Ivan Ivanstein

On 2/18/2022 at 8:02 AM, G-G © ® ™ said:

Some good stuff here Ivan. There are five copies here that in the past and ordinarily I would get involved bidding for, but I won't now, so I hope you'll have a smattering of some slabbed PCH.

I don't think you can beat the feel, smell and joy of reading a raw book, however these days with the prices the way they are, I'm just too fearful of accidental damage by me, occurring to the book. That's just me but that's why I decided to own slabbed only.

Thanks to the internet and technology I have thousands of books stored digitally as I'm sure others do too. If I do get a raw book I photograph each page meticulously and only read it digitally then anyway, and never handle it. Buying slabbed is also a way to ensure my books are passed on in the best possible condition and won't incur damage thru' mishandling from well meaning but non 'comic-understanding' hands, so my heirs will get the maximum benefit.

If I was a lot younger I would probably just stick to buying raw.

Nevertheless great books. 

I look forward to your auction in June and winning just one book I want will be a bonus for me.

I want to thank you for the opportunity to win these two beauties in your last auction, and for the superb service I received from your company. 

 

A bunch of the books I posted are heading off to CGC for Express Service, so they will indeed be slabbed. I like to grade 'em first myself, then compare my grades to CGC. I'm generally half a grade stricter than CGC.

On 2/18/2022 at 8:02 AM, G-G © ® ™ said:

Some good stuff here Ivan. There are five copies here that in the past and ordinarily I would get involved bidding for, but I won't now, so I hope you'll have a smattering of some slabbed PCH.

I don't think you can beat the feel, smell and joy of reading a raw book, however these days with the prices the way they are, I'm just too fearful of accidental damage by me, occurring to the book. That's just me but that's why I decided to own slabbed only.

Thanks to the internet and technology I have thousands of books stored digitally as I'm sure others do too. If I do get a raw book I photograph each page meticulously and only read it digitally then anyway, and never handle it. Buying slabbed is also a way to ensure my books are passed on in the best possible condition and won't incur damage thru' mishandling from well meaning but non 'comic-understanding' hands, so my heirs will get the maximum benefit.

If I was a lot younger I would probably just stick to buying raw.

Nevertheless great books. 

I look forward to your auction in June and winning just one book I want will be a bonus for me.

I want to thank you for the opportunity to win these two beauties in your last auction, and for the superb service I received from your company. 

 

Thanks!! I'm really glad you got these beauties. I should point out that most of the comics in the pic I posted will be sent to CGC next week... I'm just waiting for another batch of books that are en route two arrive before I send the shipment to be slabbed!

On 2/17/2022 at 6:53 AM, Nic8612 said:

Anything we should be keeping an eye out for over in the sales threads?  ;)

 

What's the story behind this? Original owner collection you stumbled across? 

I'll post in the sales threads when it's closer to auction time... the sale won't be until June 9th. I'm still hunting up consignments. 

These came from a longtime collector who started buying pre-Code horror decades ago. He's got loads of wonderful ECs as well, including pretty much every New Trend comic, and I'm hoping to do a single-owner sale of those sometime in the future... 

I've been a pre-Code fan for decades, ever since I was a teen, so doing a deep dive into this collection is a dream come true! I wish I could buy 'em all myself, but as an auction man my policy is not to get high on my own supply! That's the reason I have my boss create limited edition hardcovers of my comic sale catalogues: so I can have a permanent memento of all of the great comics that pass through my hands. For me, it's the next best thing to ownership... Here's my hardcover copy of our previous catalogue, with some of my reference library in the background.

Hi gang,

My latest auction for PBA Galleries is Thursday, February 3rd. It features 500 lots, including almost 400 lots of pre-Code horror, both raw and slabbed. I'm working on our next sale now, and as usual, the emphasis will be on pre-Code comics. If you've anything to consign, please let me know.

Our sales have been gathering loads of positive attention. Robert Crumb says our catalogues feature "Some of the best commentary I've yet seen on the quality of the content of old comic books. I especially enjoyed the reviews of post-war horror comics. Great. Priceless... Your catalogue is in itself so ENGAGING."

Here's a link to the online sale lots:

https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/590/

Here's a link to an eBook version of the print catalogue, with clickable links (I think this is the best way to browse):

http://pbagalleries.com/content/ecat/3022/index.html

Limited softcover and hardcover catalogues are available for pre-Code fans who like to collect 'em as reference books.

Cheers,

Ivan

And some Silver and Bronze Age Marvels, a few rare Undergrounds (like the silver foil edition of Slow Death #2), and an original Batman page by Irv Novick featuring Poison Ivy.

There's a selection of rare International versions of U.S. pre-Code horror mags. Some of these are many times scarcer than their American equivalents.

Some horror highlights (and one Matt Baker "Good Girl" classic)...

Loads of Pre-Code Horror and related categories in PBA's latest auction. PBA Galleries is a San Francisco Bay Area auctioneer that's been around since the 1970s, with a primary focus on rare books, maps, manuscripts, works on paper, and as of 2020, comic books. PBA's comic book catalogues blend sales and editorial content, and Robert Crumb says: "This is some of the best commentary I've yet seen on the quality of the content of comic books. I especially enjoyed the reviews of post-war horror comics. Great. Priceless."

It's easy to register and bid, and PBA's client service is very service-oriented. PBA's grading of raw books is very exacting, with super detailed condition descriptions.

Here's a link to the online listings: 

https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/590/

Here's a link to the eBook version of the print catalogue (recommended): 

http://pbagalleries.com/content/ecat/3022/index.html

On 8/8/2021 at 4:38 PM, DocHoppus182 said:

Finally.  I’ve been after this copy from a friend for a few years now.  
 

 

That's fantastic! Congrats! I wish I'd kept the VF/NM Harvey warehouse copy I bought back in the '90s...

On 10/8/2021 at 8:34 AM, Dr. Love said:

nice offerings Ivan!

btw, Lot 133, Popular Teen-Agers #5 6.5, contrary to the label, is not a Star Publication.  As the cover clearly shows it is the Accepted Publications reprint.

Over the years CGC, while made aware of this on many occasions, haphazardly gets it wrong one time and right another.

Thanks! I should've caught that CGC error! I've added an addendum to the online listing.

Well, I'm expecting this catalogue to arrive in a week! 200 pre-Code comics are listed, plus 200 lots of Golden Age, Silver Age, Undergrounds and such. Well-researched catalogue, great reference tool!

Loads of pre-Code horror, plus GA, SA, BA, etc. Fully-illustrated catalogue: $30, or visit the website and view the online listings. Live auction on October 28th.

https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/568/

Frazetta!

House ad for the Mexican equivalent of Black Cat Mystery #50.

1 hour ago, fifties said:

Can you elaborate a little, as in a website, and when any or all of these beauties will be offered up for auction?  Although I personally have damn near all of them, always looking to upgrade.

I would, but I don't wanna run afoul of rules against promoting sales here. You can message me for details. Most of these are lower grades, though (VG or lower), so there might not be many upgrades for you.

17 hours ago, thehumantorch said:

Wow.  So many great books.  That appears to be the greatest mail call of all time.  Congrats.  Please tell us how you acquired these and their history.

Thanks! I'm Director of Comics for a West Coast auctioneer. Pre-Code is my specialty! I love putting together catalogues that combine editorial and sales content, for kind of a "sales-fanzine" effect. I picked up this crazy collection for my next sale. Lots more fun stuff is arriving weekly, and just last night I picked up half a dozen mags from a local consignor. The mags I got last night include 2nd copies of WEIRD MYSTERIES 5 and WEIRD TALES OF THE FUTURE 3,  plus a rare copy of WORLDS OF FEAR 10. Here are some of the mags I picked up last night, along with a few sample pages from my previous catalogues. I've been a major pre-Code buff ever since my dad introduced me to the stuff when I was a kid, via Marvel's 1970s pre-Code reprint rags (you know the ones... Chamber of Chills, Dead of Night, Crypt of Shadows, Weird Wonder Tales, etc.).