Yorick

Living the dream!!! Most can only do the dreaming...

I am aware of this one's provenance as far back as your ownership (and at least one other - you've got great books!). I do concur that 7.5 is generous, but I submitted it after seeing a "highest graded" 5.5 sell for (what I thought was ridiculous at the time) a few thousand. I knew it could overtake the high spot at that time, and I wanted to get it graded before the price went up so much that I would be paying higher fees. I did NOT have it pressed. I would only do that for serious spine roll or waves. I just wish I could pry that beautiful #27 out of your hands! I probably couldn't afford it now...

So nice to see!! Here's the competition (why is it rotating my file?!!!):

You're just saying that because you know my Cinderella Love #25 is over-graded and you want the top spot for yourself!!

I would also have trouble in that situation assigning blame. For me, I would probably attribute blame to the entity that provided the certificate of authenticity. Was the consignor the one that provided the certificates? It would also be very difficult to prove who was responsible for the fraud/forgery. Actually the new law would make the consignor responsible. The intermediaries are off the hook (such as auction houses like ebay). It looks like I made a mistake on the fraud law above: that is the penalty for FORGERY. The penalty for fraud is about the same. So in your case, the penalties could have been doubled against the seller. I still believe the new law is "government overreach" as @cardiackid1 stated so eloquently.

That's an issue I've been passing over for way too long. I wouldn't be surprised if I never see another with those bold colors. That blue on the background house is waaayyyyy to rich! CGC would probably give this a 4.5 now-a-days.

That is an awful situation to be in. I am glad that you were able to use that code to settle the case, but I think you could have done without it. I looked up the penalties for fraud (which appears to be Penal Code 470) and it appears they use $950 as the breaking point between misdemeanor and felony fraud. The potential penalties for a misdemeanor California forgery conviction include: -Up to one (1) year in county jail, -A fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), -Informal (also known as summary) probation, and/or -Payment of restitution to any victims. And if you are charged with felony forgery, the penalties may include: -Sixteen (16) months, two (2) years or three (3) years in county jail, -A fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), -Informal or formal probation, and/or -Payment of restitution to any victims.

When I was looking at this one on ebay I thought that could not possibly be ONLY a 5.5. Those edges are so sharp it cut my eyes. Is that a dent into the lower left corner? Any idea what's bringing the grade down on this beauty? And who is "RC"? He/she has got good taste!!!

Since you settled, are you able to give any information about the case? Maybe a general overview? I know there is fraud out there, but with so many companies that verify signatures these days I feel that Govt is going overboard. As collectors, we generally police ourselves and do our own analysis of authenticity etc. If we needed to go so far as initiating a lawsuit, we have fraud laws to use.

Yep. The header was cut off the top of the cover only. I don't understand how that could happen with the interior not being cut down as well, but there was no manipulation of the single staple holding it all together (as if the cover had been married or something). We all know that St John did some interesting rebinding....

The label does not fulfill the requirements of this new BS law. It does not identify CGC's witness by name. Also check out sub-section "(8)". Now my own name and address has to be shipped around with a CGC Sig book for the next seven years?!! (b) Whenever a dealer, in selling or offering to sell to a consumer a collectible in or from this state, provides a description of that collectible as being autographed, the dealer shall furnish a certificate of authenticity to the consumer at the time of sale. The certificate of authenticity shall be in writing, shall be signed by the dealer or his or her authorized agent, and shall specify the date of sale. The certificate of authenticity shall be in at least 10-point boldface type and shall contain the dealer’s true legal name and street address. The dealer shall retain a copy of the certificate of authenticity for not less than seven years. Each certificate of authenticity shall do all of the following: (1) Describe the collectible and specify the name of the personality who autographed it. (2) Either specify the purchase price and date of sale or be accompanied by a separate invoice setting forth that information. (3) Contain an express warranty, which shall be conclusively presumed to be part of the bargain, of the authenticity of the collectible. This warranty shall not be negated or limited by reason of the lack of words such as “warranty” or “guarantee” or because the dealer does not have a specific intent or authorization to make the warranty or because any statement relevant to the collectible is or purports to be, or is capable of being, merely the dealer’s opinion. (4) Specify whether the collectible is offered as one of a limited edition and, if so, specify (A) how the collectible and edition are numbered and (B) the size of the edition and the size of any prior or anticipated future edition, if known. If the size of the edition and the size of any prior or anticipated future edition is not known, the certificate shall contain an explicit statement to that effect. (5) Indicate whether the dealer is surety bonded or is otherwise insured to protect the consumer against errors and omissions of the dealer and, if bonded or insured, provide proof thereof. (6) Indicate the last four digits of the dealer’s resale certificate number from the State Board of Equalization. (7) Indicate whether the item was autographed in the presence of the dealer and specify the date and location of, and the name of a witness to, the autograph signing. (8) Indicate whether the item was obtained or purchased from a third party. If so, indicate the name and address of this third party. (9) Include an identifying serial number that corresponds to an identifying number printed on the collectible item, if any. The serial number shall also be printed on the sales receipt. If the sales receipt is printed electronically, the dealer may manually write the serial number on the receipt.

I have a 4.0 too! The header was miscut in production, but the CGC label says the interior was miscut. Oops.

I think I would have missed the boat back too, but I wouldn't take it out on Marjorie....

I love that DS25 cover! Better grade than mine.

Nice group shot! WR8 is one of my earliest Bakers. ...and you've got a signed copy of TLP11?!! Awesome.

I should probably post here that I am not an attorney. If you need legal advice, contact a lawyer.

There is no liability placed on the signer (artists/writers). The burden goes to whomever wants to sell an item with an autograph that is valued at more than $5. The law is REALLY stupid. It might affect anyone outside of California, because if you sell to someone IN California you could potentially be sued by the California collector. Check out the Eureka Bookseller website. They show a link to Neil Gaimen's new limited edition signed book from Easton Press that WILL NOT SHIP TO CALIFORNIA. Ridiculous.

Nice!! Mine is graded by the enemy... can't post it here.

I interpret the new law to mean that anyone in California buying or selling a CGC Sig Series comic must have the name and address of the CGC witness to include with the book. Penalties look pretty harsh too. I'm considering going to a government sponsored "seized assets" auction in order to buy a signed item, and then in turn sue them to make a cool half million dollars.... I would never do that to a fellow collector though.

California Signature Authentication Law - AB1570 I think this is important enough to post here: California Assembly Members enacted a new law which became effective January 1, 2017 which requires certification of autographed memorabilia. Here is a portion of the text that introduces the law (AB1570): This bill would instead define the term “collectible” to mean all autographed items, whether or not sports related, as specified, and would make conforming changes to the provisions regulating the sale or offer to sell by a dealer to a consumer of a collectible in this state. The bill would exclude a pawnbroker licensed pursuant to a specified law, under specified circumstances, the personality who signs the memorabilia, and a provider or operator of an online marketplace, as specified, from the definition of a dealer. This new law has far reaching effects on collectors of any medium that includes a signature. If you reside in California and have the ability to protest/petition the removal/validity of this law, I would strongly urge you to do so. I have no idea how California comic conventions are going to function, or how this will affect CGC's Signature Series books. I was first made aware of this horrible law through a Eureka California bookseller (http://eurekabooksellers.com/your-signed-books-and-artwork-just-got-harder-to-sell-in-california/). The full text of the Bill can be found online as well, but I find that the Eureka Bookseller has a very well written synopsis of what this means to collectors.

Nope. It's the Bee's Knees!!!

Yours. It looks great! I hope nothing's missing on the inside. Better wait if you plan on submitting... CGC is pretty harsh right now.

Today's census shows five copies. Mine came back last month (3.5). Sqeggs still highest for now, but that's a mighty fine looking copy!

I am not a lawyer, but when someone scans a copy of a public domain book - don't they own the rights to the scan/digital file? And if that's the case, isn't the seller then violating copyright law by making a profit off of the original scanner's efforts? After finding out about DigitalComicsMuseum, I went over there and downloaded a whole lot of stuff I'll never get the chance to read otherwise. I might print a few myself (I prefer paper reading rather than digital), but I won't sell the prints.

Wow... That is fantastic! Label doesn't matter too much. We Baker collectors know what's inside!!!