Extrovert

On 2/4/2022 at 1:56 PM, Inhuman Fiend said:

Nice book, congrats. Does look nicer than an 8.0 but they are just so incredibly tight right now. But I do have a question...let me make sure I understand: You've owned this key book for 40+ years and never once opened it and saw the signature?  

Yep, that's exactly right. I've got a beat up reader copy, but this one was purchased when I was a kid and always kept safely under wraps. So yeah, bummer - wish I'd seen it.

On 2/3/2022 at 4:37 PM, Aaarrgghh! said:

It's some kind of pilot program CGC is experimenting with.

The odd thing was that the 6 books I got back were all lesser quality comics, nothing graded over an 8.0. The 14 that are left should all be somewere in the 9+ range. So I naturally wondered if there was some sort of quick weeding out process. Someone takes a quick look at the books, sees some obvious issues, and puts them in one stack, while the ones which should grade much higher are sent somewhere else in the building. IDK, I was just trying to come up with a reason for it.

Another question - is anyone putting their slabbed books in sleeves? It seems a bit absurd, but I'd hate to scuff up my slabs. Maybe I'm overthinking this.

Thanks for the help - I'll check all those out. I've only got 6 slabbed books, with another 14 still at CGC. But I've got a lot of books I plan on slabbing this year... well, if I get 'em back this year, that is. Cheers!

Newb question...

Any recs on storing slabbed books? I'm particularly interested in boxes/cases that are made specifically to store & protect slabbed books. Thanks.

I submitted 20 books to be slabbed in November and got 6 of them back in about a month. I wasn't expecting that at all. Any idea why/how those got back to me so quickly?

On 2/1/2022 at 2:28 PM, wolfbm said:

I am completely new to CGC but I have done a lot of research. Last year I sent in 2 modern books to me pressed and graded. As of typing this my books have been at CCS since 8/13/21 (received and accounted for). I seem to recall the turn around times when they were received were 120 for CCS and 85 for CGC. As stated, I am new to this world, but is it normal for books to still be at the pressers 5-6 months later even though the turn around should have been less than that?  I don't know if this matters but one of my comics was almost very clean and the other was in really good shape (ie didn't need a lot of work or repairs). I understand times are busy and I am just curious if this is normal. 

I've been waiting 12 months to get 20 books back, that's including clean/press and submission to CGC. The process is moving quite slowly these days. Hang in there, they'll get back to you... eventually.

On 2/1/2022 at 7:52 PM, William-James88 said:

Sounds like great beer. And I know what you are going through, discovering this wonderful wealth you now have (not just monetary, but how key these books have become) and seeing just how good their condition is in light of the current market where one point could mean another 100$.

I'm honestly amazed I was able to keep them in great condition over a 40+- year period. Through all the times I've moved. Through my children being born and growing up. It's pretty amazing, honestly. I also had a damn good eye to have as many keys as I do. Seems I was a better investor as a teen than I am as an adult. WTF? Cheers!

On 2/1/2022 at 6:44 PM, Calling All Monsters said:

I wonder if @joeypost counts pages for clients?  I assume he flips through books for problems, but that'd be an awful lot of page counting. Could cause accidental damage too?

Agreed - but from my brief experience with @joeypost - he's a bad man. He's a cleaning ninja. 

Hey - I'm a few miles outside of Charlotte. Catch  up w me if you're in the area.

On 2/1/2022 at 12:07 PM, SOTIcollector said:

why would anybody else right that name on the first page?

I tend to agree. Plus, we're talking somewhere around 1981. No CGC, right? Folks were reluctant to get a signature on a cover back then. I still am. I've seen signatures ruin, IMO, the overall appearance of the book. Anyway - downing a Russian Imperial Stout at a chill joint right now. What happens with my grades happens. I'm having fun... but it could be the 10% beer. Cheers all. Thanks for helping me out.

On 2/1/2022 at 6:26 PM, Calling All Monsters said:

Nice - that helps. Cheers!

On 2/1/2022 at 4:59 PM, William-James88 said:

While it looks great, it does indeed have the number of flaws we'd see on a 8.0 and not higher. CGC is tight on grading and in 99.99% of cases, the eye appeal of a book will not be enough to make up for wear. 

You can check CGC 9.0s and you'll see that your comic has more ticks along the edge than those.

Yeah, I'm still learning the ropes. The first 121 I posted is really clean. My presser, Joey,  figured it for a mid 9+. It will do better than an 8. I figure the second one to be an 8. I also sent a lot of more modern ASM keys that will definitely grade in the 9s. Newstand editions - which is another convo I'd like to venture into. I'll keep everyone up to date with what happens. I'm just enjoying chatting about the hobby with like minded people. For me, I'm 55, I've had some of these comics for 40 or more years. Having them graded, well, it's just a blast.

On 2/1/2022 at 1:36 PM, Calling All Monsters said:

You didn't count the pages before submitting? 

Bro, I didn't even crack a single copy open prior to submitting. It was my first time and I did it in a bit of a rush. I had to be in FLA for business and grabbed a stack of books that meant a lot to me and delivered them directly to CFP for cleaning and pressing. It was an absolute newb move. So far the possible page number issue hasn't been a problem. I sure wish I'd seen and photographed the "Gil Kane" writing on page 1 of my book. 

On 2/1/2022 at 1:42 PM, William-James88 said:

Ok, so the name written inside wouldn't have impacted the grade. Your comic's biggest flaw, giving it an 8.0, would be the colour breaks. At least from what I gather with the info given. 

Thanks for your help.

I bought both of these at the same convention, one from - if memory serves - the same seller as the #122. I wonder if the one I got from him will have a similar signature. Both of these are at CGC right now. 

On 2/1/2022 at 1:09 PM, theCapraAegagrus said:

1. No.
2. No.

There appears to be edge wear, which would definitely affect the grade.

Yep, you can see the wear on the top of the book. I believe that's what the grader is speaking of.

 

Grader Notes

spine stress lines breaks color
very light wear to cover

On 2/1/2022 at 1:08 PM, StillOnly25Cents said:

beautiful book and great addition to any collection, be proud

Oh - I am. Thanks! 

On 2/1/2022 at 12:07 PM, SOTIcollector said:

1.  When CGC indicates “written”, that’s just what it is. Somebody wrote that name on the first page. It is very likely that somebody was Gil Kane himself, and that’s his signature. why would anybody else right that name on the first page?
However, CGC makes no attempt to indicate who wrote it, because they don’t know.

2. Yes.  Writing on the first page of a book that is a 2.0 might have no impact on the grade.  But I would expect that interior writing absolutely could and probably would lower the grade of a book that’s 8.0 or better.   Perhaps the book could have graded at a 9.0, or north of that, but the grade was knocked down because of the writing?  Sometimes a book like this might get a higher grade green label, indicating it is a qualified grade.

I was leaning in that direction as well, because the book's better than an 8.0, IMO. Thanks.

On 2/1/2022 at 12:11 PM, William-James88 said:

What do the grader notes say?

""Gil Kane"" written on page 1 in marker.

Grader Notes

spine stress lines breaks color
very light wear to cover

I recently got this back from CGC. I really thought it would grade somewhere north of a 9. The most interesting part is that Gil Kane is "written" on page 1 in marker. I bought this comic at a FLA convention when I was maybe 14, likely a bit younger. I never opened the book, just kept it protected. I stupidly didn't look it over prior to submitting it for grading; because it was my first time submitting books and I didn't know any better. So now I have to wonder two things: 1. When they say written, does that mean it's a signature? 2. If it is a signature, and obviously CGC wouldn't recognize it as being genuine, could that reduce the grade? The grader notes make no mention of it.

On 2/1/2022 at 11:32 AM, revat said:

Not a huge deal, but this doesn’t seem to have too much to do with the original topic.  Maybe start your own thread in this subforum or the signature subfourm

Thanks for the advice.

On 2/1/2022 at 11:34 AM, shadroch said:

In that grade, CGC won't deduct for the name.  Most likely, it is a Kane signature from before you bought the book. For some people, this will make the book more attractive and worth more. For most, it will be neutral.

Well, that's a more positive spin. Thanks.

I recently got this back from CGC. I really thought it would grade somewhere north of a 9. The most interesting part is that Gil Kane is "written" on page 1 in marker. I bought this comic at a FLA convention when I was maybe 14, likely a bit younger. I never opened the book, just kept it protected. I stupidly didn't look it over prior to submitting it for grading; because it was my first time submitting books and I didn't know any better. So now I have to wonder two things: 1. When they say written, does that mean it's a signature? 2. If it is a signature, and obviously CGC wouldn't recognize it as being genuine, could that reduce the grade? The grader notes make no mention of it.

I recently got this back from CGC. I really thought it would grade somewhere north of a 9. The most interesting part is that Gil Kane is "written" on page 1 in marker. I bought this comic at a FLA convention when I was maybe 14, likely a bit younger. I never opened the book, just kept it protected. I stupidly didn't look it over prior to submitting it for grading; because it was my first time submitting books and I didn't know any better. So now I have to wonder two things: 1. When they say written, does that mean it's a signature? 2. If it is a signature, and obviously CGC wouldn't recognize it as being genuine, could that reduce the grade? The grader notes make no mention of it.