ronvogel

Getting my books together for my first round of submissions - just looking to set my expectations.

Been a while since I posted asking about grades, but I'm getting close to readying my first submissions, so time for a few more today. This is the first of two copies of this issue.

On 10/16/2021 at 11:08 PM, cbalroman said:

I’ve been using their site to catalog my collection. Both raw and CGC books.  After the website change my lists disappeared. They are slowing coming back however still 4+ days later and there are still books missing. 
Also for all my raw books I have noted grades in those lists.  All of the grades are gone. 
Really not happy with this website update. 

For me it seems to be any issue that I entered multiples of - is that the same for you? I've been using the site the same way, and to help me identify candidates for grading. Both of these functions are currently severely gimped. It's extremely disappointing.

Count me among those crossing their fingers hoping the features that are seemingly missing are simply a matter of incomplete data. I only just found out about this site a month ago or so and have been slowly inputting my collection for cataloging and starting to make some decisions about getting some books graded.

As referenced in my earlier post, my data is no longer complete, and seemingly it has become more challenging to enter and evaluate my books.

I'd hate to start over, but is there another service I should start looking at as a fall-back for tracking my collection?

Anyone else missing comics from their lists? I have started using this tool to catalog my collection and am about 3,000 books in, but my box lists that had shown about 300 books each now show about 70-90. One thing that is missing for certain are duplicate copies of a book.

Quick question from someone trying to learn... maybe it's me but the only thing I'm seeing here is the stain. Am I missing some other significant flaw(s), or is that stain on the back cover enough to plummet this book's value to the 7.5/8.0 range?

I feel like I see silver/bronze age books with more apparent issues grade higher - is there a different standard for modern?

Thanks in advance...

On 10/7/2021 at 1:19 PM, kimik said:

If it is anything post 1975 that you are pressing first, then $100 in grade is an easy threshold to work with. For moderns that I straight sub, then I will go as low as $60 if I think it has longer term potential since the cost of the book + grading+ shipping will be $35ish.

For GA/SA/pre-1975 BA, it will depend on the book.

In the case of your AF 1s, with 9.4s hitting $100+ now, any copies you have in that shape or better are worth it.

Thanks - this is helpful. Is there some statistical data available on the distribution of grades for modern books?

Another newbie-ish question: For significant key issues with high value potential (Hulk 181, for example, or early Silver Age Marvel) do I need to find my way to an in-person CGC event, or is there a means to safely get these shipped and graded?

Strangely enough I came to the forum to post a (somewhat) related question and was planning to use Alpha Flight 1 as my example... maybe you can provide the insight I was looking for:

I've never gotten anything graded, but I'm starting to catalog and separate the candidates. I speculated a bit when I was collecting, and as such I have 10x copies of some issues, including Alpha Flight 1. The question is whether I am more likely to see better return grading 10 copies or selling them raw at 15-20 per.

I'm trying to identify a threshold for where to not consider a book worth grading, essentially.

I think you're going to want to take it out of the bag and take/post some better pictures if you want any solid grade opinions here.

I prefer that the replies here be generally stricter with the possibility of being pleasantly surprised when the grade comes back than generous here and disappointed.

One of a pair bought mail-order from Westfield Comics back in the 80s. Our HS Comic club used to buy wholesale from them and they always had a few back-issues for sale, but you bought on blind faith in their grade.

Well loved copy.

50 cent bin pickup a long long time ago figuring a 200 had to be worth a little extra. I'm still waiting.

Back to the more mundane...

I struggle with this myself. First thing that resonates in your post is the legacy of passing them on to the kids. I was in that camp until recently, but my kids aren't interested in comic books, so now I'm of the mindset of grading and eventually selling the key material. Or at least letting the family know what will sell biggest after I'm gone.

So, what to grade? Obviously the early silver age and key issues from the 60s and 70s seem like locks. From there I'd say more recent key issues that have a shot at a 9.6 or higher *might* be worth a shot, though it seems some might be willing to pay big for those without the grade, taking the risk on themselves. My inclination is to stick to the less populated books and hold back on all but the highest value issues from the 80s and beyond.

Since you are like me and bought most of your books when they came out, it's all theoretically gravy and will pay for the grading costs.

From an early age I had an appreciation for history and antiquity, so in addition to the usual stuff collectors my ages sought out, I kept my eyes open for some more unique material. In high school, I worked Saturdays at Comic Book Heaven's flea market booth in Queens. I'd make $40 and spend $50. Every week, my boss would chastise me, especially when I bought "junk books" like this one (I think this one was $5).

Now, 16 year old me, a young art student to be, sometimes took in projects and tried to make them more presentable - so what you have here is a fairly attractive book, but thanks to the use of a special pen & ink that allowed me to carefully fill in creases on the cover. Unfortunately when the damage was more severe, it would bleed through the cover and show on the inside, as shown in the last few photos here. Curb appeal is certainly nicer, but I'm not sure the overall value is up or down from the non-modified version.

I'm still learning here, and am not looking to represent myself as any sort of expert, but to me, this book has the feel of having been trimmed. Those are very tight corners given the chips on the edge and comparing it to other copies of this issue, the amount of margin at the top, bottom and right seems diminished

I've heard of losing one's marbles, but not saving. Regardless, I'm happy for you that Mom didn't put them in a garage sale or toss them out.

There's a bit of an ink issue at the bottom right, some spine tearing at the bottom left, and the masthead has been quite damaged by BRB.

3.5

I don't know enough to grade, but that's a beautiful book. Congrats.

Another Spidey key issue - the crease at the top right seems to be a printing press botch, as with the upper staple which is firm, just not typical bend pattern.

See below, and thanks in advance.

One more ahead of the weekend.

A pressing candidate since there is a small gather bend that goes through the entire book, see last photo, back cover, first page.

Terror and Tragedy in a Tiny Tear!

So, one of my fears with the whole grading process was realized today as I took photos of a few of my Amazing Spiderman books. After taking my pictures, I was putting this one back into it's mylar sheath but did not notice that the sheath itself had a small tear in the corner, which became apparent as I felt this poor book suffer - see the last photo. Dammit.