Duffman_Comics

Got photobucket working again (shout out to topofthetotem and Harry Lime) so here are some further card scans. This is the back of the cricket cards. Nothing outstanding, but it is interesting that the (then) Australian wicketkeeper, Wally Grout, has had his name enter the Australian language as rhyming slang. When in a drinking situation, a group of drinkers will take it in turns to "shout" or buy that round of drinks. "Shout" then becomes "whose Wally Grout is it?" This is then, perversely, even further truncated and obscured to become "whose Wally is it"? This really is a weird place at times.

Rugby Union was a niche game. It has always been a far more international game than League, but up until 1995 at every level it was an amateur sport. No one got paid more than expenses and "walking around money". Well, that's the way it was supposed to work, but the "unpaid" business was honored more in the breach than the observance. Think American college sports. Anyway, no Rugby Union cards that I am aware of until the code became professional in 1995. The gum wasn't bad. Not a lot of it, but palatable enough. Scanlens first issued sports cards in 1963, a series of 18 Australian Rules players https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scanlens It should be remembered that in 1963 the Australian population was less than 11 million. Canada, same year, a little under 19 million. These cards also had no appeal (and were not distributed) in any areas other than where the sport(s) were popular. No wonder they are hard to find. To answer your last question, did Scanlens market penny bubble gum in the fifties and sixties? I think so, but it was only when the sports cards started in 1963 that things got going. I'd love someone more knowledgeable than me to chime in here.

1. From what years are those two sets? The Cricket set is from 1965, the Rugby League cards posted are from 1968 - but Scanlens released two Rugby League sets in 1968. One of 44 cards. Nothing special. Then a second series of 40 cards plus 12 "Team Crest" cards Think early chase card, except I am pretty sure there were plenty of these printed, but none were saved. What kid wants a drawing of the team "crest"? The next year, 1969, Scanlens issued a "base" set of 48 cards plus 18 die-cut cards. These die cut cards are the bane of my existence very hard to find "unmolested" i.e. still "unpopped". The Crest and die-cut cards are the hardest to find. 2. I see that the Rugby League cards were issued by Scanlen's and I know that Scanlen's distributed Topps cards in Australia. Were then the cricket cards also issued by Scanlen's? Yup. 3. Which of the two sets is more highly prized and collected in Australia? Good question. Owing to the "tribal" nature of football here (Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory love Australian Rules. New South Wales and Queensland are die hard Rugby League followers) it dilutes the collector base. Cricket, however, is universally appreciated. So I'd have much more competition for cricket cards, let alone other cricket memorabilia. Those guys are maniacs. The very first cards I ever collected as a kid were a uniquely Canadian set from 1959 printed by Topps but issued by O-Pee-Chee. As is obvious, all these sets are uniquely printed and distributed in Australia. I might throw some scans of some of the other cards up - the backs are somewhat interesting.

Excellent! I was hoping you'd show up. Now, explain the difference between Rugby League, Rugby Union and Australian Rules. In 25 words or less

Well, here are some I've got in 'bucket. The Cricket cards are particularly hard to find - took me ages to complete the set. The Rugby League cards are a slightly different matter. There's a lot more of them and I still need a few. I was fortunate enough to have a mother that encouraged my collecting pursuits, early on by not throwing any of my junk out and later by making suggestions (my father however . . . ). What this means is that now I find myself trying to find stuff that didn't survive (hello perished GI Joe SCUBA outfit) or securing stuff that I coveted back in the day that I just couldn't afford - then.

Well said Hepcat I'd reckon from your posts I'm just a hair younger (1956 model). I've got a lot of stuff too - comics, toys, cards (substitute Cricket and Rugby League for Baseball and Gridiron) and your post got me thinking. Where are the collectors these days? All I see these days are people who are buying to flip. Speculators and wannabe dealers. Are there so few true collectors left? And I know this has been predicted so many times in the last 15 years, but I really do think the "Ponzi Scheme" part of the hobby is about to crash and I couldn't be happier. That way I can finish up my (many) runs at a reasonable cost.

Another enjoyable review, Harry. The quote you chose is particularly interesting as it presages the reputed reason that Ditko and Lee went their separate ways after ASM 38, disagreeing on the Green Goblin's "secret identity". Really, all these early Spideys are terrific.

Lovely books AJD. I do enjoy group shots. Done with E.C.'s? I know the horror books aren't your cup of tea, but what about the science fiction annuals? Psychoanalysis? M.D.? Extra? (Yes, I know the cursed fourth estate).

I know you have lusted after one of these for quite a while. Congratulations. Doesn't that cover just "sing" on so many levels? P.S. "wife's" Your friendly apostrophe man.

Very sweet book, Andrew, but for the love of all that's good and pure please fix that bottom right hand dog ear. Thanks in advance.

Maybe the steel "yarmulke" is some sort of zebra controlling device?

I can't let this one through to the 'keeper without comment. Let's start with the helicopter. Strange looking machine made a lot stranger by the peculiar perspective. RCMP dude (sans lemon squeezer hat) is grasping at the chopper's ladder, thus placing that "obelisk" between him and the helicopter. Pretty close if one was to ask me. Helluva brave pilot. Onward. The "obelisk". That's some fancy piece of engineering and architecture right there. Must be the model for the tower at Pisa. I especially appreciate the tasteful application of the Fiction House bullet. I'm going to gloss over the black and yellow zebra. Artistic license by the colourist or an accident. Who cares. Bigger fish to fry. Though I will point out that zebras are not suited for domestication ala horses. Which brings me to the jockey of said zebra. Naked as the day he was born, bar the "beanie". No saddle or, more importantly, stirrups. Unless he is built like Barbie's boyfriend, that has got to be uncomfortable. Seems to be surrounded by an aura or "glow" too. "Cloak of Invisibility" to avoid embarrassment? He seems to have "high tech" head gear but when it comes to weaponry, he's gone very down range. Unless I am missing something which is par for the course. The other dead eyed natives. One (at least) gets clothes. Their beanies are very low rent. In training to move up? Or maybe the shiny one is like the family car. "Dad can I borrow the hat tonight please"? Stay tuned for further observations . . .

I love stories about early fandom and conventions, however inquiring minds need to know whether Harley was setup . . .

I weep for that generation

Just joining in here so I don't know specifics but it seems you would have been better off dropping 11k into a Hulk 1 and flipping it. You are not helping.

Politics Not really, but it is an interesting offering. Any idea what's on the inside?

Surely this is a rhetorical question. Of course you do. You'll enjoy revisiting the stories and the boy will both enjoy the yarns and improve his reading skills immeasurably. KUDOS to you for buying what must have been an expensive library. I wish I'd done the same with the English versions back in the day.

Small furry flying things? These are way more than a step down from bats. They don't drink blood, have rabies, lyssavirus or any other negatives I can think of for now. Anyway, sell the book a little more - it's by John Dixon, a great draughtsman, cover and interior, and extremely scarce.

Love the date stamp!

I've tried that a couple of times and ran into a few problems - If it's online shipping must be cost effective since I usually buy from the states - I find something on kijiji people want me to drive for it and they want top dollar not listening to the fact that I can't buy it at that much - I found a couple good comics at a shop before and he took out of my hands and said he couldn't sell it for that price because "They're hot" and I knew that of course but it's his fault that he messed up. I have done that a handful of times and I had great results in most cases but at lot of the times it's misses So I'll list a couple examples of little comics I made a profit on. Archie comics bought for 25 sold for 100 ASM 101 Bought for 55 sold for 75 Free comics got for free sold for 18 bucks IM 305 Bought for 7 sold for 12 X-Factor 5,6,15,18, 23,24 bought for cover price and sold for a total of 135 FF 67 Bought for 8 bucks sold for 15 Strange adventures 180 bought for 23 sold for 55 For those that are going to ask yes this was all calculated after fees and shipping now list all of the losses...... look at the list - so many low purchase books with flipping potential..... FOCUS ON THESE LOW COST HIGH % RETURN BOOKS Here are my losses and if you have any questions just ask JLA #1 CGC NG Buy $210usd Sell $115 Bat #4 NG Buy $223usd Sell $75 Comic Book Covers NG Buy $58.24 Sell $40 X-men 219 NM Buy $5.50usd Sell $-5.50 Giant Size X-men #2 2.0 Buy $21.72usd Sell $-21.72 Betty and Veronica #320 7.0/7.5 Buy $470usd Sell $250 Avengers 57+58+ FF 53 Buy $360usd Sell $250 Infinity Gauntlet CBCS 9.8 X5 9.6 X2 Buy $985.60 Sell $0 Suicide Squad 12 x2 VF-NM Buy $12.63cad Sell $0 DC presents 26 Buy $126usd Sell $ 30 usd harley quinn #1 ASM 50 1.5/2.0 Buy $110usd Sell $88 Repro covers NM Buy $87usd Sell $0 ASM 4 coverless NG Buy $18usd Sell -$18 FF Bronze age comics Varies Buy $125usd Sell $-125 Comics lot Varies Buy $122usd Sell $90 ASM #1 Silver version Buy $2.25cad Sell $0 Aquaman 29 3.0/3.5 Buy $0 Sell $-8 Adventure comics 260 Buy $88.88 Sell $0 Flash 139 Buy $105 Sell $0 BA 12 Buy $834.15 Sell $820 ST126 $180.69 Sell $157.25 X-men 266 CBCS 9.6 Buy $337.5 Sell $173 Money Order loss $-44usd Aquaman 29 VG Buy $65 usd Sell $61.14 Giant Size X-men #1 Buy $355.38 Sell $-335.38 Marvel Super Heroes 12 Buy $110usd Sell $0 The hard corps #1 Buy $2.95cad Sell $0 ASM 361 x2 CGC 9.8 Buy $350usd Sell $185 +$150 trade I have more profits I made too but I only showed small comics I made profits on Gabe, did you copy and paste this from a spreadsheet? The spacing is screwed up and even going through it line by line I still have no idea what some of these entries mean e.g. "Giant Size X-men #1 Buy $355.38 Sell $-335.38" Does this mean you lost $20? Or "Marvel Super Heroes 12 Buy $110usd Sell $0" Does this mean you've still got it? There are a lot of nice folk here trying to help, but I'm afraid you don't make it easy . . .

Harry, I am an unabashed Ditko fan from the get go. I've chased his work all over the place, but let's face it Spider-Man is where it "happens". If you ever get the chance to see some original Ditko Spidey pages, not scans, but up close and in person you will be blown away. Not a false line. Not a white out, Not a paste up. Just as if he inked the damned things without penciling them. Just remarkable.

AJD, you are missing the most desirable aspect of this comic - its FABULOUS off register cover printing. Simply wonderful

NO. This is straight out of Daniel Dupcak playbook, hoping the buyer is ignorant of restorative practices and therefore "happy" with the purchase. Danny D? Who's he? Check out Justafanboy and its associated links.

Sheldon? Is that you?

There there, blossom - I read your Journal. I think the Chinese -script is actually sideways. It needs to be rotated 90 degrees either left or right (I have no idea which way) but the ideographs do not "look right" as presented, IMO. I am a huge fan of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. Have you ever read " The Annotated Alice" by Martin Gardner? A must have for any Lewis Carrol aficionado. Edit: On examination, I think the Chinese -script needs to be rotated 90 degrees to the left.