agro23

I thought CGC considers it restoration. I have seen purple labels that included "cover cleaned". Classics Incorporated lists it under "slight" (http://www.comicrestoration.com/). So, no, it will never end.

Cover cleaned? But that would be...Restoration! I thought about it though.

Not those guys. TommyFoxwood will drop out eventually though if the price goes too high.

Mind you, I don't collect Superman. I'm just collecting as many of the comics on the Gerber book covers as my budget and access will allow. So, how do you guys decide which Superman or Action Comics to get? I mean, it's an expenseive prospect no matter what you do. I just acquired a G+ Superman #5 which prompted me to flip through the Gerbers looking at the other Supes covers. I found myself saying "I want this one. Oh, and this one too. Oh, that's a cool cover. So is that one too." Which then became "Maybe I'll collect the Patriotic covers. Oh, and the War covers too." And then I was on to the Actions... "Oh, that's one's SWEET! Yes, I must get some Actions too..." My head is still spinning.

Just got this in from Ebay yesterday... It's stained, it's ripped, written on, creased, abraded, spine rolled and staple torn, and the pages are cream to off-white in the center. Note the nice coffee-can circular stain on the cover and the accounting! Good? Good plus? G/VG is a stretch...but who cares?! I read it cover to cover last night! I think I need to stop looking at Ebay for a little while...

Thanks man! I changed the image, as you can see!

Just got this from Ebay. One more Gerber Cover book off the list... Just don't ask about the back cover tears.

Got this back from CGC a little while ago. It was an Ebay purchase I dropped off at San Diego. Took weeks and weeks (I'm an economy kinda guy) but it was worth the wait. The scan is crappy because I'm still figuring out settings for slabbed books on my ancient machine...

That Stan Lee book is awesome! What else did you get at SDCC? The best thing I picked up was through trade. A Crowley copy of Captain Marvel #26 in OK shape.

Something to consider is how much of Gerber's material would be available to work from. It's my guess that they have NO interest in revisiting the books or they would have done so already. So, whoever takes on the task to revise has two options: A) start from scratch or B) contact the Gerber people and try to get the films and/or files. My chief worry about option A is that it's overwhelming to try and reacquire such a vast library of photos. My chief worry about B is that nothing exists in any form other than the films and the data would have to be hand-entered. Either option means a large committment of time from any person or group that volunteers to undertake the task. It strikes me as something that might be better done as maybe a newsletter where only key sections or market segments are updated. A Comics Scarcity Update newsletter could contain some updated photos but otherwise POINT TO the Gerber books as a reference. You could print say 24 pages per issue over whatever time period each and then at the end also compile them into one or two large volumes and have the complete update at that time. Of course there may be rights issues, but a newsletter is more likely to qualify as journalism and get more liberty quoting the material than a straight update would. Of course if Gerber were on board with the idea that would help immensely... But with data like what Rip provided earlier at the tip of the keyboard from many of you guys it seems like a possible task to undertake.

You know, I love the Gerber books, but I have to wonder about the accuracy. It might be a case of where his interests lie (like what he knew personally about scarcity of some books) and what people he spoke with told him. I have TWO sets of these: Three 8's and a 9. Yet I saw another on Ebay late last year when I bought my first one and I bought one of a different TWO sets at a recent Heritage auction. So, I figure if I can encounter four copies of something that should have ten or fewer of them around just in the last nine months, the rarity might be skewed. Or I live a charmed life. Jury is still out...

Thanks! Ever since I got the Gerber books I freaked out with Golden Age. I've made it my impossible mission to get all of the books on the covers (many of which I can't ever afford in this lifetime). So far I've managed to get a few but that's the best one yet.

I guess, on the eve of SDCC, this is the best time for my first post. I just got this on Ebay from jscomics.