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Colin Nash

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  1. Here we are, well into 2024 and from what I can see Silver Age Comics, in general, are still falling in value. I'm not talking about those ebay sales that some websites treat as gospel. I'm talking about sites like Comicconnect and Comiclink, etc, who give a different view of online comic sales. From current auctions by both the above, many comics are selling significantly below published figures. Some by as much as 50% and others somewhat less. The true trend in Silver Age comics is continuing downward, from what I can see here. Could it be that many buyers have left the market and there is less competition at auction hence, comics get picked up for less? I think this is so. Some say, buy now because prices are lower but, on the other hand, do you really want to put your cash into a collapsing market. Its a dilemma, in my opinion. Does anyone feel the same ? Colin
  2. I thought I knew what a first appearance was but, apparently not. I'm showing this recent Venom #23 comic with the new Symbiote Black Widow on the cover. A first appearance you might think but, apparently not ? The marketing for this comic said "Venom #23 - the first appearance of a new symbiote" Inside the comic she appears in cameo but, in full on the cover. Because she doesn't make a FULL appearance in the story until Venom #26, this issue is recognised as her first appearance. To my way of thinking the huge cover reveal on Venom #23 combined with the cameo makes this the first appearance? I would love to know your thoughts ?
  3. The price adjustment we are seeing now on many key silver age issues was predicted, however, the alarm bells are starting to ring as it continues to trend down. If you have the money to take advantage of the lower prices over the next 3 or 4 months and upgrade your collection you should do well. Sadly, many collectors and investors have taken a hit and may no longer have the spare cash, or the inclination to invest even more. Licking your wounds has a way of focusing the mind.. To put this in perspective, my key issue Silver Age collection of 33 mid to high graded comics was holding on quite well after the bubble kind of burst. I was 15% up on total investment in October 2022. Its now 25% down on total investment in October 2023. That's a total drop of 40% !! This is way beyond so called 'levelling out' or 'adjustment'. It must be said, I don't have a AF #15 or ASM #1 or FF #1 in there which, may or may, not have helped ? We have to hope we see an upward trend over the next 2 years.or so.
  4. Firstly can I say this is not a rant. It's a frustrating question which I feel needs answers. As a comic buyer and collector living in the the EU I have found that numerous US (and Canadian) online comic shops (some big names included) do not have an established Invoicing System. A fundamental requirement, is it not? Many sellers send me either shipping docs or confirmation of order emails as their formal Invoices which, are not acceptable to the Customs Office for importation processing. One has said its the Spotify payment system which, doesn't have an invoice facility ? I"m not sure on that one as, a company can surely generate its own specific Invoice if needed. In some cases I have even had to send a sample invoice for a seller to replicate ? Either that or, being given no option but to adapt a shipping document and hope for the best. A formal invoice is a key requirement for importation of comics purchased by foreign buyers. The Customs Office will demand this as proof of purchase and Value. So. why do so many US/Canadian sellers not have this nailed down and established in their business model ?
  5. Your decision in the end. I'm a bit fussy about this kind of thing and I would get it reholdered. In fact. I obtained an early silver age comic in grade 9.0 from Comicconnect a few months ago with horrendous Newtons Rings and contact patches (not visible in the sales photos !!). It's going in for reholdering very soon and will come back looking totally transformed.
  6. I have gone through the hoops on purchases like yours and found that you have to request more photos if you feel the item is not adequately depicted. Fine cracks and scuffs (externally and internally) are rarely visible on a photo. Neither are Newtons Rings to a large extent. I have fallen foul of the latter quite a few times. Sellers don't normally give refunds or returns on such things but, its always worth asking. Case damage in transit is an area where sellers have helped me in the past. eg. Return/refund or even paying for CGC reholdering. There was a time (pre Blackstone take over) when CGC would reholder free of charge for such things as broken shards in the case, or excessive Newtons Rings but sadly not anymore. Submission had to be within 30 days of receiving an item from CGC or purchasing one from a seller. If the seller won't help I would suggest you just bite the bullet and get it reholdered at CGC. Problem solved. CGC holders and their performance is a whole subject on its own.
  7. Like many others I have long puzzled over how certain comics get the grade they do. I'm throwing in an example that has me baffled. A major silver age key issue X-Men #1 that has a 4.5 grade (photo attached). Can anyone give me a logical explanation on why this comic with significant missing pieces on two corners has been graded 4.5 ? It seems to go against all the grading guide information that I have read for a 4.5 grade. Eg. - Corners may be blunted or abraded. - As much as 1/8" triangle can be missing out of the corner or edge. I think the scale of this comics damage goes way beyond the standard principle that "Certain defects are allowed if other defects are not present." Any views on this would be most helpful. Thank you
  8. With foil comics in vogue at the moment. I thought I would ask this question. Are there any do's and dont's?
  9. Thanks to everyone who replied. Much appreciated. I'm getting the impression that:- Yes, a 9.2 can have a color break spine tick or two. Quite a contradiction to what Overstreet Guide suggests. It seems we are in the hands of The Grader and his overall impression of the comic and not what the Grading Guide may say in black and white. Subjectivity can be many things it would seem so, we just have to pray The Grader remains on-point for us !! Colin
  10. Hi Everyone, Binding defects are well documented and are covered pretty well in the grading guides. But what about Printing Errors? These are not physical damage as such, like binding tears, they are more a production error whereby the ink hasn't been laid down properly. The grading guides are rather vague on the subject, if at all. How does it impact on a grade? (eg. Can a potential 9.8 drop to a 9.0 because of a visible print defect? ) I attach 2 pics as an example of a comic I own where, the ink is missing in a line of tiny patches down the spine. I'm assuming this makes it unworthy for grading ? Any feedback would be most appreciated. Colin
  11. I'm having a bit of trouble getting my head around the subject of color break creases and spine ticks on NM comics and looking for help. Can a grade 9.2 and above have them (eg. One, or two) ? The Overstreet Grading Guide book says 'No Color Break Creases Are Allowed' and yet an experienced online ebay seller tells me a 9.2 can have them. Although grading is subjective, does it give scope for color break to be acceptable in NM grades? This reputable online seller has told me that he has actually seen and handled such a CGC 9.2 with a color break spine tick. I have not seen one myself. What is the definitive answer? Kind regards, Colin
  12. Thank you for your reply. Like you I use numerous sources to get a handle on market values. eg. CL, Comicconnnect auction results, etc, etc. There is plenty of sales data out there from numerous sources and I was looking for an alternative website that analyses sales across a wider spectum. My Ebay note is based on my experiences of comparing its prices with other sales data I have often found Ebay prices in general, on slabbed comics, to be higher by a full grade, and in some cases much higher. Having said that, other popular online shops are often no different.
  13. Hello Forum, Can anyone recommend a 'Reliable' market analysis website that you can have confidence in. I have been signed up to 'Gocollect' for a year now and found them very disappointing. They base most of their market analysis and valuations on Ebay data which as we know, is hyped by optimistic sellers and elevated to cover Ebay's fees. Also, their FMV is greatly influenced by the last sale price which can be a rogue low sale. I have seen this drop their prevailing FMV by 50%. This is not useful marketing at all, in my view. So, if anyone can recommend an alternative that is free of these annoying faults I would be most grateful. Colin
  14. Thanks to everyone who responded. I really appreciate it. I agree that WP is not the only factor to consider here. Good presentation is also fundamental for sure. Re-submission to get a higher grade is a common practice but, to get one coming back with WP replacing OW/W is a bit worrying and further dents our confidence in what CGC are doing nowadays. The + half a grade for WP is a good starting point and I will apply this to my own collection. Colin
  15. I'm sure this may have been covered before in the forum but, I haven't been unable to find it. Anyway, can anyone tell me more about how White Pages influence Silver Age comic desirability and value ? I was doing a periodic valuation exercise on my mid to high grade collection and could see a marked drop in current market values, however, much of this data relates to Off White/White and below. I do note that Heritage Auctions often sell comics with White Pages probably due to their screening process and they often sell these above the general database values. I would therefore ask, how much does White Pages actually enhance the value of a vintage comic. 10%, 20%, 50% ? I'm sure someone must have done a statistical assessment in the past. Thank you.