James J Johnson

I'd grade it a five-0. A 6.5 until we got to that last image showing the bottom right area creases, thus 5.0 overall.

I agree. Books that pop like this on all grade ranges, are one of the things that account for a book of lesser grade selling for more than a book of higher grade in successive months on the GP charts. A 2.5 or 3.0 like this may sell for more in October than a 4.0 will in November thereby giving the false impression that it may be faltering in price, meanwhile, it's just a case of an exceotional looking copy in lesser grade outperforming an average or below average looking book in a higher grade. If this 14 is sent to CGC for grading, as it should be IMO, and grades 3.0, my feeling is that it will sell at 4.0 level and maybe even slightly more. Those reds are such an unusual mixture of red and deep magenta for Marvel, more like an early DC Silver age red/magenta, giving it a unique look, that IMO it'll set a record for whatever it does grade.

Ordinarily, I would say, yes; a shoe in for white pages. But look at how brilliantly white that inside cover is! That, in and of itself, may actually prevent it from scoring white pages, CGC opting for off white to white because of there still being a decided margin of contrast between the whiteness of the pages vs. the whiteness of the inside cover! Look only at the pages = white. Takes the stark white of the inside cover into consideration in comparison to the pages = possibly off white to white! It all depends upon if the graders make an isolated judgement on page color or do take what I suggested into consideration. I do. Sometimes that sways my decision by a tik on page color. The contrast between the pages and the inside covers, food for thought.

3.0, Might be a technical 2.5, but attractive enough, deep enough reds that make it pop, to score a CGC 3.0. Back cover pulls it up also from 2.5 to 3.0, IMO.

Yes.

Aside from AF 15, which is already way out of $$$$ reach for most, the 14 and 50 are in the top tier for AS blue chip Silver age key issue investments. 41 is great also, as is the early 1st appearance issues of major AS foes, like 3, 6, 9, 13, 15, etc., but the 14 and 50 stand out to me as the go to AS keys as top tier investments, the 14 especially being a strong seller with high demand across the entire grade gamut.

I'd give it a little more than 6.0 just based on it's eye appeal. All of these B&Bs the OP has posted images of are stunning books from the standpoint of paper quality and color. Just focus on the green, blue, and pink. The entire color spectrum of this, and his other B&B front and back covers have truly not aged a day since they were struck.

Whippersnapper!

+1 This is a very good analysis from one of a few angles. Following Heritage Comic Auctions, studying the trends there, is in my estimation the single best barometer for market trend indication, and what we can see by studying that, is that overall, the market is still a runaway train, still gathering momentum. Also, by closely studying Comic Connect and ComicLink, similar trends should be noted. Now trying to compare ebay's selection, on a whole to those three powerhouses, is like trying to compare your local P.A.L baseball team to a major league team. While you may see a P.A.L. baseball player occasionally pull off a brilliant play, on a whole the entire level of play differs. You're not going to see "Promise Collections" and books of that highest magnitude on ebay with the regularity or selection as you do in the auctions of the biggest 3. There also appears to be a new thing in the past 2 years. The "every book with a first appearance, a cameo, or an origin" is a key issue. If you're into owning all of the keys, and a new one pops up, well, there goes some money you might be saving for a big key towards all those newly contrived ones. But to address question directly, Yes. IMO, the market is still a runaway train. Still speeding along the track. And as long as money keeps deflating in value against products inflating in value, investors will continue to feed coal into that train's engine.

4.0, possible 4.5.

I'm in agreement with y'all; 5.5. Press out that very slightly lopsided roll (increasing in thickness towards the bottom of the spine) for a probable 6.0..

Th beauty of that back cover will counterbalance that relatively small crease, IMO, and although not quite as nice as the 39, but by a very tiny margin, I could see this in a CGC 8.0 slab, but not having the 8.5 potential of the 39. Both are beautiful BBs not often seen of this unusually premium paper quality.

Personally, I see it the other way around. Given the choice, who better to manipulate a bookm a press, or clean, or both, with a complete understanding of what they themselves will judge to get a blue label? Makes sense, one stop shop. People gravitate towards the path of least resistance thus ease. CGC makes that possible by combining both solutions. Mitigation and grading. What could be easier?

Good observation, that back cover is spectacular. Especially given that the block lettering of the spine sidewall did not flake off along the hinge of the back cover, indicating that a good portion of the wear on this book is incidental, not from rough handling, but from "aggressive" storage, that is, the book shifting around or being kept confined in an area too small to lay perfectly flat, etc., etc.

Great analysis. Although I'm more in the 6.0 to 6.5 range camp, if the inside cove at that top or other edges, is sufficiently dark/toned enough, as suspected, for that piece to break off as it did.

+1 I was paging down to write the same thing. At least 8.0 and the paper is of CVA exceptional quality. Further, structure, spine, color; this might be the single nicest RAW BB39 that I recall seeing! The longtime storage environment for this couldn't have been better. What a beautiful book! Should be submitted. I can easily see 8.0, maybe even a bit more if like FFB said, no issues we can't see. Thanks to the OP for showing it. Awesome to see.

Bingo. Right out of the gate. 7.0, although due to generalized 7.0 wear and the creasing at the lower right corner area, I can well imagine a 6.5 finding at CGC not being out of the question. .

Must consider that this crimp goes cover to cover in a place that may be difficult the generate the right kind of pressure to remedy.

I would agree. Technically, far fewer flaws of wear than the typical 5.0 but look at the level of edge tone on the inside cover. The cover is well on its way to becoming brittle.

6.5 is about right as the technical grade, but with tremendous eye appeal. Beautiful colors and the gray area being free of streaks, speckles, smears, really sets off the pop of the cover! This is from a nice collection of books, all stored optimally on a ground floor in a place without wild temperature fluctuation. Such drastically different superior quality to basement stored (moisture/dampness), or attic (drying, dirt and sun stripes, brittleness) stored books. If the books were in better condition, this is the type of storge that typically yields the attributes that one tends to associate with the finer of Pedigree collections. Very nice book.

This. Unusually nice colors for a mid grade range AS 54 though.

That's what Greggy said!

That's new business. We have to finish the old business first.

I love Flipper. Even though I think he's a bit smug.

+1 Smart.