person who owns the NG CGC centerfold to finally sell. I remember years ago when CGC first introduced the NG designation there were individual pages and a centerfold they slabbed that eventually wound up at auction.

I’ve sent them payments through PayPal over $4k before. They’ll probably ask you to send it personal payment so they don’t incur any fees. Metro has this policy in place because they do not charge buyers premiums. A 3% credit card fee starting around $2500 could offset any profit they make on consignment sales. Credit Card fees in any form of business add up quickly.

precisely! If the book is going to get a .5 or NG incomplete since it's missing the centerfold and has restoration what's the point in certifying it?

Just got back from day one of the Heroes Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Friday's, crowd wise like at most cons, are typically the slowest day with the smallest attendance. I've been going the show every year since 2006 and from what I noticed there were as few of people as I've ever seen. In fact, the number of artists, exhibitors, volunteers and setup crews probably outnumbered those paid in attendance. Tomorrow will hopefully be a bigger day. If you see an artist that you'd like a commission from, this would be the opportune time to get it as the few lines there were seemed to move quickly. Some other observations... I noticed some of the dealers I'm used to seeing over the years who in the past have had hard to find, more high-end, expensive inventory didn't have the kind of books I'm accustomed to seeing. Their stocks aren't the same as they once were. Are quality, esoteric books now being taken to market directly by the collectors themselves versus being shopped around at shows? There were plenty of Marvel key issues, but there was not an overall great selection of horror and 10 cent DC. Lots of dealers had multiple copies of the same book, most of them keys and popular issues in all different grades. In fact, the numerous booths I walked through I saw very little variety. Everyone had a Fantastic Four 1 in some grade or condition, and there was no shortage of Showcase 4's or Amazing Fantasy 15. There were at least ten dealers I met who had elected to go for a smaller booth setup this year. One dealer, in particular, I remember from 2009 who had a triple booth was down to only a single corner-cap in the center of the convention. He was sharing a booth with another dealer friend he'd driven up with from Florida. He'd mentioned booth prices this year were north of $800 for the weekend and that he'd been told they were going to exceed $900 next year. When I asked him if this meant he'd have to raise prices on his inventory for the extra incurred costs in set up he looked puzzled. Raising prices to offset booth costs makes sense with so much data out there on the values of books and margins already being razor thin (a lot of dealers paying premium prices to other dealers looking for books to resell). I've noticed the majority of comic book dealers set up are from the baby boom generation while those selling Funko Pop toys, bootleg DVD's and t-shirts are the younger crowds. It will be interesting to see the layout a decade from now when they have the opportunity to retire. Sadly there may be only a few select shows around the country each year dedicated exclusively to the buying and selling of comics. Both CGC and CBCS were set up. I fear something has gone cataclysmically wrong at CBCS as there were fifty to seventy-five people at CGC's booth and only two at CBCS. That's right only two. It was nice to see Bob Storms. He had two beautiful Archie #1's both unrestored and CGC graded at 3.0. It's been years since I've had the opportunity to hold one up close and in hand. Thanks Bob. Vincent Zurzolo aka VinnyZ was in attendance, and I saw him at Rick Whitelock's New Force Comics booth buying slabbed inventory to stick into the next Comic Connect Event Auction. I won't mention his name but one dealer in particular who runs some spectacular eBay auctions that I've gotten some choice material from at unbelievable prices over the years didn't even have a wall display set up nor did he bring any books valued above $5 or $10. I bought cash and was looking to buy some material but to no avail. Everything on the back wall on display seemed to be priced on the high side and at a premium. Save for dealer to dealer buys; I didn't see a lot of material moving off the wall. Things undoubtedly change over time, and it gives me a great sense of nostalgia knowing I was in attendance during the heyday when at this show you had a captains choice of 10 cent Marvel and DC issues in midgrade scarce as they may be all at reasonable prices. I'd be interested in seeing the various attendance numbers over the last couple of years versus artists, creators, and dealers. With rising overhead costs, more shows on the map, the material being hard to find and so few new dealers it's going to be interesting to see how this historic convention plays its way out in years to come.

Doesn't show Neal Adams in attendance this year which doesn't surprise me considering how hard he's hit Heroes in the past. I remember going by his booth last year where he was seemingly confined and sweating, surviving on a diet of bottled water and pizza slices being brought in by his daughter he had so many projects to do. He's signed his name so many times I'm surprised his whole arm hasn't completely fallen off by now.

kellyssuperheroes is Dupcak. Look at the trim job on that Strange Tales #110

I remember GEM opening, then several years later a lot of the rarest high-end material being sold from the museum because of the 2007-2008 financial crisis; this includes the historic Action court copies and many of the highest grade slabbed CGC books. I also remember the blowout sales Diamond Distributors had on eBay. I picked a half a dozen mint Harry Metetsky Superman books, and a dozen or so Sprang signed lithographs for peanuts back then. I know his son was an Overstreet advisor and I wonder why Geppi didn't keep what's left of the collection in the family? As much as I pay in taxes there absolutely no way I would donate anything to an entity backed or subsidized by the Federal government when they have already taken so much away.

nice and presentable example for the grade.

There are very few people in the world who can or are willing to put that kind of money into a comic book. I could see liquidity without taking some sort of loss being a real issue on ubber high and golden age where you're talking over a million dollars and record prices paid. Paying several hundred thousand dollars, the book appreciating over a decade is one thing, but finding someone else who has the funds, loves comics as much as you do and is willing to park millions into a single issue seems like a very tall and risky order indeed. In the grand scheme of things if you are billionaire millions spent is likely fun money.

it seems to me like the guy who bought the other two high-grade Action #1's from Metro would also buy this example to corner the market.

I bought the Amazon Paperwhite a couple of months ago and like how simple and easy it is to use. I even paid the extra $20 to have all of the ads permanently removed from the device. Unfortunately, like the iPad and Nook, it gives me dizziness and headaches; even though the backlights have been moved to the front. If I read after 4 PM on the Paperwhite, I'm up all night and can't go back to sleep. I don't have any problems with the physical media format.

The Outsider by Stephen King

Why would a CBCS in 9.8 be listed at a different price than a CGC 9.8? I would price CGC and CBCS the same according to past GPA. I could see a concession being made for PGX, but I'd never drop prices between the other two companies.

Untrue or not these aren't facts, but mere observations.

2.0

With the success of comic books and collectors wanting them graded regardless of grade or value, Steve B.'s reputation at CGC and Heritage, I can't imagine a situation where they sold for any reason other than to have access to resources to help them grow and expand the business. Based on what's been presented so far this makes sense. People have mentioned TAT at CBCS, well at Beckett they may have an additional 50 people that can both grade and process books all under one roof. This would allow CBCS to provide a higher degree of customer service to its clients, take on more business and have more capital pumped into it by another collectibles grading company that's been around for years. We don't have all of the facts, but I'd err on the side of caution about passing judgment based on a lawsuit that has insofar provided zero evidence to support its claim.

wow.

Couldn't it just be that comics are gaining popularity over baseball cards because of the success of the films and Beckett sees a horizontal acquisition of a comic book grading company (CBCS) as necessary and crucial to its long-term viability? Beckett has been around for years and can put more equity into the company to help it grow. What evidence is there that CBCS was sold because of financial issues? It seems unrealistic they'd have the number of graded books in the marketplace as CGC does given they only opened doors a few years ago.

mmedhy, are you reading the lawsuit that Metro entered into an agreement with CBCS for X number of graded books for a flat fee, then when Beckett acquired CBCS they no longer want to honor the contract? Just want to make sure my understanding is correct.

Depends on where it's at. Years ago I had a slabbed FF #10 with a 1-inch tear along the spine. Encapsulated it was invisible to the eye. Book went from what would have been an NM 9.2 down to a CGC 5.5. It was beautiful. A 1/2 nonobtrusive tear I'd have to think you looking at least full grade drop.

I've been out of the hobby for awhile, are there any threads I'm missing where people of had issues with CBCS? Last I heard several years ago people were generally excited Steve B. was opening up another grading such to provide more consistency and competition in the marketplace. At the time there were lots of dealers signing up to get books graded by them.

crazy price on the Bats #1. $227k for a 5.5? I remember that 9.0 sitting on Comiclink for years with no takers. The ROI, the last couple of years on that issue, has been insane!

Probably has more to do with the type of slab versus any kind of settings on the scanner. The best results of any scanner I've tested are the Epson models with Digital Ice technology. If the scan bed is too small on the Epson, you can you a stitching software to get the full book or purchase one of the more expensive models with a full legal-size scan bed. The image quality is excellent after stitching and well worth the extra time spent IMHO.

Heritage from what I've heard is already an investor in Certified Guaranty Company. Can't see them wanting to play on both sides of the fence.

nice. I've always liked that cover.