SeniorSurfer

Re: Wings #90

That green dress defies the physics of gravity

On 8/8/2020 at 3:11 PM, Buzzetta said:

All of them.

That's my answer.  From relatives and schoolmates to casual acquaintances, everyone would just sneer or note that they were "just for little kids."  Oddly, my parents never made fun of them as they saw another way to get me to read (though they would put the brakes on how many they/I would buy and when boxes started to accumulate they raised an eyebrow).  Later on, these classmates couldn't string together two sentences while I was reading at college level in Junior High and taking Advance Placement classes in High School, owed - I always claimed to anyone who would listen - to years and years of reading Stan's verbose prose.  His stories might have been too fantastic or bereft of logic at times but he never spoke down to the readers and as a kid I found myself running to the dictionary to find out what "distaff" or "brobdingnagian" meant.  Still later as an adult, some folks would surreptitiously approach me because they had heard I knew about comics and their value and BTW "what would be the best titles to buy for investment?"

Silly rabbits.  You buy them because you like to read them.

Congrats to the winners and again, to Mr. Prune for being so gracious as to host this contest and share his CGC prize.

(Just thought I'd sneak in an old story before deadline.  Win or lose, I laud your give-back to the community)

My grandfather used to tell me stories about his comic collecting days.  To hear tell, he had a collection where Edgar Church paused to doff his cap and genuflect when he passed gramps’ house.  But even then, gramps knew the value of protecting his beloved books so he would tell me that, to ensure they would be around for generations, he would encase each one in steel and weld them shut.  “Gee gramps… how could you tell which book was in which steel slab?”  “Easy… I’d use some old Seabiscuit glue and slap a paper label on the outside of each one.  Thousands of ‘em.  All safe and sound and preserved for my future grandson to open and read. ”  My eyes grew wide and I blurted out “WOW!”  Let me at ‘em gramps!”  He leaned back in his rocker with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.  “I gave ‘em all up in the WWII metal drives.  They were needed for the war effort and by gum, I was going to do my part.”  I looked at him incredulously.  “But… but gramps… didn’t you open the cases and get the books out?  You could have just donated the steel!”  “No time for that!” he exclaimed.  “The Axis was breathin’ down our necks and that steel was needed fast.  If I hadn’t moved right-quick, we’d all be Sieg Heilin’ right about now and eatin’ bratwurst for breakfast.  And you know,” he leaned forward conspiratorially, “how much I hate bratwurst.” 

I looked at him with newfound perception and awareness.  On one hand, the story had the wisp of truth to it and I would hardly be blamed for the mixed emotions it elicited in me.  I pictured myself beaming with pride at his sacrifice, all the while repeatedly clubbing him senseless with my Louisville Slugger™.  Yet on the other hand, it could have all been a fabrication as gramps had been hit one too many times by foul balls and he wasn’t the most reliable.  In any case, I quickly left his house and made my way home as it was getting dark and he would soon be out on the porch with his gun shooting at anything that moved – animal or human .  “They’re all varmints” he would chuckle, as he lined up the victims in his rapidly fading eyesight.

GS X-Men #1 per PM.

44 minutes ago, 01TheDude said:

That seems like what I recall as well. I only did buy one book and later some bags from him (the cheapest he sold). I can't recall anything about the transaction-- not how much it cost or even what comic. Like you-- no checking account (we're kids) - I think I used some sort of mailing coin holder thing as well as cash money to complete it.

I just wish I would have held onto the dang bag the comic came in for fun. The ones I bought were so cheap they didn't even have the stuff printed on them. I did buy ones for my magazines and my treasuries--which was maybe a little bit ahead of the curve (plus those bags were stronger). Super cheap and I think I bought enough for almost all my books-- part of the reason I might have skipped bagging doubles at the time.

I do remember his bags were strong, with some a little miscut.  They lasted a long time too.  When I went through my boxes re-bagging with the newer stuff after many, many years, his were still on there tough as the day they went on albeit yellowed.  Each old one I'd take off I put in a pile, one on top of the other, and by the time I got to about 10-20 the film on them when held to the light was probably as efficient as a Blu-Blocker.  No doubt a lit match anywhere near the vapors would have blown up the place like a powder keg.

I seem to remember a padded, brown envelope with the padding being a type of paper shreddings - not an interior bubble wrap type lining.  No cardboard or (of course) backboards IIRC.

As I've mentioned here before, I was just a kid so no checking account, hence I sent cash in the mail with plenty of hand written alternative choices on his want sheet.  Never a problem.

13 hours ago, Artboy99 said:

I came home from work to find my entire comic collection gone. When I asked her what happened she said:

"for far to long YOU have been wasting time and money. I had some help today and I have thrown your comics away. YOU need to learn about what is important in your life."

Let me know if there is a prize and if I win.

You win the second prize all right, for the most heart-rending story here.  Who hasn't had a parent/sibling/other rip or deface just one book and thought their world had imploded?  Your lawyer however wins the first prize for acquitting you of the ensuing manslaughter charge.

"I can't take it anymore - it's either me or the comics!"

Actually, that was my ex-wife.

Will close this at the end of the weekend.  Thanks for all the messages!

3 hours ago, ThothAmon said:

I’ll take the three Archie titles per pm. 

Sold! Thank you very much!

As a collector and needing both those books it would be a tough call to 'fess up, call the cousins, then split the wad.  Especially after the card was addressed to me to begin with and, anyway, who in their family really likes 5 out of 5 cousins so much they would pony up the proceeds of your gift?

In the real world (actually in the real world Jimmy might not know too much about comics but...) as executor, and having had some first-hand experience observing the process, you have to declare them since they were not specifically stated in the will/trust to someone.  Having said that, the executor does not have the authority to pull from shares to be distributed for the funds it would take to have them graded and slabbed (it can run into some $ as we all know, being a % of FMV).  Not sure of the collectibles scenario here, but the two ways I can think of doing this is:  1)  I be the nice guy, pay for them all to be graded/slabbed out of my own pocket - keeping a scrupulous accounting - then sending them off to auction with everyone getting their share after I get repaid and the auction house takes their cut.  All cousins would love this since it's just basically sitting back and reaping more profit without any risks.  Or, there is 2)  I declare that the books are worth a pile and the best way to determine their value is to grade/slab/auction, but it will cost some dough.  There is usually an amount in escrow that can be spent for later unpaid bills, fees, etc. (to be distributed equally to all involved after everything is clearly paid, usually after a few months) and all would have to agree to use some of those funds (I'm a little fuzzy on this part as the executor can ask the escrow lawyer to write the check but if you're wrong and money is wasted, you'll have 5 other people with their own lawyers demanding you reimburse the account).  If you don't want to participate in your 1/6 share of the costs, the lawyer holding the money would have to write up something to this effect and you wouldn't get your 1/6 of the potential profit when everything is sold.  Probably wouldn't lose anyone in this scenario either unless you make some anonymous phone calls in the middle of the night to scare a few cousins off ("I heard aunt Ethel wanted to make the books look cleaner so she colored in the creases and trimmed off some rough edges").

Obviously I spent way too much time thinking about this, but after the shenanigans I saw from people who turned like wild African pygmies when money was involved... 

9 hours ago, KirbyJack said:

If I’m writing it, Thor beats Sups every time.

And then a follow-up story where he would leave Metropolis going to New York seeking the inevitable rematch, only to be sent packing by Dr. Strange.

Had some questions on the upper corner of the Planet book so I took a close-up.  Not as much a mis-cut as it is a mis-print since the white of the cover is showing

.

And that will do it for this thread.  Thank you for looking and be safe!

Planet Comics #62 (8.0) 650.00 - Cover by Joe Doolin, this one has the last original adventure featuring Mysta of the Moon.  The plot reads that disgraced Earthman Kark attacks water world Aqua while Mysta fights a Safety Council security investigation that threatens her undercover secret (If I had to make a year 2020 guess, Kark was no doubt disgraced because of his odd name and is now overcompensating, while Mysta's secret is that she's a "Mister" instead).

BUY 2, GET 1 FREE ARCHIE SPECIAL:  I'm so disgusted (too strong? maybe just repulsed?) with that #31 that if you buy both the other Archie books I'll throw in #31 for free!

Archie's Rival Reggie #10 (7.5) - 275.00.  Only went up to #14 with this title before returning several years later with the shortened change, so they're a little harder to find - especially with white pages.

Archie #42 (5.0) - 225.00.  Bob Montana cover with Archie making his play for someone not named Betty or Veronica (the hound).

OK - First up:  Archie #31 (5.5) - 150.00.  Al Fagaly cover, clean but the "Slight C-1" admonishes whoever owned it before added a small amount of glue on cover and tear seals to cover.  I was really disappointed when I got this back (who isn't when they get that PLOD) and doubly so since  who the heck tries to clean up an Archie book?  Not a key cover, even.

This is my second, and much smaller, posting to while away some moments during these thrill-packed times we live in.  I'm more of a buyer on these boards and have completed transactions with several respected members (inasmuch as anyone here can be called respectable).  Now, on with this farrago.    

The Rules Which Must Be Listed:

1)  A "take it" or any form of that posted in the thread trumps all.  
2)  I will accept PayPal, PO Money Orders or Cashier's Checks as payment.
3)  Shipping via Priority USPS with Signature Confirmation is already included in the price.  Shipping at this time is only to CONUS.  
4)  No returns on CGC graded books.  
5)  I won't sell to HOS or PL members as it's been suggested they are cowardly curs, the most worthless of waste,  the vilest of vermin, the... oh, not all?  Well... I won't anyway just in case.   

Recently bought a SA key from Mike who was very friendly, worked with me on a time payment and provided easy communications all the way throughout a very pleasant transaction.  Thank you again!

Otherwise though... nice placement by Joe.