rich_TMNT

So, the Heritage buyer from May is now selling it? Why buy it in the first place? I can't see him getting nearly $6K for this. I love that first page artwork and the book itself is a great (and somewhat rare) book but even $3800 seems steep for this. Will be interesting to see what happens.

It is very interesting...especially because it's not stapled to the cover. The Gold cover is almost like a printer's proof that someone kept. I want to correct a minor point I think you made there. It may not display well in the photo, but all 3 covers are indeed stapled to the book. keylab, I got a bit mixed up as I didn't notice that woregul had been the one that responded to that one post of mine. So, my "unstapled" comment was actually in reference to the Gold cover shown in this post from a few years ago. I had thought that you were saying THAT Gold was also interesting but it was actually woregul saying that YOUR Gold is interesting. My bad...sorry for any confusion. Should pay better attention.

Yep, I remember that letter...you shared it with me some time back. It stated "no more than 50 copies each" were printed. Still, that letter was written almost 15 years removed from the actual "event" of the Gobbledygooks. Think about all that happened to Kevin & Peter in those 15 years. Plus, I've never heard E or L address why Turtlemania states 150 copies of each exist. Wouldn't that be a more accurate record since it was just a few years after? Although, I guess since Mirage didn't publish that it could have been just speculation on Robert Wilson's part. However, Robert had to have a source for all the other print run information he put in the Turtlemania books - aren't all the other print run numbers accurate in that book?

It is very interesting...especially because it's not stapled to the cover. The Gold cover is almost like a printer's proof that someone kept. I don't think anyone really knows for sure which just adds to their mystique. However, I tend to believe there were 150 copies created of each. I say this for two reasons. First, this is the number that's documented in the publications (like Turtlemania and some magazine/newspaper articles) from the early days of the TMNT. I think this would be the most accurate record since E&L surely had more accurate recall of the their efforts to produce them after only 3 years had passed. As time passes, memory fades and second-guessing comes into play. Second, 50 copies of each doesn't seem like it would be a sufficient amount to properly promote or advertise their work and the upcoming TMNT #1. I would think they'd burn through 50 copies of these quickly. Plus, this was a hand-made comic book...they had to know that many people would simply discard them or toss them aside as rubbish. Knowing that, I think they would have printed more than they thought they'd need.

WOW !! That...is...AWESOME !! Thanks for posting these pics...really appreciate that. I just can't put into words how extremely awesome this collection is. I'd love to hear some back story on the acquisition if you are willing to discuss (PM me if you're so inclined). I absolutely think these were all part of some dealer's or shop owner's collection and were on display in the office or store. That "Display Only" sign on all of them is basically saying, "Yes, these are awesome and no, they aren't for sale." My LCS owner growing up had many early and rare comics on display in his shop with "Not for sale" or something similar on them all. I think these all could be from the Turtlemania event back in the day but I'm not sure why they'd have the Turtlemania Gold bagged up like that at the Turtlemania event. I suppose the Gobbledygooks or TMNT #1 could have been there on display like that for promotional purposes. Nice, nice, nice...great find and awesome information. A truly stellar set of TMNT history you have there. Thanks for sharing! (thumbs u EDIT: I had forgotten about this Turtlemania oddity posted here a long time ago. Not sure who owns this copy now but it has some similarities to this 3 cover Gold. Makes me wonder what type of other weird Turtlemania Gold stuff might be out there.

Stephan, agreed. I also wouldn't consider this an entirely new edition...my "one of one" comment was mostly in jest as a demonstration of rarity or likelihood when you only have 10 copies. This would be just as you said, an error copy with multiple covers like all other multiple cover comics. ...man, just when you think you know all there is to know...crazy! I'd be willing to bet the multiple covers on this were planned and it went to either the creator (Robert Wilson) or someone close to the creator. I can't think that this 1 of 10 being found along with all those other TMNT rarities that keylab bought is a coincidence. That stash came from someone close to the "action" in the very early days of the Turtles.

Thanks keylab...I don't think this is common knowledge at all. In fact, I've collected TMNT comics for over 25 years and this is the first I've ever heard of multiple covers and Turtlemania Gold. I checked my Turtlemania Silver and it has only the single grayish cover. I know that some of the other Turtlemania Gold owners have had their copies graded / slabbed or framed so this could be a difficult thing to verify if those owners don't recall and the CGC labels don't specifically indicate this. In pictures I've seen of graded copies the CGC label notes one of two different things about the cover...either "Orange color cover" and "Orange outer cover." That latter designation may indicate multiple covers but I would think they'd specifically call this out (like they do on the double cover TMNT #3 slabs which state: "Double Cover"). This is going to be very interesting. Can't wait to hear from other Gold owners and see your pics. Thanks again!

Wha?? Are you serious about that Gold having 3 covers? Now THAT would be news to me. I've never heard any of the other Gold owners talk about this. Can you post some pics of this? Is the Silver cover inside also signed as if it were a Silver Turtlemania? I have a Silver myself and I will have to check this weekend to see if it has 2 covers (Silver and Reg.) but I really don't think that it does. If it does I'm going to have to get my eyes checked since I'm not sure how I would have missed that. Now, this is just for argumentation sake for now but if all Golds don't have 3 covers and yours does then I wonder if yours does because it's #1 of 10 (which would make it ultra-extra-especially rare - i.e., 1 of 1). Oh my...thanks for the awesome info!

Disappointed I wasn't chosen but thanks for the opportunity to at least be in the running for it. Knowing what I was offering for this there was obviously someone wanting this WAY more than I did (which I didn't know was even possible ). Congrats to the new owner! Sweet piece of TMNT awesomeness you have there.