Professor K

On 4/21/2024 at 5:04 PM, jimbo_7071 said:

One thing I question is the first name "Tom." The name really looks more like Allen or something similar.

The last name does look like Reilly, but that isn't even certain. The first character could be a P, a stylized L, or something else.

Here's a link to the WWII Casualties from California in case anyone has a lot of time on his or her hands and wants to scan the lists for a possible match.

A while back, I spent a fair amount of time looking for possible matching census records for the family. That was before the 1950 census was available, so it might be worth another shot. Bob Beerbohm believes that the comic collection originated in Piedmont, California, which is in Alameda County.

I looked through that pretty good.  Mr. Nelson told me his friend Steve who I guess many of you know (I don't know him personally) looked into the KIA /Military records very deeply and came up empty. Whether or not how much of the story is true we know the soldiers name is not Reilly or Riley or anything close. Someone would have found something proving a person by that name, that fit,  existed by now. No big deal, beautiful books, that's all that matters. 

On 4/21/2024 at 3:10 PM, sfcityduck said:

Prof. K did great work on tracking down the family. Not surprising they had no answers. This came up a year ago, which is when I think he started chasing the story hard back then. As for why the books have the checkmarks, a pretty good theory is that Holt was checking off females, and that maybe as painting references? My book supports the checking off females part. But it could be the subject matter being checked changed over time if he was trying to learn to draw. Here's a thread that was discussed:

As for W.C. Holt, Jr., he was also discussed a bit on this thread, which is incomplete, because it looks like Prof. K pulled some of his comments off from back then I assume to keep the niece from being bothered:

Again, Kudos for Prof. K, and Prof. K don't stop out of deference to CGC. It's your story to develop further.

Thanks to everyone, all of you. Actually I think I did hide some of my posts in that thread, probably after I spoke to the niece. I don't remember exactly why or what I had written. I honestly thought by now more information would have come to light.

I will reach out again to her soon. And to Matt. As far as the markings she doesn't know so that might never be known. But like I said she did say she is still friends, good friends, with the man who purchased the collection from her mother so I think any other important information will come from him if possible. I believe it may be this man Ken Sanders. I'll find out.

https://www.kensandersbooks.com

On 4/21/2024 at 2:47 AM, Telegan said:

 

Now that's awesome!  I love stuff like this - it's like finding a treasure or something!

Yeah it was a pretty fun. After I found his niece and was sure I had the right guy in Bill Holt Jr I decided to look into the San Francisco books (I know many people have over the years). I read the official account and started searching, even buying a month prescription to a major genealogy site and a newspaper archive site. I found nothing of a Tom Rielly or Riley that matched. Found no record of his parents. I even contacted the Veterans building in Peidmont, CA and posted my query on a FB page of the history of Peidmont and nothing. I includede a pic of the markings on the Cap 1. It was said the books were handled or inititially sold by a Doctor Arnheim at the Berkelycon in 1973 so I dug into finding a record of him and found nothing. I did find some people in the area living today with that last name which is not a common name. They were educated, Doctors, one was a big scientist. I found one of their email addresses at I believe UC Berkeley and wrote them but got no response. I figured if they are related to the Dr. Arnheim from the story maybe they may know something. I think that would be the only angle left but I think we aren't going tyo ever find out more. 

On 4/21/2024 at 9:51 AM, Chicago Boy said:

Would love to know the back story. Who the hell puts that in the mail ? I’m guessing it’s a collector up in years.  That thing shud be hand delivered. I’d fit then out or if they were too old to travel go get it myself.  Nuts ! 

Yeah that's what I was thinking. USPS? Wasn't even registered mail.

"Anything hazardous, perishible, or fragile?" "Uh yeah put a fragile stamp on the little box, maybe two if you can, just on the top". Is $50.00 insurance enough?"

"How much for $5,000,000 of insurance?" "Let me check. It'll be $398,879.21"............." No just go with the 50 bucks, I think it'll be alright". "I have it wrapped in 2 dollars worth of bubble wrap, 2 paper thin envelopes, and a piece of cardboard from the box of our new 32 inch TV". " Ok that'll be $18.05, it should get there on Thursday". "18.05, my word?" Yeah the rates went up last month". 'This used to be all orange groves far as the eye can see". 

Nuts is right CB.

Edit: I just read the posts next to the video. He said it was in a much bigger box before, even though there is a postal label on the little box we see. I'll take his word on that. Not my business anyway.  

On 4/19/2024 at 4:50 AM, makis said:

My pch grail and my new addition to my collection is Mister Mystery 18. A Bernard Baily s cover and a super creepy one!

 

 

Another head soup cover. How-dee-licious. 

On 4/18/2024 at 11:43 PM, adamstrange said:

This is awesome work on your part.  You done good!

I'm not sure it is a good idea to wait on someone who is 20 years behind getting out a book on pedigrees.  You, or someone, should reach out to her and follow up with any questions while that is still a possibility.

Thanks. Well I would speak to him again before I do that, see where he's at with it all. If I do I would love to first hear about what I should ask her about them from all you guys and girls. Everyone tell me what I should ask about please. 

Edit: Can anyone confirm if there is a break in the collection from around early 1941 to whenever he returned home from the war? 

Our intial contact which I haven't read since last September (I had thought it was longer ago than that). 

Good morning Kevin, You have done well in your research! And I can confirm that my uncle, William Clark Holt, Jr. purchased those comic books and when he died, my mother decided to sell the comic books without doing any research on their value (our loss). My uncle had them 'stored' in the dusty basement in open ended wooden crates, and were packed in tightly which helped in their preservation. I'm just glad the mice didn't get to them-they lived on a farm in Salt Lake City. Another interesting 'twist' to this story is that the owner of the Cosmic Aeroplane Store (no longer in business) is a personal friend and his memory is very vivid when my mother sold the comic books to him. His house is like a museum filled to the brim with books of all kinds, rock band posters from the 60's and 70's, collectectable items and more. What do you need from me to help confirm the original ownership of these comic books?

I was refraining from posting on this crucial subject because of the poor grammar in the title, not to mention the persons name. But maybe English is not his primary language so here it goes. 

But first I have to know if Robin and Bucky are involved in the equation. 

On 4/17/2024 at 10:42 AM, PopKulture said:

Some of the candidates don’t show up full-size.

On 4/14/2024 at 3:06 PM, Yorick said:

 

Nope.  Those books don't match.  You can send that Action to me! 

Ok but you're paying the shipping. . You're right though, other than the grades they don't match. By the way while I'm here does anyone know what's happening on the cover of Tec 9? The blonde guy is a detective that's apparent. The other guy, is he a criminal? Is he dead? Knocked out? Maybe it's his partner that got shot? Or some regular John Q. Public in the wrong place at the wrong time? Why are they in the water? Why is his gun still drawn? Nothing inside the book gives any clues.

#1 Just weird. #2 Cop apprehending a perp with a bad liver. #3 Escaped convict being captured. #4 Just some cop. #5 two guys fist fighting. #6 Cop being stalked probably in an alley. #7 A shootout. #8 Chinaman finding a treasure . They all have obvious explanations except #9 and I guess #12 is kind of vague also. 

On 4/14/2024 at 10:05 AM, RareHighGrade said:

Wow, what a pretty copy!

Thanks  (assuming you meant me). One reason I went after just this one book in the pba was because it matched another DC book I have, aside from the assigned restoration quality. Plus it's one of my favorite pre bats. Thought they'd look nice together. 

Has pre code Horror cooled? I hope the blank so. It may be starting to level out especially on books that come around often. Harder to say for the scarcer to auction/for sale books that are on many peoples want lists. 

Thanks again for sharing these. Hope this isn't too forward but the final book you acquired to finish the run was the 27 8.0? (unless it was an upgrade of course). If so what a great way to finish the run. That book is spectacular and when I saw it listed I had the slightest glimmer of hope of grabbing it. I was real glad to see you got it, if anyone deserved it............

One Comic, One Pulp, And One Beer. 

Yeah tough one. About 5 books tied for 3rd for me. 

That 26 is a sight to behold. ( hate to talk money but a 4.0 conserved recently sold for 16k). Forget value, I'm in awe of the dedication it took to find and obtain each one of these. 

They hunt down those who would do evil. 

On 4/7/2024 at 12:04 PM, Ryan. said:

These two are tough.

On 4/8/2024 at 10:40 PM, Surfing Alien said:

Love Romance Series No. 1 was the last of the three I acquired. It took years to find one

I think there are so many of us whether we already have them or not, waiting for these to pop up somewhere that it's basically all about who sees them first. They don't a last a long.