Readcomix

Sailboat to ship

I hit "pass" at brittle pages....I like cheap major keys, but at five figures I would want something physically stable, however worn/incomplete. 

10 hours ago, NoMan said:

Gray Barker published UFO literature from his country outpost in Exchange, (outside of Clarksburg) West Virginia from 50s until his death in 1984. 

He published a book by Al Bender in 1955ish called "The Three Men" (something like that) that was about Bender (A self proclaimed UFO researcher) being visited by 3 men dressed in black claiming to be from the government (or another planet, can't remember) telling him he was too close to the truth about UFOs and to back off or else. They drove a black car, had black sun glasses, black suits, etc, etc, etc. Bender was so frightened that he abandoned the UFO field for good and disappeared never to speak of this experience again. I believe Bender, up to the point of being visited by The Men In Black, had some kinda UFO research club.

This was the first appearance in UFO lore of The Men In Black. 

Thank you! I have heard vague versions of the origin of the men in black lore, but never these specifics. 

8 hours ago, tricolorbrian said:

When I can see 3 or 4 copies of the same comic on ebay at the same time I have a real hard time believing the book is scarce...

That doesn't mean it's not scarce in this case...you're looking at every extant copy besides the one Sqeggs just bought 

10 hours ago, Sqeggs said:

You forgot that Texas is two issues behind the east coast. 

Good point! I did! 

8 hours ago, tricolorbrian said:

That Cosmo is #6...not #4...

Let's get 'em straight Mr. Comic Seller Dude...

I didn't have the heart to tell him he let the coveted last, scarce, low print run, low distribution issue go cheaply...... 

On July 7, 2017 at 5:18 PM, NoMan said:

You know about Gray Barker?He published AL Bender's Book "The Men In Black" in the 50s. The comic came from that, I guess. (Never read the comic but am very familiar with Gray Barker)

Can share more if you're interested. 

I'm interested, please do.

43 minutes ago, Sqeggs said:

He'll go to his grave regretting having let that one get away cheap! 

And how! 

51 minutes ago, Hudson said:

It is a shame you have to even write something like this, Rick.

Anyone who knows you or who has purchased books from you knows you are honest, fair, and a great guy to do business with.  

I have personally purchased from you and I have never been disappointed.   You were easy to work with and you are a great asset to these boards.   

 

+1 what Hudson said

On August 1, 2017 at 10:51 AM, PopKulture said:

All these books were part of an OO collection I got years ago. I've scanned a bunch of them individually, and some I recently pulled out of the boxes that I brought them home. The books were well read and many of them were lower grade copies so naturally I culled the better ones in stages and left the marginal stuff in the boxes. It's always fun to go diving into your own boxes of unsorted stuff that you almost forgot about!

p.s. Whenever I see a group shot, I almost always pick my favorites as if I was allowed to take home one per row, or one of four as in the old Overstreet color sections where I honed my skills at this game as a kid. So if you see anything interesting, tell us which one(s) you would pick and why.  

 

I loved doing that as a kid too! I'll play.

If you could magically send me a duplicate of one from each row....the Suspense cover from the top row jumps out at me, Gotta go bondage in the center, and from the bottom I'll say Super Magician because I have none and they always look so cool when I see them. Lots of underrated Street and Smith, IMHO. But I am also tempted to say Monster 1 because it looks like an upgrade over my rough copy.

29 minutes ago, sfcityduck said:

Any disclosures you feel comfortable sharing?

It did not escape my notice that he kept the Superman 1 from the Billy Wright auction which may be the highest graded cover still extant (interior coupon was clipped).

He obviously could have also stored away some other Wright's, Allentowns, Northfords, D-Copy or Crowley's.

Someone here once told me he is also hoarding the Bill Barnes 7's. If it goes that deep, it's probably extensive. 

1 hour ago, Sqeggs said:

 He sold most of his best stuff on the boards yesterday. 

You creamed him on the Cosmo #6 

Heap to leap

Thanks guys! I love that date stamp!

This collection is cool in that most of the books have clear, well-placed date stamps (always prominent to find, never over the action) and the OO placed his initials "M.R." In the lower right margin area of the splash pages in blue ink. Too small and not high enough grade to be a ped, but this little remainder of a collection (79 books) has provenance. And I've captured enough of the history to pass it along with anything I let go of.

If you have any early Spideys or FF's with these characteristics, they may have been his as he donated them to a cystic fibrosis charity event in his 20's (gentleman is retired now.)

5 hours ago, retrocomics said:

You're probably right. Probably was in a file cabinet until clean out time and taken home by a staff member who gave it to their kid to read.

Makes sense to me. For example, Western Publishing (Gold Key/Dell) was in Poughkeepsie, NY. I know several retirees who took comics home from the offices when the plant closed in the 1980's. It's a long time between those files being cleaned out and whatever stewardship those employees gave the books before we've seen them.

2 hours ago, Noodlez said:

Been a busy week...

A good and busy week!they look sharp!

9 hours ago, DocHoppus182 said:

Congrats on the OO collection.  That is awesome!  

Thank you, Doc! It's a satisfying thing to bring to a close after all this time. I know I have to let go of some of it, but it will be fun deciding! 

Just posted the full story over in Comics General in what's new in your collection, but here's the pix. After a year of discussions, I bought the remainder of an original owner's childhood collection. The provenance is a really cool thing; seeing them all together helps me appreciate what it must be like to see a large grouping from one pedigree together. Very cool,experience to work with this gentleman and transition his childhood books to a new home. Reality is I'll keep a few and likely move most, but I will find a way to pass along the provenance.

Should be easy enough as clear, well-placed date stamps and initials "M.R." In blue ink in the lower right margin area of the splash pages are distinguishing features. Cool day  

On July 30, 2017 at 10:58 PM, Fan Boy said:

From eBay.  Gonna have fun reading and bag/board them into my collection.  

 

Josie 7...1st Alexandra...quite underrated 

Sign me up as of today...after a year of back and forth with a retired gentleman, I purchased his remaining original owner SA books today (79 comics) and my membership card was in there  

The copy reads like a Robert Crumb satire, but it's their straight-up ad....holee cow....

Just realized I answered your question with early bronze Archies.....for some reason, though I have a copy, I had Betty and Me 16 placed in about 1972 in my head. Still, my answer stands as  I cannot think of any other Archie silver called out for risqué dialogue, just the bronze ones I mentioned. 

I have to readjust my mental framework and lump this in with silver Archie keys, not bronze. Sorry!