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SolitaireOne

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Journal Entries posted by SolitaireOne

  1. SolitaireOne
    My best CGC set finally breaks 100 views! Thank You!
    As of today Sunday 11/26/06, my top ranked "Righteous Rojatt's Set" finally broke 100 views! A hearty "Thank You" goes out to all those who took a moment to allow me to share my Human Fly addiction with you. My goal for 2007 is to (hopefully) add scans and finalize my write-ups for the set description itself and for each individual issue. Additionally, I will continue to look for high-grade, raw #3's and #15's to submit to CGC towards completing this collection. As mentioned in my set description, I am tremendously proud of this set - it is my most completely collected, CGC run!
    As part of my perscribed Human Fly therapy, I created an eBay Guide to further share my addiction with others. Highlighting more facts, opinions, descriptions and links than what the "set description" area here can feasibly allow. I invite everyone to take a look and please contact me directly should someone have any additional Rick Rojatt/ Human Fly information. Thank you once more and Happy Collecting!
    H Fly Logo
  2. SolitaireOne
    Well, I haven't updated my journal in over 18mo... so, I guess I'm due.
    Well, my last (and 1st) journal entry was back in the fall of 2006... so, I guess I'm well overdue. During that time, my Righteous Rojatt's, Human Fly registry set was brand new and I was eager to share it. In that entry I expound on my "goals" for 2007: finalize my individual issue write-ups , add pictures , find a HG #3 and a #15 for submission. Well, that makes me 50% effective with my goal-making, eh? Well, maybe closer to 75%, but during only 18mo. you would think that I might've done better ~ HA!
    During that time, I stepped-up my search for my raw #3 and #15, of which there were NONE in the CGC Census at the time. Certainly, neither are high value comics, so unfortunately in order to stay cost effective as a rule, I kept to buying bulk lots for the most part unless a noteable singular issue presented itself. The sad fact however, is that these issues have been relegated to bargain-bins for decades and nice copies are a difficult find. Especially while considering #3 with it's rich blue cover and #15 being a black cover of all things, which seem to show wear the quickest.
    By July of 2007, I had found 3-4 copies of #3's that seemed to fit the ever elusive high-grade criteria. Of those, I narrowed it down to that one copy that seemed to be a notch above the others. Reviewing an extremely "clean" copy that I bought from W.A.C. (Warehouse Auction Centers) on eBay as a raw "9.6", I didn't feel that it was quite a 9.6, but was clearly a strong copy. That same July, I headed to the Paradise-Con in Toronto, Ontario with my prospective submissions in tow. I proceeded to wait a ponderous 2mo. for the bundle to return, which it eventually did, on 9/11 (of all days). I eagerly tore into the delivery and revealed my prize... a freshly slabbed 9.4 #3 with White Pages! I was extremely pleased and upon a consultation with the current census at the time, revealed that my copy tied one other as the HIGHEST current copy! As it stands right now, there are still only 2 graded copies of #3 -- mine and one other 9.4, while there are still no copies of #15.
    Fast forward 1yr., my search for a gradeable #15 continued with only moderate success. I located 4-5 truly nice copies, but none that I thought were as nice as my previous #3. I eventually figured that I'd be stuck settling for 9.0 at best until one of my eBay bulk lots appeared to pay off. A few months ago a very nice, near complete collection of the series presented itself on eBay. Looking decent, yet the listing wasn't written in a manner towards really "selling" the lot as being high-grade. I threw out a fair bid given my lot buying methodology and easily won the bid. However, upon the delivery of this lot I was pleasantly surprized indeed! Every copy was in a Mylar and full Backing Board and all were argueably the nicest copies I had seen in a very long time. The elusive #15 in particular, was the easily the standout copy of the lot -- I had finally found my grading candidate!
    This brings us to present day, last weekend in fact. The Toronto Paradise-Con once again rolled into town and off I headed, raw books again in tow. I submitted many more this time, more confident in my grading skills -- 9 books total, including my Human Fly #15. I certainly don't want to set my expectations too high, but will moderately hope for another CGC 9.4. Upon being slabbed, it will be the ONLY graded (and obviously highest) copy and will complete my "Righteous Rojatt's set" 100%!
    I'm hopeful that I can post a triumphant conclusion to this tale by mid-September... stay tuned collecting friends, STAY TUNED!
     
    *Here's a stock photo of #15 for reference...

  3. SolitaireOne
    Arriving earlier this month, the final piece to the puzzle... my graded Human Fly #15!
    As mentioned in my previous journal entry, after a long search I finally found a solid-looking Human Fly #15 for my "Righteous Rojatt's set" which appeared ripe for slabbing. As mentioned previously, the Toronto Paradise-Con once again rolled into town and north of the boarder I headed, 9 raw books in tow, including the #15. I certainly didn't want to set my expectations too high, but was moderately hoping for another CGC 9.4, similar to my previous #3 submission. Upon it being slabbed, that #15 would be the ONLY (and obviously highest) graded copy and will complete my "Righteous Rojatt's set" 100%!
    Well, recently those submissions finally returned from CGC! Upon tearing through the well-packaged bundle, I finally revealed the linchpin of my set... my Human Fly #15, in a 9.2 (NM-) grade with Off-White/White Pages. Of course, I was hoping for at least a 9.4, but the #15 is arguably the most difficult one to find in high-grade with its black cover. Certainly as with most submissions, there are some disappointments, but for the most part I was very pleased with my overall results. In fact, I was more surprized with the results of some of my OTHER submissions from that batch, scoring 2 Bronze-Age 9.8's and 2 very nice 9.6's from the era too!
    With that, collecting friends, I conclude this recent tale... seeing my Human Fly set now 100% complete. Naturally, I'll continue to expand and upgrade this set when possible, but for now I'm content with the final results. Shortly, I'm hopeful to add photos and perhaps tweak my individual descriptions a bit.
    Coincedently, here are the other results of my recent submission:
    Black Goliath #3 = 9.2, OW/W
    Black Lightning #1 = 9.4, OW/W
    Green Lantern, Vol.3 #1 = 9.6, WP
    Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #1 = 9.4, WP
    Kull #22 = 9.8, OW/W
    Nova #1 = 9.6, OW/W
    Ragman #1 = 9.4, OW/W
    She-Hulk #1 = 9.8, OW/W
    Not too bad, for only my 2nd submission! What will I try next time... hmmm?
    Thanks again for looking and allowing me to share my addiction with y'all!