EwanUK

Hi all fantastic thread that I'm still wading through here's some of mine -

Yeah, all the usual suspects plus Harley. I forgot to mention, while we were setting up, there were two old guys perving over a Manara hardcover we had, a couple of minutes later they were gone and so was the book. Shoplifting scumbags! Sorry about that. My dad and his friend insisted on coming... I have a used Manara hardcover on ebay now

Blonde in background looks happy being near a gang of comic fans... Who's ear-wigging though?

Any one go to the London mart today? Strangely deserted I thought... the usual suspects of course but there was a lot of empty spaces... and pensive looking dealers While looking in some boxes, I overheard the new management ( I think) speaking to (I think) Mike Conroy and they were discussing ways of making it a lot bigger... and having a lot more people using it... (they could also have been talking about his donger for all I know as well) It didn't help that the web-site was a bit ambiguous about it being open today... I'd says it's now - 20% old comics 30% new comics 25% videos and DVDs 25% toys and cards Not sure I like all these huge compilations of scans of comics being sold so blatantly... I managed to pick up £40 of stuff so not too bad but I wonder where it's going to end up... I then went down the road to the Ephemera (I had to look up how to spell that) fair - crikey the dealers are of a different breed there - very posh - and most of them were at least 100 years old only comics they had was a few old Beano's and Eagle's any other thoughts?

Impressive price - I predicted 2k You may have seen my no.12 CGC 9.9 reached £500 / $789 a couple of weeks back which I was reasonably pleased with I'm in the process of selling the rest of the set, both on ebay and privately. All have done pretty well so far (a little more than I bought them for) with exception of no.24 which only hit £130 / $200 Down from $315 when I bought it in Sep 2009 but I guess supply now outstrips demand... unless you have 9.8 sigs or 9.9s... such is graded comics

His head isn't detached. Did someone say it is? It's what CGC used to call the cover of no.15 "detached head cover" of words to that effect Perhaps they were thinking of Evelyn Cream who's head was indeed detached after his jungle walkies with Miracledog

she looks like she's about to... erm...

My seven year old completely monopolises the TV. Anything I want to watch is considered "daddy's boring TV" His favs are: Match Of The Day, fast forwards through the taking bits Football News Sponge Bob Horrible Histories Horrid Henry we went all through the cbeebies stage - which he's now very embarrassed about he calls my music "80s music" and it's all "dumb" Interestingly, I tried to get him into comics many times... but he's into football big time... how did that happen? My father was also into football but being a 70s dad had little time for his kids, so I grew up with 2000AD... My younger son, age 3, is still in the Thomas, Fireman Sam and Pingu stage he can use my laptop to get episodes from You Tube by himself and has his own little DVD player I think I'll end up in the shed when they're teenagers p.s. both boys have enjoyed The Wiggles - we even went to see them in Hammersmith fatherhood rocks !

Jessica Ennis just stunning in every sense

Surely ebay has 100s of times more reach than the other outlets? Is an ebay store much more profitable? Do you cross-promote on ebay? At marts, do you actually make a profit? Aren't most buyers wanting 10p comics? Do people ever buy big ticket items?

Reading them is bad enough. Indeed the last modern I bought with any regularity is now a Copper Age title Anyway, how does the business model work for new comics? what's the margin? is it like WHS retail of magazines?

Best of luck with the venture - sounds great I live very close to Stevenage but have never been to your shop, though there used to be one some years ago I think in a similar spot (now a pet shop?) There also used to be one in Letchworth (dump upstairs and rude owner) and Hitchin (very short lived) - any links? You do the London marts too? p.s. Fish & Chips - HAS to be eaten with tea and mushy peas, bread and butter I'm from Yorkshire, we invented Fish & Chips

Thought you all my like to see a collation of recent MM no.15 9.8 Totleben sig series books... I own the first one nice aren't they? anyone got any different ones?

?? I own the book - I bought it back in 2009 from Rich (rasmus?) for what then would have been about $500 I don't actually have a picture of it graded - but as you can see from my registry it's the real deal. Pic ungraded to folllow Here's a bit of Rich's email to me... (he thought it was Bucky at first due to the placement - but all McKean) Hit me back when you get this...while I am sure this won't matter to you, I needed to clarify...the head sketch is by DAVE McKEAN, not Mark Buckingham. I realized that I had a typo in there, and mistakenly indicated that Buckingham might have done the head sketch. He did not...in fact, getting Buckingham on the book was sheer dumb luck...I was at the DC booth getting my FABLES signed by Bill Willingham, with Mark Buckingham just happened to pop by and I just HAPPENED to have the MM 20 on me. I then went to the booth in the back of the hall that was hosting Kent Williams and Dave McKean. I had McKean sign my Hellblazers and then lastly, the MM 20, and asked him for a sketch. He said he wasn't sure if he remembered what the character looked like, then whips out that crazy brush pen of his and does a PERFECT Mike Moran head sketch. So the reason I bring that up is because there was some confusion on my paperwork at CGC, then I realized that I had indicated somewhere along the line (quite by accident) that Buckingham did the sketch. It's a DAVE McKEAN orig. sketch, buddy. I'm discussing its sale at present with a UK collector but feel free to make me an offer (it's not listed anywhere yet)

Ryan - cool i did buy the series as an "original owner" too as it was published of that first set I only have 2 remaining, the no.1 (UK rear cover) that i bought in August 1985 as a 13 year old - and the no.22 in my reg set is a direct sub from my originally bought in comic shop and read copy - still got a 9.8 I knew how to handle comics even in my debauched youth

CGC 9.8 is worth around $350-$400. If you sent it to Rich, then I guess you are looking for a Totleben signature, which pushes the price well over $500 (if it stays at 9.8 s/s). If you went for a sketch, and you got a good one, these have sold for around $1,100, if they held their grade (9.8 s/s & sketch). However, the Totleben prices will come down a little as he has now completed two private signings and will be attending Cincinnati as well this year. As for a #15 CGC 9.9, well it is unique and sits at the top of the census so Ewan's estimate of $2,000 seems about right and his #12 9.9 should make over $500. I might have to sell one of my kidneys....... Well, I wouldn't want you to go without one of your kidneys... but,... I'm hoping for a bit more than $500 to be honest but let's see I'll also be selling my no.15 9.8 Totleben sketch (and it's a very good one) which i bought off Rich last year, plus my no.20 9.8 Dave McKean sketch - also supplied by Rich back in 2009... in fact, the only 2 of mine i'm not selling are my no.1 double-cover and no.23 (my fav) sorry, I know a bit salesy but I think I've earned the right on this thread loads more very rare MM stuff you haven't seen to come soon too

it's a stunner alright - has that "perfectness" edge over 9.8s I've seen - a bit like a MM no.12 I know about but can't possibly mention on this section of the boards... So what do we reckon the no.15 will go for? My view is a $2,000 book Do we reckon its been pressed?

Welcome old bean Re pressing: I always find it slightly funny that everyone (the Americans) go on (and on and on and on ) about pressing so much.,.. as a child I distinctly recall using piles of heavy old books and annuals to "press" spined-curled copies of 2000AD before i swapped them with other children for the latest Whizzer & Chips.... they came out good as new - what's the difference!!! Speaking of which, I have a very early memory of comic restoration too - black felt tips and yellow sello-tape... CGC would NOT be able to spot it

Registry - I can't beat Michael now without spending £100s on sig series books - so my solace is that I've been no.1 two years previously (though with vastly inferior sets) it's moved on so much in recent years I recall when a straight 9.8 set was beyond the realms of possibility as 9.8s of certain numbers didn't exist - no.8 and no.23 if I recall... Like Olympic records, grading highs will continue to be beaten - well if CGC continue run the Olympics that is.... But again, why is the JJ set obscured?

It's my book and it isn't pressed I am absurdly jealous, but congratulations are also in order - did you think it was going to come back a 9.9 when you subbed the book? erk... sorry everyone, now very embarrassed I was just joking - a bit of British defeatist humour! Michael, you're still no.1 don't worry. Sorry! A 9.9 no.15 would be amazing and perhaps it is a pressed one? I think after the flux of sig series 9.8s more 9.9s will begin to surface... How much do you reckon a 9.9 15 would go for? ironically I did submit a 15 that I thought would be a 9.9 - as perfect a my 12 but got JUST another worthless 9.8....

It's my book and it isn't pressed

why is JJ's set obscured? There are certainly an influx of 9.8 sig series books...

Happen to me just twice I bought an Alex Ross OA page - customs charge was £160 !!!! Another time a CGC book, but the seller described it as a "toy" - cost me £40 He did say sorry...

What a ! This is the main reason I do very little on EBay - I would rather get credit from a LCS (if I had one ) I sell a little on ebay, mostly to then fund buying more - but I also (perversely perhaps) enjoy the whole scanning, listing, packing experience - almost living up to my fantasy of being a real-life comic dealer (with all the money, girls and status I'm sure that brings!) but I've had a similar experience recently... Sold some old Judge Dredd books for about £30 Send buyer email when posted in a couple of days. All is well Ages later he emails to say "where are they?" I say I've posted them, I have pop We exchange emails - and he gets rather unfriendly - contrary to my "look I've got 100% feedback, why would I steal your money???" etc etc He almost immediately raises a dispute Within 48 hours ebay TAKE the money from me! Rang ebay's customer service line - argue the toss for half-hour getting nowhere ebay is adament I have to send everything tracked "that would mean I'd never sell low value items" etc "we have to look after buyers" she said I mention I happen to know their new Vice President of CS (I do) Suddenly she offers me a £30 voucher because I'm such a valued customer... weeks pass Buyer emails me to say the books have now arrived: they were "lost" at the post office then PP's me the funds... So... come out of it all £30 up! Well, I would've been had the voucher not now VANISHED !!! i love ebay

and the original Comics Showcase