RockMyAmadeus

 

I don't think this assessment is really accurate. If you're looking for 30 centers, you know what they are, whether they are "starbursted" (like X-Men #100), or not (like Iron Fist #4.)

 

X-men 100 is a variant of the circle price type

yeah, yeah, whatev....it's still an "obvious" one.

This is actually a an interesting discussion. I think it is still a mystery as to what the print runs were for the 30 and 35 centers.

 

ShieldAgent is correct in his assessment that the 30 centers are much easier to find than the 35 centers if you are looking at a group of old bronze age books in a small ebay picture, because of the price starbursts. Some of the harder 30 cent variants to find are the one with the regular price blocks because they don't stand out.

I don't think this assessment is really accurate. If you're looking for 30 centers, you know what they are, whether they are "starbursted" (like X-Men #100), or not (like Iron Fist #4.)

I suppose to the casual looker who doesn't know better, they might be a bit of purchases based on this, but how much could that really account for?

Because of the regular price blocks, the 35 centers are harder to pick out in a group. That being said, I am still relatively amazed at how few 35 centers have found particularly for the prices that they bring.

 

I have no facts to base this on, but I imagine some executive in sales and marketing at Marvel in 1977 saying something like this. "You know we tried that test a couple of years ago before we raised the prices on all of our books from 25 cents to 30 cents. We ought to try it again before we raise prices to 35 cents. But maybe we don't have to do as large a test..."

The 30 centers were tested in 1976, the 35s in 1977, almost exactly a year apart. These details may seem picky, but they are important when trying to deconstruct what happened and how.

Anyway, using CGC certified books as proxy for the relative rarity of the books you will find that there are 2000 30 centers certified for 186 issues and 875 35 centers certified for 184 issues. Additionally, one issue, Star Wars 1, makes up almost 10% of the 35 cent books certified. Star Wars 1 was a huge print run for Marvel, has a large collector demand. The price variant was known for years before it became widely known that all the other marvel issues had price variant printings.

 

My best guess is that the 35 center print runs were 1/4 to 1/3 the size of the 30 cent runs.

Absolutely agreed.

Interesting point to consider: the OPG in the mid 80's noted that X-Men #98 and 99 had a price variant, got it wrong a couple of years ("35 cent cover"), and even pointed out in the Update that they were "NOT RARE!"

Star Wars #1 is the most famous (and long known) price variant, but obviously others were acknowledged long before they became "popular."

What doesn't make sense is this: If Star Wars #1 was known almost from the day it was printed...why did no one make the connection with #2-4, at the very least? Nobody knows.

Over at STL if you look at the numbers on there list it seems they suggest there were as litle as 5 and some 50 or more I avent seen anything to suggest 1500 of each anywhere in any of the stuff ive read .. the 35 centers i mean.

PRINT RUN.

Not EXTANT.

There's a difference.

 

I Guess well never now the true numbers on these books.But both the 30 and 35 centers are way undervalued for sure..overstreet is waaay behind on them

 

Cheers,

JZ

I think OPG is low on the 35 centers. I do not believe they are low on the 30s.

we can speculate all day long, but in the end it is just speculation.

 

One thing is for sure, 30 cent variants are easy to spot. I believe this leads to more recognition, and also more sales listings. Thus the perception is they are more common. Maybe some are, but compared to their regular issue counterparts, they can be truely difficult to locate.

 

35 cent variants are a different animal. They are difficult to spot, especially in digital pictures and crappy ebay scans. The perception is that they are much more rare. But I ask, who is actually looking for these things??? Canickus, Bonas0123, and myself? That is not enough to generate interest in looking for most of the issues that comprise the set.

 

One last point- Marvel Super Action 3 was once considered to be a very rare 35 cent variant. I felt fortunate enough to have a copy. Then a seller in NY found 20 of them that graded out all the way up to 9.4. This makes two points-rare is relative, and high grade may exist in quantity.

 

 

I dont think 3 guys are looking for these as you claim..Thats a bit ridiculous to say the least//Yeah you 3 are the only ones in the country that are looking for them...

 

Any shmo who can pick up a price guide sees them listed as variant

 

And the 35 centers are much rarer i hate to tell you..30 centers are all over..So a guy found 20 MSA#3s?? So whats your point? SO now its NOT rare 20 copies is nothing..As far as being high grade,,look at the census theres only SEVEN graded ones on the list,,wheres the 20 you said he had graded out ..up to 9.4..?? Dont see em on the census at all. their arent that many high grade ones out there let alone NON graded examples.

1 9.4

1 9.2

2 9.0

1 8.5

1 7.5

1 5.0....seems rare in high grade to me..

 

I have looked through MANY a long box and i know what to look for and have found a grand total of THREE...I can say ive seen a minimum 100 30 centers..MINIMUM..

 

Rare is realtive I guess. but in my experience 35 centers are very rare..maybe you have had great luck and found a ton. just out of curiousity..Are you finding them by the ton in boxes that people are overlooking? I doubt that ..

 

If you are I need to go to some of the shows that you go to cuz I am not having much luck at all..

 

My .02..

You can disagree with someone without being abrasive. Honest. SA didn't say the Super Actions were CGC graded...

we can speculate all day long, but in the end it is just speculation.

 

One thing is for sure, 30 cent variants are easy to spot. I believe this leads to more recognition, and also more sales listings. Thus the perception is they are more common. Maybe some are, but compared to their regular issue counterparts, they can be truely difficult to locate.

 

35 cent variants are a different animal. They are difficult to spot, especially in digital pictures and crappy ebay scans. The perception is that they are much more rare. But I ask, who is actually looking for these things??? Canickus, Bonas0123, and myself? That is not enough to generate interest in looking for most of the issues that comprise the set.

 

One last point- Marvel Super Action 3 was once considered to be a very rare 35 cent variant. I felt fortunate enough to have a copy. Then a seller in NY found 20 of them that graded out all the way up to 9.4. This makes two points-rare is relative, and high grade may exist in quantity.

 

Hey SA!

As I think has been discussed over at STL, and which opinion I share, I think it's been concluded that the 35 centers were actually printed in much smaller quantities than their 30 cent counterparts.

We have a general idea about how many copies of each of the 35 centers were printed (1500 or thereabouts.) I don't think it's a matter of perception....after all, these have been sought after for over a decade now....I think it's that these are much rarer than the 30s, and I think the census and sales data reflects this.

I have only found one 35 center in the wild, ever...and I've been looking since the early 90's...that was Marvel Presents #12.

Lots of 30 centers, including Kid Colt #209....only 1 35 center.

There are museum books in CGC slabs, back before CGC realized what the slabs were doing to the books. If you have a museum in a CGC slab and the parchment cover has NOT become separated from "the regular cover", you are a very, very lucky collector.

Sea Devils 1-

 

Sea Devils 1-16, 22, 24, 28-35

They're good guys. Slow, and a bit disorganized, but good guys who aren't going to screw anyone, and they have a consistent con presence.

Nice additional examples, Seadevils!

I'm looking at the other end, late Silver/Early Bronze, for more examples.

Saw this in person for the first time today....can't tell.

Partial? (see earth and stars)

Here, I actually Googled that image, and I think it may be the HC compilation cover. Here's a picture of the actual comic:

No, although several of the Kirby 4th worlds were. This one's greytone effect.

 

How can you tell? It sure looks like a photo to me.

Guess you have to look at it in person. I've got one sitting right here, and it's definitely greytone. Besides...look at how far out that would have to be to be a photo. When this book was published (late 1970), the only things that had been out that far were the moon landings, and, while certainly not impossible, not very likely that Kirby would have access to a photo from this angle.

The most compelling evidence, of course, is that it's DRAWN.

But no, grab a copy...it's one of those that probably has to be seen in person.

No, although several of the Kirby 4th worlds were. This one's greytone effect.

Found another "undiscovered" partial greytone...check out the earth:

WOW!

 

No kidding, right? Talk about going above and beyond. I paid a higher price than I expected for the two ASMs, but I'm 200% satisfied with how this turned out!

 

err...

 

Most people around here aren't fond of his listing style.

Awk-warrrd....

Even better, a Russ Heath Flamethrower Greytone....er.....

....

I got nuthin.

No, shame on you for being judgmental in the first place...

You think that was being judgemental...? I guess, in this PC world, speaking truth is considered "judgemental", even when it's not aimed at anyone in particular. Gosh, don't dare say out loud that something some generic person somewhere might be doing isn't the best thing for them.

At least it puts paid to your nonsense about being in a glass house. Doesn't really work when someone's already admitted their shared flaws, does it...?

Now, is there a reason you felt you needed to do this OT posturing here, in public?

Couldn't send me a PM, could ya...?

No, of course not. That's not how it works.

The funny thing is, the only people I met from this board were Cujobyte, Comicgrinder, and I *think* Spiderman-on-tilt.

I certainly didn't meet you. Wouldn't that be ironic if I'm not even the person you think I am...

 

Interesting. I remember what you look like now. Kind of fun to be throwing stones from a glass house, isn't it?

Are you kidding...?

"I ain't skinny. I sure as hell am not in shape. I choose to eat bad foods because they taste oh, so good." "If I could get my fatarse to the gym daily, and stop eating pizza, I'd be that much better. "

Did you just gloss over that...? Skip those parts....?

You know, the part where I essentially say "I know where they're coming from, because I'm in the exact same boat, and I know what it's like"....?

Shame on you.

I just noticed something....your X-Men #54 got a 9.4, and your X-Men #56 got a 9.6.....QUICK! Submit #58, 59, and 60!

You all have wonderful books. Thanks for sharing them. Yay!

Just joined the TMNT #1 club

 

 

 

Woohoo!

What do you think? Partial?

(Another "can't believe I missed that one")

Got this back yesterday.

 

 

You didn't buy this at Phoenix Con last month, didja...?

 

(regardless, it's beautiful! Congrats!)

 

Why do you ask??

Just wondering if it was from that stack of stuff we were both looking at at "Ed's" booth.

Got this back yesterday.

 

You didn't buy this at Phoenix Con last month, didja...?

(regardless, it's beautiful! Congrats!)