CK-1

On 8/30/2021 at 1:33 PM, BrooksR said:

I know they’re swamped, but they’re supposed to be experts, the authorities on a comic’s authenticity. If they’re missing something as obvious as this how do we know they’re not missing subtle restoration?

I wonder if in the future slabs from this year will be valued less by collectors?

I'm not sure that graders are the ones handling the labels (since the title/date shows up before grading starts) but they definitely should notice this sort of stuff.

Though if conditions are such that the "receivers" are messing up this badly it would make sense graders are under similar conditions or are comprised of more new or lower quality hires.

On 8/29/2021 at 8:18 PM, Lazyboy said:

A minor difference in size does not mean a book is trimmed. It only means it might be a good idea to look closer for signs of trimming.

While that's true, the difference shown in these photos is pretty large in some, and all of the comics shown that aren't references definitely look trimmed to my eyes (sharp edges, code stamp almost cut off).

Hello all, I stumbled across an eBay listing (from an honest seller who clearly mentioned it being a reprint and priced accordingly) for a CGC graded Star Wars #1 reprint, here is a side-by-side with a genuine copy on the right and a reprint on the left:

As you can see there is not a single difference in the CGC slabs, and the only difference in the comic is a small "REPRINT" text on the top left that is not very noticeable. I had known about the 35 cent Whitman reprint but this one seems to be less common. On some of the CGC graded copies "REPRINT" is clearly shown on the label but this copy seems to have been graded recently.

I could see someone with moderate knowledge falling for an unscrupulous seller listing a slab like this at a discount price and not having any recourse when/if they ever notice as the item might technically be as described.

Thoughts?

On 8/29/2021 at 4:11 PM, Hulksdaddy1 said:

I don't believe there was any malicious intent, or anything like that. I feel like the staples were on the back(like the attached pic has staples on the front) and someone "realigned" the spine to make the staples dead center of spine, not realizing, for whatever reason, that it would cause an overlap. Maybe they also wanted better centering. If the book were to be realigned back to what I believe is the original register, the crease would be back to the spine, making for a better looking, possibly higher grade book. IMO

I think you're right, I was thinking of somebody rolling defects to the back cover while it seems to be the opposite here.

On 8/29/2021 at 11:41 AM, zzutak said:

Silver Age FF are in high demand right now.  The best way to guarantee a "fair" price and an "honest" sale is to list the books on eBay using an auction format with a $0.99 starting bid.  Describe the books accurately and thoroughly, using clear images and carefully chosen words.  Easy. 

In my opinion since books with restoration and especially trimming are in much lower demand, a $.99 auction might flop as only a small portion of the already small pool of silver age restored FF buyers will notice the auction. I would recommend starting at a 40-60% discount from what you'd price it at unrestored depending on how many edges are trimmed. 

From what I can see on GPA, graded FF keys with 1-2 sides trimmed and color touch are selling for sometimes only a 1/3 discount while about 1/2 is more common.

Definitely make clear any restoration and clearly show the quality and extent of trimming.

It doesn't look too suspicious to me and CGC would definitely give it a blue label as long as the staples weren't messed with.

If it was tampered with, reverting the changes would probably only lead to a lower grade as I've seen examples of books being cracked, having their spines realigned, and getting a much better grade by CGC.

I've seen plenty of CGC slabs with very slight (to even complete on 1 staple) staple rust grade as high as a 9.8.

I don't agree with CGC and their grading practices prevent me from buying 9.8s without good photos, but this seems deliberate rather than an error by CGC.

If you own some 9.6-9.8s from either major grading company I bet you'd be surprised at a lot of them taking a closer look.

Also, I'm pretty uncertain on whether the bottom portion you circled is rust or some other form of discoloration.

On 8/10/2021 at 9:14 PM, Homeboy32 said:

Bought the CGC grader notes for my newly purchased 9.0. Boy was that a let down. All it says is "light spine stress lines to cover" and "very light bends to cover". Not very elaborate for $5. Anyway, the stress lines are present, but don't see the very light bends to cover. I checked a 9.8 today and honestly it doesn't really look better at all then my 9.0.

Also my Wolverine #1 is damn near flawless and it graded an 8.0 couple years ago. I doubt they give 9.5+ grades to little people like me. Only to those large dealers that submit thousands of comics. 

CGC graders definitely don't know who submitted the comics, and those graders notes are actually pretty useful as "very light bends" are likely press-able.

In my experience FedEx rarely honors signatures, but you can reschedule package delivery to a safe place if you aren't going to be home on the delivery date so I'll still be using them.

ASM #800 and Spawn #1 sold

Clank 1 sold!

It probably would have been smart for the original submitter to request a blue label (I'm pretty sure you are in your right to do so and take what is usually a lower grade) as .5 is the lowest possible grade and people will likely bid more.

That is if CGC would actually do that for a .5?

Offers welcome! International buyers pay half of shipping costs.

If you can find any of these books online I'll take 5% off the price minimum.

Paypal G&S preferred but I'm open to anything within the rules.

2 weeks returns if slab damaged/not as described.

Above comics won't ship until Monday.

Uncanny X-men 282: $330 shipped, cheapest online  is $395 

SA 23 (1st agent venom): $180 shipped

Uncanny X-force 1: $105 shipped

X-men 533: $50 shipped
Usagi: $60 shipped

Static: $130/$240 shipped for both

Academy 20: $250 (offers very welcome)

What if?: $100 shipped

Deadpool max #5 (1st Female Taskmaster): $1100 shipped

Ice 17: $200 shipped

Ratchet & Clank 1: $160 shipped

X-men origins deadpool 1: $180 shipped

Tails 1: $90 shipped

Ghost 1: $110 shipped

ASM 365: $60/80/100 shipped, $210 bundle

$110 shipped

$80 shipped

$400 shipped

$80 shipped

$130 shipped

$90 shipped

$80 shipped

$100 shipped

$90 shipped

$95 shipped

$95 shipped

$70 shipped

$80 shipped

$65 shipped

$800 shipped (3 available)

$375 shipped (4 available)

Scans of duplicates:

I'd recommend getting an ozone generator if baking soda doesn't work.

Modern is 45 days faster than Economy right now so what's stopping people from knowingly submitting pre-1975 books to pretty much get fast-track for free and also save on shipping?

Wouldn't be surprised if they would notice right at receiving, or just send you to the back of the economy line, but it might work.

Most likely that would be corrected later on in the CGC process but I've seen some terrible CGC errors that never should have made it past QC ("Timeline variant ").

Big thanks to anyone who buys from me or is willing to give me a good deal on a comic I've been searching for.

both 9.8s and 3843029012 sold.

Summary of the slabs:

Grade: 9.8 2nd print 

Cert #: 3843029016

Noticeable comic defects: minor bottom bindery tear, tiny top bindery tear, very minor wavy-ness. Small Dot of color rub back cover. Overall very good looking for a 9.8, I wouldn't be worried at all about re-holdering.

Noticeable slab defects: small smudge bottom left corner only visible under light, ~3 inches long and very thin. Better than average overall for sure.

images: https://imgbb.com/album/GxLym8

Grade: 9.8 2nd print

Cert #: 3843029013

Comic defects: Notice-able bindery tears both left corners

Slab defects: ~1.5 inch "scatch?" Back cover over comic, thin and barely visible without good lighting.

images: https://imgbb.com/album/jv72Rs 

Grade: 9.6 2nd

Cert #: 3843029014

Comic defects: Bindery tear top left corner, color rub back cover bottom staple is probably what keeps this from a 9.8. Thin and runs along staple length.  Back bottom spine corner bit color rubbed too unless the print pattern is weird, not sure. Light bend running vertically across half the book on right side which could maybe make it a CPR candidate.

Slab defects: minor normal scratching.

images: https://imgbb.com/album/cK6Wyy

Grade: 9.6 2nd

Cert #: 3843029015

Comic defects: color rub back cover, not a good CPR candidate.

Slab defects: none I can tell.

images: https://imgbb.com/album/xCH8Gz

Grade: 9.6 2nd

Cert #: 3843029012

Comic defects: seemingly perfect except for the bottom left corner, which has the ink removed, could be a manufacturing defect.

Slab defects: none I can tell

images: https://imgbb.com/album/PT6d7R

Grade: 9.4 2nd

Cert #: 3843029011 

Same as above but with color rub back cover.

images: https://imgbb.com/album/cwpCy6

I'd prefer to trade these for slabs/raw books but cash can buy comics too 

Willing to consider offers on anything especially if you are buying multiple

Shipping will be whatever I pay with a maximum of $15, well protected and shipped priority mail to protect from angry postal employees/machinery

All slabs will have no major flaws but some scuffing, looseness, newton rings etc might occur. I can send photos and check the slabs upon request if you prefer.

Paypal G&S preferred but I'm open to anything within the rules

No returns unless the USPS uses artillery on the package and the slab arrives damaged, in which case you should contact me within 2 weeks and I'll provide you with a return label.

Order of interest for trades, raw or slabs are fine:

1.  Silver Age Marvel (ASM, X-Men, Avengers, Fan Four, Tales to Astonish)
2. Wolverine #1 (either), Star Wars #1/#42, Spawn #1, SIKTC, ASM #4 (Silk), Darth Vader #3
3. Bronze-Modern age Marvel Keys
4. Pre-code Horror (EC/SOTI)
5. DC Key Issues/Golden Age 
6. Runs/lots 
7. I'm not a picky collector so I might be interested in pretty much any comic you have 

2nd Print (not Pichelli):

9.8s ($840, 90-day avg $1036): 3843029016, 3843029013

9.6s ($360, 90-day $435): 3843029015, 3843029014, 3843029012

9.4 ($270, 90-day $282): 3843029011

8.0 ($120): 3843029017  (split top of spine which I was told wouldn't affect grading as it is a manufacturing defect in this case)

Foils (Editorial Televisa/La Mole): 

These are a reprint from Marvel Mexico limited to 1000 copies. These seem to be decently difficult to get in high grade looking at raw unread copies on eBay. I only slabbed my "perfect" copies so these might be CPR candidates.

9.8s ($870): 3843029001, 3843029002, 3843029004, 3843029005, 3843029006, 3843029007

9.6s ($440): 3843029003, 3843029008, 3843029009, 3843029010

6.5

I would be ecstatic at even an 8.0, I was thinking it would be a 7.5-8.0 but looking at graded slabs of this book I was thinking more 7.0

So happy to complete the trifecta! Will post grades once it comes back from CGC.

Please don't consider defects that could be cleaned or pressed out.

Checked and the seller is selling ASM #300 reproductions so yeah definitely not real

Hi all, I stumbled upon an ebay listing for a reproduction AF #15 but noticed that the interior page was ASM #300 and same with the interior and back cover even. I was wondering if there's good odds I can score an actual ASM #300 (not sure why someone would do this to it) and whether the front cover could be somewhat intact. Price is high but I would be fine with it for a coverless copy