snitm

GPA doesn't track all sales (e.g. ComicConnect). A 3.5 sold recently (June 22) on ComicConnect for $44.5K.

Some pretty amazing AF15 auctions just ended on ComicConnect. $162K for 7.0, $51K for 4.5, $44.5K for 3.5.

4.0 OW/W just sold on eBay for $42,600 (previous high of $53.5K in May).

"Missing pages 13, 14 and 15. Incomplete" Spiderman story is on first 6 pages (the missing centerfold in my 0.5 is pages 8 and 9).

I'm aware, except it is Reece's rare comics. Not aware of much haggling there.

Seeing this 3.5 listed for $50K makes me feel even better about my "0.5"!

Continuing the discussion about how I was contending with serious competing bidding pressure: I think we're dealing with semi-sophisticated comic market manipulation. We're still in the protective bubble of "pandemic times, no comic shows". That bubble creates quite the opportunity to manipulate what occurs in that more controlled semi-enclosed system. The fact that my overspending has been such a controversial thing for some indicates to me that for the people who have a MUCH more serious vested interest in AF15 prices (e.g. dealers who have 5-10 of them in reserve, of which I know of at least a few): its pretty damn easy to drive the price up on a low grade AF15. Worst case for them is they overspend on their 11th AF15 with the thinking that the record sale will raise all their other higher-grade copies. Driving record sales via the click of HA "Bid" is not _that_ dissimilar from Elon Musk manipulating the crypto-currency market with a Tweet. So yeah, at this moment: I'm feeling used and/or "taken"... it feels

I understand the sour grapes "look what you've done!?" mindset in response to this outlier... But I think most avid comic collectors have been dealing with various examples of severe price inflation over the past year for all "key" comics. The broader inertia to the market _and_ the steady increase to AF15 pricing in particular really did influence my "FOMO" moment on this book. And yeah, it might seem like I created a self-fulfilling prophecy but some other nut(s) were bidding against me!

Thanks for the judgement, but I've been pretty patient. Maybe I didn't look hard enough, but I've been looking for a while, I'm content with my decision. And my decision was influenced by how hard it is to get this book over the past few years. You cannot get a 3.0 for less than $30K now. I don't _need_ it to say "3.0".. having a book that looks like a 3.0 is perfectly fine by me. So yeah I took it on the chin and paid nearly $22K for an AF15 that presents like a 3.0. Sorry (not sorry!)

CGC Grade really isn't everything.. I'd take my 0.5 over this 2.0 _every_ time:

First post on these forums (requires mod approval)! HA makes it super easy to refuse to lose. I obviously overpaid (yes I'm the high bidder on this book!). My premeditated maximum was $13K..but others forced it higher. I _really_ regret not buying a 3.0 back in ~2019.. and this 0.5 presents beautifully (2.5? 3.0? 3.5?). So this book is my "poor-man's 3.0 blue label". Will I ever get my money back? No, but my 6yo daughter who loves comics likely will when I'm long gone. Who knows.. but don't much care because I don't intend to sell. I plan to cherish it. Reality is AF15's centerfold isn't related to Spider-Man at all.. I put serious value in cover/slab presentation over the missing "Man in the mummy case!" page 😂 and other associated pages/ad irrelevant to Spider-Man. Crack the slab open and the book has what matters to me: complete origin and first appearance of Spider-Man. Yeah.. I'm still in shock too 😲 Doubt I'll pursue marrying a replacement centerfold.. but never say never (hit me up via DM if you, or someone you know, has one).