AwesomeSauce

When my top labels on my older slabs have begun to peel off, I've found a small amount of rubber cement, applied between the underside of the peeling label and the top of the slab, to be a great way to re-secure them. Because any excess rubber cement, when dry, peels off without damaging color, if you rub across it gently with your finger (it's just the nature of that kind of glue). When finished, the label is Like New and you can't even tell it had ever begun to peel.

Just curious. Why do some collectors black out the certification numbers on pictures of their graded books when posting them to a thread?

Yeah, very early on in my collecting, I thought that this bindery defect was a really big issue that would negatively effect grade. I even returned a slabbed ASM 64 once, because when I saw this defect I thought the cover had come off and been stapled back on by seller lol.

It looks normal to me. The white that appears on the lower left and right of the slab is just the residue from the adhesive or glue that is used to hold the inner well of the slab together. There actually is a clear inner plastic sealed sleeve that encases the book within the outer slab, though is it not really visible to the naked eye, I assure you, it is there.

I am a huge collector of CGC graded comics! I only buy Silver Age and Bronze Age graded books. In the mid 70's, when I was young, I actually taught myself to read while flipping through the action packed pages of Spider-Man and Justice League comics on the front porch of my parent's home. Now, however, I only buy books for their cover art, and the artists who create it. Steve Ditko, John Romita Sr., Ross Andru, Neal Adams, John Buscema, Frank Miller, Gil Kane, Carmine Infantino, Murphy Anderson, Joe Giella, Mark Bagley, Irv Novick, and Marie Severin, are some of the all-time greats whose work I admire, and collect. From time to time, I will spend a small amount on a reader's copy of a graded book I've bought. But rarely will I actually read it. I've come to love and cherish the sheer joy of having a slabbed book that, if well kept and properly stored, is frozen in time in the quality and grade in which it was submitted. For me, these books are like framed works of classic art. There are actually graded grails that I aspire to own, over the thought of having an original Picasso. That is how much I love and admire CGC graded books. I'd be lying if I said that I don't also see graded books as a unique and, one day, profitable investment, as well. For this reason, too, they are valuable. For now, though, I am extremely proud of my CGC graded collection! I count myself very fortunate that I began collecting during the time that CGC had already established itself as a force, and forerunner, in the comic grading business.

Having a longstanding disagreement with a comic collecting comrade of mine. Figured if I got on here I could settle the score once and for all. Can anyone tell me if books from the Oregon Coast Collection are considered pedigrees?

Just picked this one up today. IMO a very underrated Ditko cover.

Just picked up the 1st appearance of Norman Osborn! With the exception of the tape pull, it's a pretty decent copy. I remember just 2 years ago paying $350 on ebay for a 5.5. Got this one for far less. It's definitely a buyers market right now.

Some great books you've got there. Nice wrap on that ASM #122 too, that's really hard to find! Here's my ASM #101 I just bought.

Picked up the last Ditko issue while I was at it.

Couldn't afford an ASM #15, so ASM #34 will have to do for now. Love this Ditko cover!

Regret selling my old copy, so just picked up this ASM #43 also. It is, of course, the very underrated 1st full appearance of Mary Jane Watson.

Been looking for a good mid-grade copy of the 1st Romita ASM Annual for awhile now. This one fit the bill perfectly!

What's ASM #39 without ASM #40? Picked this one up yesterday. Am very happy with it!!

This is my official "Times-Are-Tough" edition of ASM #39. I was able to get a good deal on it, and am now glad to have this one in my collection!

Really great looking books!! Love that ASM 128!

Just picked up this first appearance. Really happy with it!

Just recently picked up this classic for some old-label nostalgia.

I decided to buy ASM #64.

I think I know what I should do, but I'd like opinions please. I've been offered an ASM #36 6.0 White or an ASM #64 8.0 White. They've both got about the same FMV. Which would you buy?

Woke up to find this in my Easter basket this morning!

A little SA Rhino action for the end of March!!

Sold my 7.0 but am very happy with my new copy of ASM 33! IMO one of Ditko's finest hours.

Pretty proud of this one.

I've also found that loose inner wells are pretty common on CGC slabbed books, these days. I got two reholders back recently that both had movement of the inner well. One was worse than the other, so I sent that one in as a Mechanical Error, and notated on the submission form that the inner well was "extremely" loose. CGC fixed the issue and reholdered the book a second time. When I got it back, there was absolutely no movement of the inner well. Also, I have called CGC Customer Service to ask if movement of the inner well was normal, and was told that CGC considers it normal to have some movement of the inner well. This issue used to really annoy me. There was a time, early on in my collecting, when I even returned a slabbed book with a slightly loose inner well to a seller, because I thought the slab was severely defective. The thing is, most slightly loose inner wells will not do any damage to the book inside. It's not the same thing as Shaken Comic Syndrome. So, now I've just come to simply accept slightly loose inner wells as an allowable defect. I am a little disappointed when I get one, but definitely don't freak out anymore. However, I've always wondered if a loose inner well would affect resale value if a seller was actually silly enough to notate it in their listing.