PDGray

Doing a little bit of extra reading on the topic I came across this article from 2000 about Bob and Roger. The Last Casualties (newsweek.com) I am not advocating one way or the other whether this is the correct pair of brothers, but it does speak to those who went MIA and are still unaccounted for. It also makes mention of Roger having been brought to a repatriation point and then escorted away by Chinese guards never to be seen again. I don't know how much faith I would put in the 1957 sighting mentioned earlier in the thread although anything is possible. PDG

This is the mark from my Promise Collection book. Looks like a "K" to me, just to add a little to the conversation. PDG

I had the privelege to visit that memorial in July 1987. I thought Hawaii was one of the most beautiful places I had (and still have) ever visited. PDG

I am a fairly frequent buyer on there. I have probably bought books from most of you (if you sell on ebay). My biggest thing is that I see books listed at what I would term "exceptional" prices, which is fine - you can list the book for whatever you like. I MUCH prefer to use the "Watch" feature or a "Best Offer" book. I kind of let the books sit on my "Watch" list so that I don't forget about them - if a seller makes a reasonable offer I am game - let's see if it is something I can swing. But MANY of those books sit there for months on end, which I view as a clue that they really don't care. "Best Offer" books - If it is a book I want, I will send you an offer, but then to just "reject" without a counter is kind of absurd. There was a book I was working on a few weeks ago where I sent an offer and I had a price in mind. They wrote me and said they would come only up to $5 off the book. I felt it was absurd and they were stuck like an absolute rock with only the $5 although my offer was only $10 below their BIN price. I know sellers don't want to lose money, but if you don't want to negotiate, then don't have a "Make Offer" option. PDG

Yeah, I decided to "watch" it and then the seller made me an offer. I thought about it, and the prospect of owning a Crowley book REALLY appealed to me. It wasn't terribly expensive, so I got it. There are a few Crowleys listed now, but I passed on those mostly because this one was cheaper. PDG

Yet another fascinating thread by @sfcityduck I am thinking along the same lines of what @sfcityduck and, I suspect, many of the rest of you are thinking as well. PDG

Yet another amazing thread - thank you @sfcityduck PDG

No worries at all. I figure as long as the buyer and the seller are ok with whatever price, then it's all good. I actually looked up what the book had sold for at auction and with the premium before I bought it. He probably made a few bucks from the sale. Even he admitted that he was probably only going get a meal at Taco Bell out of it. Ha! I am retired, so while I have a few books that are pretty pricey - most were bought when I had a little bit of money and was a whole lot younger!! So now I pick up a few books here and there as I can. My target lately has been to get pedigree books - I have discovered them and have a fascination with their story - just like these particular books, as most of us in this thread have discovered. PDG

If/when I make it up there I will absolutely do so!! PDG

My Crowley Copy was delivered today. Apparently one of 3 graded copies - another 9.2 and a 6.5 - so low census count. It's not a superhero book, but I am happy to have it. PDG

I bought the Black Diamond Western #11. I didn't pay the $450 for it. I am ok with what I paid for it - even if it was a little bit of a premium - just like many others, I wanted to own a small part of the story. Most of the other books I saw were far out of my league. PDG

Yep, I have seen some doozies and just the instant you think there is absolutely NO WAY this could be true - then all of a sudden it is!! Of course, then there was the guy who talked about his CGC graded 9.5 AF 15...and you just shake your head. PDG

Absolutely FASCINATING thread. Sorry for being so late to find it - I still am a newb to the board. It would appear that I am about 1.5 hours from Dave Wigranskis grave. If I find myself up that way I may have to stop in for a brief visit. PDG

I would rather you not desist - please continue as I have rather enjoyed your research. The story of Bob and Roger may/may not be the story of the Promise Collection. It cannot, at this point, be verified one way or the other and that is fine, however, their story as well as the stories of other KIA/MIA Soldiers needs to be told. Those Soldiers need to be remembered. PDG

I remain a bit skeptical, but I am hopeful for Tim that it all pans out for him. I would love to see pics of the book resting in his possession. I have always kind of been the underdog and kind of normally pull for them. GOOD LUCK TIM!!! PDG

@sfcityduck - as I have told you in other threads - amazing research of the highest caliber. Regardless of whether these are the correct brothers or not, the story of THESE two brothers deserves to be told, and BOTH of them to be remembered - one who never came home and another who kept the faith in spite of the odds against him. I have spent a huge portion of my life paying tribute to those servicemembers who went before us and have nothing but respect for ALL of them. PDG

One of the most ridiculously impressive threads I have ever seen.... PDG

Ok, this may be real, but that's an exceptional claim to come out and say you will buy this book. Maybe you are coming into a lot of money - I would probably do something similar given the opportunity. More often than not though, it turns out to be someone wanting attention for something absurd. So, extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof in my opinion and experience. Honestly, if you can swing it - GOOD LUCK!!! PDG

It does appear that my "new to me" Tarzan 76 is one of three graded at 9.6 - none higher on the census. I would be interested to know/see the others to know if they are pedigree or not. I just couldn't pass on it as a 9.6 from 1955. I am curious where that #90 is too. PDG

Will this pic suffice?? Honestly, after reading about the "fake" Bethlehem books it was one of the first things I checked. I am up to 16 Pedigree books from 14 Pedigrees/Collections. I know there are more and better books out there, but I am kind of happy working on this little project. I KNOW that some of you have single books worth more than my little pedigree collection, but maybe one day I can catch up!!! PDG

I added a Bethlehem to my collection this past week. Still waiting on a Crowley I purchased a few weeks ago - apparently stuck in Seattle since the 4th... PDG

Excellent new posts!! Love the pics, I hate that the case on that All-American isn't better, but you have the book in hand nonetheless!! PDG

Just wanna add that this is a fantastic thread - I have learned quite a bit here - thank you all! PDG

Absolutely I think they do add value to the pedigree. As I think I mentioned in another thread regarding the Promise collection, there is something that really strikes me about that young man, Junie, losing his life and asking Robert to care for his funny books. As a retired Soldier myself, it strikes home with me. The Okajima books also have a fascinating story to tell, regardless of the cover or title to me. When I look in my comic room over to my single Edgar Church book I am reminded of the significance of that collection and its lasting impact on the comic collector industry. I view myself as a student and keeper of history. That stands true whether its a comic book, my 1787 Family Bible, my family wooden chest (ca. 1850), or pretty much any other piece of history I have stored away in my house. I view it as my responsibility to be able to pass on that bit of history to my kids and eventually their kids and so on and so forth. So, it is the story that pulls me in more than the specific books. PDG

I intentionally left the question a bit vague - because I believed it would elicit more widely varied responses - which is what I am looking for! I wanted to stimulate the conversation and perhaps learn a bit along the life of this particular thread. So, the answer to your question is simply whatever you would choose - the quality of the collection of the quality of the books in the collection or any other criteria you choose. I am relatively new to the pedigree arena. I have purchased a few in the last six months and am starting to plan out how to move forward - which collections I should really start targeting and that sort of thing. This seemed like a good idea to spark the topic. PDG