Aman619

G.I. #80 is not a key, but it has become one of the toughest war books to find in any grade - it is notoriously hard to find in strict FN or better. And not just because of the black cover... it just genuinely seems to be less common than the books numbering in the 70s and later in the 80s. From that era - say #75 when the greytones began up to #94 when the books become more common - the toughest gets are #79, #80, #88, and #91. Those four books are just total bee-yatches. I paid $150 for my copy of #80 several years ago, and it's in the 6.5/7.0 range. I will be buried with it. One of my favorite covers of all time. I have given up hope of ever seeing one in the 9.0s. Shep thanx . turns out Im missing an 80 also. I never know if its just luck or true scarcity that causes the holes in my runs. Sometimes they are the same ones everyone else has trouble with, and other times Im sitting on a nice copy I managed to come across.

yeah. Thats the thing about this auction, and the way it goes in general. War books like these never come up for sale in such decent grades. So the frenzy produced 10x prices since who knows when they will appear again? But, ironically, these prices will only flush out more copies. Then we will see if the "highest graded" holds up, and an idea as to just how many more comparable copies are out there. But, unless the die hard DC war collectors really sniff a peek in pricing and are tempted to get out, I dont think we will see the real picture as to scarcity for a long time. Because I dont think these guys will be tempted to sell. Was GI Combat 80 a key? or just a sweet greytone Heath cover? Or considered scarcer than the others?

guess the guide's TOO LOW!

hey - -hes a survivor... gotta keep warm... and alive. At least he aint eating his dead buddy, yet.

boy those are pretty books! Especially so tigh and glossy. they usually look beat and dirty.

that explains why misc non keys are selling for up to $600 on Heritage. Filling holes at any cost.

I agree. There oughtta be a couple of 7.5s or better comin along. Or, the buyer of the 9.2 for only twice the 7.5 has gotta be smiling and taking his wife out for a champagne dinner tonight! Nope, it wasnt me.

its getting so that we have reached a state of total virtual real-time bidding. No matter where you are you are now able to "be there" to bid "on the floor". Pretty exciting as it opens it up to more than the dedicated pros who travel to auctions. But, for the rest of us, suckks because our last second internet bids are two tiers away from the final action. (Legacy and then floor bidding) And when the system is really set up and flawless, I dont see a need for the internet deadline at all, since ALL bidders will participate virtually from anywhere at the real auction alongside the floor attendees. ...and we will be watching on our big screen TVs by connecting them to our computers which we will be entering bids and then listening to the auctioneer read them off his monitor! An even playing field, finally, but it will eliminate internet sniping entirely, thereby pushing prices higher since noone will get the "last word under the clock" anymore and all bids will be fair game to outbid.

amen brother. amen to that!

yeah. for tough in grade books like these that are also zealously collected, its hard to really know whats out there except by anecdotal testimony. And war books have always been traded quietly and quickly leaving very little paper trail, like the superhero titles do.

I also think that these "highest graded" examples get the honor while other comparable and better copies sit quietly snug in mylars at undisclosed locations around the country whose whereabouts are known only their owners and a few very knowledgeable DC war collectors. for instance, the 8.0 GIC87 coming up. Arent there at least 2 better copies out there? What were the pedigree copies like, the Salida, Bethlehem and River City and any others out there?

I expected a flurry of bids at the end... seems the pool is shallow but the current is strong for them. Meaning had other bids come in, I'm thinking the winners would have gone higher and higher to still win. But the bids didnt come along to push them. I made a stab at them but didnt want to win at all costs!

wait a sec... I just noticed that teh 46 only meant the post number on that PAGE of the thread, which of course wont be 46 for everyone depending on the posts per page setting they chose.

by and large, the current post body-copy typesize is a point too big, at least. Im basing that on the fact that even on a 22" monitor set to a very high resolution (1920x1200) that makes 8.5x11" documents appear about 20% smaller than "actual size" when actual size is selected for views, the type STILL appears at least 13-14 pt on my screen. and, one medium size post (like #46 in this thread---nice touch btw I just noticed!) FILLS the entire screen. so a tad smaller but still one-2 pts bigger than the quoted text ought to be what we had which was fine.

did this person say why the board is better IN the mylite with the comic? I have always put boards (usually not 100% acid free by the way) inside the bags, mylars etc. But was planning to remylarize all my better stuff (as Bangzoom is thinking of doing) and FFbs method sounded pretty thourough. I especially liked being able to see the backs too. But, if your expert has a good reason to bag the board, Id go that way too.

makes sense.. but I seem to remember the comic alone in the mylite and the advantage being both sides would always be visible reducing the number of times you had to handle the actual book itself. if we think of the backing board as primarily for support, and that it be acidfree so that its doesnt ADD any acid off-gassing to the comics environment as it supports it, it wouldnt matter if its in the mylite or not. But if the board needs to touch the comic in order to absorb the comic's off-gassing, then it WOULD need to be in the bag. But I believe acidfree boards are only for support NOT for absorbing gases. Thats the microchamber paper's job. no?

place the 27 (or any book) between two backing boards and then insert (gently of course) the whole sandwich into the mylar. Then slowly pull out the top backing board. This will prevent any snagging on the mylar edges. also read back a ways to where FFB suggested a safe archival system: book goes into mylite . Mylite on top of a acid fee board and both placed into a GA mylar. And finally for the BEST books (you know all those worth $50K and up like in your collection!) place the mylite and board upside down into the GA mylar and then place that mylar+ comic upside down into a super GA mylar. When you are done, the comic will be well sealed within archival materials (top and bottom (and still able to breathe) and sturdily sitting upright again. and add the microchamber papers insde the covers if you wish. youve done well so far with minimal handling and only bags, but I applaud your decision to be a bit more protective with your treasures.

Im almost believing those are original Rockwells, not prints! or probably the origs are too big and bulky to take off the wall for this little setup!

this looks like Bangzooms basement!

at least Zaid has the good sense to wear long pants!!

oh you guys. dont worry... Paris will be out in no time!

he never asked which day just to be sure before buying airline tickets? wow.

Its been about a week since it was brought up, so Im thinking its safe to say ol Bangzoom doesnt actually have an original copy of the Declaration of Independence.... maybe : )

yeah, ditto here - - welcome. Always nice when the boards hears from a longtime collector with the goods!!

and the Peanuts looks like it was in the first month or so!