showcase4

I would have to pass....I would not spend $100,000 or whatever those books sold for if they have been restored and have a blue label. You can't be a little pregnant, and if a blue label books has graders notes such as "small amount of glue on spine" or "very small amount of color touch" , then it's a restored book, and should have a purlple label.The only graders notes acceptable for me in that price range are "off-white pages" or "from the collection of Nicholas Cage". I'm sure I'll hear some flack for this comment, but I know I'm right on this issue...so, let the criticisms fall as they may

no we have a no brainer ( for me, at least )....52 9.4 over the Cap 9.0 all day long

here's for agreeing with me (one of the few on this one) as for flipping through the More Fun.....that would turn a 9.6 slabbed book into a 9.2 raw book in about 5 minutes time.....that's some expensive fun!

I hear you...I'm just not feeling any love for him. Batman, The Flash, Superman, The Sandman, The Human Torch and Subby....I find them to be top shelf, and Captain America very mid shelf. Just a personal thing...maybe not a marketplace agreed upon thing.

Ok...we now have 7 votes for Cap 1, and 3 votes for More Fun 53. I am no longer on the fence......Cap 1 for me too! ( the majority can't be wrong ) I fell in love with the 9.6 / gorgoues cover and condition of the More Fun. I have also never been a Cap fan....he just doesn't do it for me for some reason...he seems like or is a one time key Superhero who has died off in popularity over the years. Addtionally, I have always been madly in love with the More Fun title, and think it is one of the greatest of the GA by far. The Spectre is much more exciting to me as a character than Cap America.....he reminds me of the 80's show The Great American Hero.

let's spend some more hypethetical (sp?) big bucks...........the price of each was approx.$95,000. Which one would you choose, and why? .............or I am beat my own game and need your help...I can not choose

I think you'll find that statement is debateable. http://boards.collectors-society.com/sho...rt=all&vc=1 I think our entire hobby needs to get organized, and get its definitions and its act together! I don't think the coins, stamps, and baseball card hobbies have the lack of clarity that we do............ we can't define a comic book we can't define clear starting and ending years that define "ages" we can't pick which Silver and Bronze age comics were 1st we can't clearly define all that is restoration or restoration removal we have blue labels with "small amount of glue and color touch" on them my VF is your VF/NM and someone elses F++ .......don't get me wrong...I still wouldn't collect anything else

my user name is by design.....Showcase 4 ( the book ) is the 1st Silver Age appearance of The Flash ( love that guy! ) AND the 1st Silver Age book. As a collector of historically important comics, the "1st SA book" aspect is a big deal. With that said, the marketplace has chosen AF15 as the "big one".

(Typos aside) I agree with action1kid all the way. AF 15's are a dime a dozen compared to high grade pedigree key golden age. interesting stats for you: Tec 38 has 25 graded copies, with the Allentown 9.4 as the highest graded AF15 has 544 graded copies, including (5) 9.4's and (1) 9.6 ......and I'd still choose the AF15 in 1/2 second over the Tec 38. Why? Because we are not comparing comparable books. Tec 38 is a GA key, and a popular/high demand issue, no doubt about it. AF15 is THE SA key, and addtionally one of the top Grail keys for the entire hobby, crossing over Age boundaries. It's Robin the Boy Wonder vs. Spider-Man. ..he's on every kids underoos and lunchbox still to this day! When my kids ask for Robin underoos, then I may concede.

nice book....to answer your question, I do not know if the British or US version is rarer, but US versions are always more valuable than the UK printings( here in the States, that is) --- sorry

I very much respect everyones opinion here, and realize this is a GA forum....but I am shocked at the number of members who choose the 1st appearance of Robin over the 1st appearance of Spider-Man in a smilialr grade....I don't care if the Tec 38 is the highest graded copy, and this AF15 is not......Robin could not carry Spider-Man's jock strap. Any NM 9.4 AF15 should trump even a 9.6 Tec 38 ---hypethetically

Let's have a little fun......and spend some big bucks, and mix and match ages! ( my thread....so I can get away with this ) Both of these books sold for a whopping $126,000 in 2005. If this was your money on the line, which one would you choose? ..................or me...no brainer...AF15

These images were previously posted in "The Superman" thread a few months ago, and I'm posting again for those who may not have seen them yet. The birth of the modern comic book was heavily influenced by these 3 very rare comic books from Humor Publishing - 1933. To find any 1 book is a true accomplishment.....to find a complete set of all 3 is a borderline miracle. The miracle happened for me earlier this year...

here are 2 non-keys, big titles, mid grade, unrestored, and both sold for around $3,400. Which one would you choose, and why? .................or I would go with the Action 6 on this one: 1st Jimmy Olsen, and it's one of the 1st few Action Comics.

OK, here's one more interesting image and little tidbit for you.........while doing some more research on Brainy Bowers (previously posted), I found an image of one other copy of this book....the only one I could find on the entire web. I am going to post it and show mine again, for a condition comparison. ( also, you will notice the coloring was different on the cover,,,,there are several printing variations of this book...all printed in 1905). The tidbit is: when you collect Platinum Age books, VG+ is the best to hope for with regards to condition for 90%+ of books from this era. A fine 6.0 would be as rare and desirable as a NM 9.4 on a Golden Age book. As a previous collector of Silver Age comics in NM, this was quite an adjustment for me as you might imagine. Now when I recieve a call or email to see if I'm interested in buying a Platinum book, my 1st question is "is the cover still attached?".....something I wasn't worried about when I was focusing on Brave and the Bold #28. So "what's the appeal?", and "I don't get it"...2 things I'm asked over and over again. It's simple: Platinum Age (1897-1937) collecting is EXACTLY like Golden Age collecting...just a different pool of books to focus on. Here's an example---these are things found in the Platinum Age market: 1. Grails, keys, semi-keys and commons 2. a nice mix of buyers and sellers exist in the marketplace 3. condition is very important 4. high demand books are VERY easy to sell (this suprises most people) and are mostly Gerber 9's --- don't quit your day job if you want to be a full time dealer in these 5. you lose money if you pay too much for something, and then sell 6. you profit if you "buy right", and then sell 7. poor conidtion books get restored, and sell for less than the same grade unrestored 8. Grails are very expensive--just have 1 less "O" after the dollar sign compared to a GA book $15k ( for now) vs. $150k 9. historically important 1sts with regards to comic book developement are the driving force of demand, whereas it would be character 1st appearance for a GA book.i.e....Comic Monthly #1 - 1st 10 cent monthly newsstand comic book More Fun #52 - 1st Spectre 10. as a piggyback to no. 9, occassionally you have the combo of very high demand, very rare ( 10 or less copies ), historical 1st AND key character intro...then you have a GRAIL! (here are 2 as an example): Yellow Kid in McFadden's Flats - 1897 ( THE big book to have / the "Action 1" of the Platinum Age) 1st Platinum Age comic book 1st and ONLY comic book featuring The Yellow Kid 1st comic book to print the words "comic book" - back cover Detective Dan Secret Operative No.48 - 1933 (very rare and elusive / the "Pep 22" of the Platinum Age) 1st original art comic book 1st single theme comic book 1st newsstand comic book 1st appearance of Dan Dunn 1st appearance of Wu Fang typical condition for a comic book from this era exceptionally nice and rare condition for a comic book form this era this is 1905 high grade!!

Ok, Ok....I am slipping...todays choices have been way too easy! Let's mix and match genre's again - that seems to make this game alot more challenging. Both of these books recently sold for $26,000. Which one would you choose? ......................or for me....not even close. I'm going Four Color in 1 second. Let's see if I have any company, as I did not choose the Superhero book

Both sold a few years ago for $34,500........... Which one would you choose? ............................or

Both of these unrestored, highly sought after books sold for $17k within the last 12 months. Which one would you choose? ................or for me---- "oh waitress .... Tec please"

Unfortunately, that Nickel #1 is the Allentown sitting in a holder that states that it is the Mile High. Stephen Well isn't this just lovely! Not only do we have to worry about accurate grading and undisclosed restoration on raw books, but now we need to verify that CGC graded pedigree books have the correct pedigree on the label.....does anyone have any coins for sale?

Hey Peter......keep this quite. I spent $50k on 3 Oldbuck's last year, and I think Ciorac was about to give me $75k for them.....then I could reinvest in a VG Action #1 and I'll be set for life....don't blow this for me!

Battle of the restored Keys ! Both sold in the low $60k's Which one would you choose? ..........or I can not choose....I want them both equally

He's spent so much on "paper goods" that he can't afford to heat his home. Next he'll have to resort to burning Obadiah's in the hearth! Jack (great stuff, Steve.) Hey Jack, I'd throw my kids in the hearth to stay warm before Obadiah Oldbuck! ( prudent thing to do ....children burn slower than paper )

I was wondering who was going to be the 1st smart *ss to mention my curator quality 100% cotton "mittens"

Here's one I don't think has been posted yet...and most of you have probably never seen or even heard of...but it sure is well known and desirable to Platinum Age collectors! A coverless copy/printing variation sold for $700 in 2002 on Ebay. Brainy Bowers and Drowsy Duggan from 1905 - the 1st daily newspaper reprint compilation comic book! Extremely rare and condition sensitive due to its virtually paper thin soft cover, this is most likely one of the nicest copies you could find....not that you could find one! This historically signifigant comic book will ultimately be on display at The Victorian Age Comic Book Museum - info found within my website ( listed below )

Here's that same book out of its slab: That looks more like a VF+ than a F/VF. I would take this book in 1 second over the NM Bulletman!