Slyde

Same here. I got my first real part time job in 1988, and started buying more "expensive" back issues. I got lots of mid-value keys, but I do regret not spending more money on one of the real big dogs. The most I ever spent on a single book was $100.

I found an old Overstreet's Price Update (Aug 1989), and had a laugh looking at some of the valuations at the time (all prices in NM condition): AF #15: $2,300 ASM #1: $2,100 Avengers #1: $660 FF #1: $2,060 Hulk #1: $800 JIM #83: $645 TOS #39: $600 Xmen #1: $900 Iron Man #55, FF #52, Marvel Spotlight #5 were in the $5-$15 range. Punisher appearances were red hot. Batman was hot as well from what I recall, but I wasn't a big DC buyer. Some funny quotes from the Market Report: "If McFarlane stays on ASM another year or two, it will pass X-Men as a new and a back issue. ASM #298 could be the next X-Men #94. You heard it here first." "Low grade copies of AF #15 and ASM #1-20 sell great, as high grades are so expensive." (see prices above) "We can't keep Hulk 181 in any grade. NM/M copies easily get $125." "Felonies are acceptable in hunting down the first appearances of Wolverine and the Punisher."

Sorry, yes that is the glare from the light. One thing I have trouble with is how much gloss there should be on a book in the 8.0+ range. This one doesn't seem particularly glossy, but I don't know how much variation there is between books (in top condition).

This is one of the batch I will likely be sending in for grading. Wasnt going to have this one pressed, as I dont know that it would help much. Interested if anyone has a different opinion.

Primary defect appears to be a few stress lines near the spine.

Must be the lighting...I took another look and both look fine.

I will be sending this one in, and am really curious how it grades. To my untrained eye, it is in excellent shape. The three things that stand out to me are a tiny bit of fraying on the top of the front next to the upper left corner, some indentation on the back near the spine, and an area that is not totally flat at the top of the back. Internal pages look good.

Most likely looking to send this in for grading, along with a few others. It is In decent shape, but the spine wear is pretty obvious.

I guess those stores are gone now as well. I think Comic Relief made it to 2011? I read that the whole chain of Comics and Comix stores went out of business several years earlier. Had to take BART as well (going the other direction).

Anyone ever shop at the California Comic Book Company in the CA bay area? I started collecting comics as a kid in 1984 (right at the start of Secret Wars), and I had a comic saver at the Walnut Creek location for several years, until my interest started to wane and I stopped buying new issues in 1993 or so (never got rid of anything). At one time I believe they had at least two other locations (Concord, Dublin). I haven't lived in the bay area for 25+ years now, and the whole CCBC chain apparently closed quite a while ago, but I was getting nostalgic. Loved picking up all the latest issues and looking at the older books that had the "pinned to the wall" status. If you had a comic saver with them, you got 30% off back issues, and once I got a job, I went on a pretty good run buying back issues. Every so often I would make the trip into Berkeley to hit Comics and Comix and Comic Relief, and see what they had. I assume CCBC just went under during tough times, but curious if anyone has any more info?

Yes, it seems pretty minor (at least from what I've seen).

This one (to my eye) appears to be in really good shape. Pages are white. The only thing that may not show up in the cover photo is some indentations in a few spots, just to the right of the spine. I am wondering if this makes it a good pressing candidate, as well.

I have watched a couple of videos and I believe I have a good understanding of the submission process, with the exception of the return shipping part. If I were to send in a submission of 5-10 books in the ballpark of $3,000 FMV total, is the return shipment from CGC automatically insured for that amount? Also, do the return shipments require me to sign for the delivery? Thanks

Very large tear in cover that had been taped (see 2nd photo). MVS is intact. Trying to determine if it makes any sense to send this in for grading. Thanks!