Aahz

Do either of these companies cover you if the art is stored in a storage unit?

Thanks everyone for the feedback ... quick follow up: If I were to put portfolios in non-airtight plastic bags, is it a good idea to add desiccant bags?

On 4/8/2024 at 5:53 AM, Rick2you2 said:

I thought the Domínguez cover from the Phantom Stranger at $10,500 was very strong. What I would have wanted, however, was the Kaluta Spectre cover. Beautifully proportioned.

Followed up by and equally strong $9K for the House of Mystery Cover.

Both.  Portfolios of art and framed pieces.  Also wondering if I vac pac the boxed frames or portfolios, if that would promote mold.

Although I have an HP multipurpose Officejet that does 11x17 scans (and I am very happy with it), I actually really have been impressed with the Microsoft Lens app, which is free (not sure if free with 365 or just free).  This is super helpful with the larger pieces.

So we have to do some home renovations that will not allow us to be in the house for a couple of months. Although I don't expect anything to go wrong, there is always the risk of flood/fire when people are playing with water and electricity.  I'm trying to come up with a solution to store/protect the art I own while this is going on.  Do I keep it in the house boxed and in plastic? Offsite climate controlled storage?  

I'm sure I'm not the first to go through this, so suggestions are welcome!  Appreciate the help!

Well addiction always has a progression.  :-).  I also started in the 90's so I've had to adjust my price expectations several times.  I have always focused on a genre with a could have specific characters, but my interests lie outside of the regular superhero work.  This means a really expansive range of potential pages ... so there are plenty in the $500 or less category that I buy because I find them interesting from an artistic standpoint.  The progression over the years has been not one of buying more expensive pages (although it has become the nature of the "hobby" that the prices keep going up), but looking 1) to fill holes from specific artists that I might want within my genre; 2) filling in examples of artists within a specific comic book; 3) looking for specific pages.  At the end of the day, you have to enjoy looking at it.

On 3/16/2024 at 11:43 AM, Xatari said:

I do wonder if the abundance of Sandman art over the past few years will artificially suppress prices to some extent. Very possible we could see a drought down the road followed by an uptick. Full disclosure: I do not own Sandman art or have plans on purchasing. I am just trying to be a student of the hobby and am highly interested in trend analysis. 

I don't think so.  The offerings seem to be heavily from the first story arcs and artists, with a couple of pieces here and there from later stories.  Depending on what story appealed to you, there is probably still a lot of potential interest.  

Heritage did a walk through with Gaiman that was posted on Youtube that was really enjoyable.  Knowing a bit more of the history behind each piece was cool.  Also, he really seems to care about the pieces as art.

Alex Johnson has a really good list of how to value your art.  It's pinned on the boards here somewhere.  Sandman has been on a roll recently on Heritage, with earlier pages bringing from around $2K to astronomical numbers.  There are two Zulli pages with the new Sandman coming up for auction on March 14, which should give you a solid idea.  Pluses to this page - Title page and its the original series.  Zulu's pencils are always beautiful.  However, it is later in the run, it's a set up shot, and there are no characters or dialog. (It is a beautiful page, though).  My guess, would be in the 2-3K range.

I try to do this.  It actually came in handy in one instance.  I have a splash page from a Bronze Age book, all the right indicia and stamps on it, and a story page is one.  Find the story in the printed book, but I can't find the page.  Looks like they took it out in favor of an ad page.  Would never have known if I hadn't seen the printed version.

Sigh.  I think one of the elements you have to take into account is when you actually started collecting.  Given that prices have gone up considerably (and depending on what type of art that you collect), you may have no choice to consider them an "investment."  For those of us fortunate enough to have started in the Dark Ages, the buy in to the hobby was not what it is today.  So I have never looked at my collection as part of my net worth (other than insuring it).  I think I am honestly happier in the hobby that way too.  I think the same thing applies to whether you hang a piece or hide it in a vault.

Now, if I start buying bigger ticket items in today's market, that assessment would probably have to change.

It's funny that this topic has come up because I just watched the documentary on this, and my first thought was, "How is Bouvier still alive?"  Regardless of the the question of contract etc (and I realize this is a lawsuit), to me the main issue was that (at least how it was presented in the documentary), that Bouvier lied to Rybolovlev.  If he said that the seller didn't want to go below x when he knows it's y, that is not a mark up or percentage, it's a lie.

Looking for the Title page to The Battle of Bloody Valley by Buddy Gernale.  Thanks!

On 12/21/2023 at 10:03 AM, cstojano said:

That's where I had it. Seems an odd pull to make up the deficit.

Don't have to make up the entire amount ... 

October in the Chair p4 - Nail Gaiman, P. Craig Russell, Scott Hampton.  PCR modeled the chef on himself.

ComicLink takes a lot of hits because of the platform, but one thing I do like is that they provide two lists: type of art & artist name.  It's a level of detail I like.  Although, I traditionally collect by title, I have been looking at artists to fill gaps.

I have not had the opportunity/time to go to a lot of cons.  Art usually seems to be more of an afterthought.  I like the idea of getting to see a lot of it ... new and vintage ... and meet the collectors.

It's not money but it is reason, if I have see a piece sell and I missed it (or hesitated, etc) and I suddenly see it being flipped for double or more (depending on amount), it puts a bad taste in my mouth.  If  it is a $200 piece and then its $400, then maybe ... but if it is a $3K piece and its suddenly $6-7K ... no.  If its a dealer, I know that is how they make money, but if it is a year or less, it hasn't doubled in value.

On 11/23/2023 at 2:04 AM, vodou said:

This reminds me of a question I’ve had for a while, with prices being where they are and have been the last ten years, along with the steep price increase trajectory, large collections are harder to build and hold together…what is the largest piece count private collection(s) (not dealer inventory) known?

I’maware of at least one exceeding 10,000 and probably closer to 12 or 13,000 pieces.

Honestly, I wonder how to enjoy a collection of that size.  No criticism of those that may have a collection of several thousand.  I just wonder how you can get your arms around a collection like that and appreciate each piece.

On 11/17/2023 at 5:57 PM, PhilipB2k17 said:

To each their own. Glad you enjoy it. That’s all that matters. 

I appreciate that!  Especially with prices these days!

On 11/17/2023 at 3:46 PM, PhilipB2k17 said:

I'd rather spend that money on one of the R Crumbs. Pretty sure those will be worth something in 20 years.

I bought a great Freak Brothers page earlier this year (for much less) and love it.  Rather have it than the Crumb, and price will be something for my heirs to worry about.

On 11/17/2023 at 3:39 PM, Twanj said:

That was a great one! Wish I wasn't on my roof during the auction.

Probably a financially safer place to be.  :-)

On 11/17/2023 at 3:29 PM, PhilipB2k17 said:

People are massively overpaying for Freak Brothers art. Who is going to want that stuff in 20 years when all the old hippies die off? 

As a non-hippie, I would.  :-).  The pieces are funny.  The art is amazing, and it really is a little piece of history from that era.  That is a healthy price though.