LowGradeBronze

My comment wasn't intended for anyone in particular, but was meant to draw attention to the fact that we are in the lucky position to look back down the ages from Pythagoras to Pynchon and everything in between, and start to discern and discuss where this or that genre emerged, which were tentative and which full fledged examples of a type. Whereas from Mary Shelley's and other pioneers' perspectives they were in new uncharted and exciting territory. They probably didn't know that they were even starting something! Edit: in my previous post I should really have quoted a portion from one the OPs earlier posts, but this device doesn't handle quotes well in this forum.

Maybe Mary Shelley didn't know she was writing the prototype novel for a whole new genre when she wrote Frankenstein. And that it needed to conform to certain as yet undefined criteria to properly fulfil that role in the eyes of as yet unborn 21st century people....

There's been mention of death and CPR in this thread. I want it on record that when I die, no-one but no-one is to Crack, Press & Resubmit me. Is that clear?

The 'monster' wasn't raised by magick but by a combination of electricity and 'medicine' so in that literal sense, science (albeit a fictionalised version.) So yes, Frankie is very much sci-fi and horror too, let's not forget the horror!

Hi Shaggy, your best bet here is to post full scans of front & back and if possible, the centrefold and splash page in the Hey Buddy, Can You Spare a Grade section of the forum for a better discussion of the overall grade of this book. Boardies will comment on any and all defects visible and what the overall grade this would likely receive if submitted.

I've seen nicer looking 3.0s if I'm honest but I think this book would come in around 3.0

Keep the spine out of the press altogether. Which is good practice anyway, regardless how supple/brittle. Others may come along and disagree!

And open at splash and centrefold to see page quality and staple placement/condition. Welcome to the boards!

2.0 (or 2.5 maybe, with bump for being mega key.)

It's definitely into the nines but hard to say exactly where it will place. Hulking good book!

As I read the extract I was thinking just that and was going to say that in effect (in the moving of goalposts to suit their own ends,) a 6.0 is now an 8.0 but for the fact I wouldn't accept those defects in a 6.0 What an indictment of the hobby when it says that heavy pressing defects often fall in this range!!! @tmac100 what does it say about criteria for Fine?

Where spine is concerned, the tape won't stop the paper from splitting if it's at all brittle and gets pressed. A good press avoids putting pressure on the spine for that reason. You don't want a sharp V created there.

They're describing a much lower grade of comic there. Basically a VG+ is now a VF. For me a VF was always an otherwise near mint book with a couple of small flaws that dragged it down. A book with a 'regular tear' of one inch is not a VF. It's "oh that's a shame, that would have been an 8.0 but for that tear'"

Instinctively I'd have to say that pressing would come first but there could be good reasons in certain situations to mend first and press after. I'm curious too now that you've mentioned it.

Tricky one, but if it were me I'd pass on that offer. Wait until someone with a decent rating shows up with an offer.

I wouldn't be so sure it's been tampered with. I can't see evidence of a previous different staple placement. The staple itself looks consistent with the other one. Others will offer their opinions but I think this is the original staple in its original placement. I certainly hope so too!

I'm at 7.5 @stormflora have a look at this beauty!

I tend to put in first bid prices and hope no-one else bids. Most often I don't win, but when I do it's bargain time. I did well once on one of those dutch auctions. Despite my lowish bid, I was one of the lucky winners and got a great value bundle of 1970s Marvel and DC in high grade. It included Millie the Model, New Gods and others I can't recall off the bat, but were all good books. I asked the seller for the 'origin story' of these lots and he said that two brothers regularly bought books off the newsstands, read them once then set them aside. Time passed, the seller acquired the whole collection from their mum, clearing out cupboards, and they were batched up in lots for blind auction. (He didn't tease by saying the collection had this or that rarity, which someone would win at random, it was all very straight up.) Edit: No-one has mentioned estate sales in this thread. They are a potential source of buying in bulk.

I think Chuck is slightly eccentric. Makes great reading: https://www.tcj.com/mile-high-comics/

If you do end up listing them on the bay, you could add Make Offer to the listing so that you get the feel for what folks would pay if they didn't like your Buy It Now price. Just a thought. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you are offered! Perhaps have their grade assessed here, in the Buddy Can You Spare a Grade section. That will help guide you on price. Welcome to the boards

StormFlora said: And... For the comic-ally oblivious, how much is that worth? Also, I just realized something. The CGC note on that slab states that there's tape within, but that is not considered restoration. I wonder if using transparent paper tape on a graded comic would still make it fall under the Universal grade, or would it be marked as a Restoration grade? Just some brainstorming here. Mending with Japanese paper would likely convert it to Restoration grade, but tape might just knock the grade down a notch while still keeping it Universal grade. Maybe someone at CGC could clue in for me here. Tape is considered a defect, I believe, hence the universal grade. Clear attempts at resto or conservation are noted and given the appropriate label by CGC. Others will chime in to 'tidy up' my less than exact understanding/explanation (Apologies, I didn't even mange to quote you properly. It's 'Two left thumbs Friday'!)

Run of the mill 1970s books, in an average VG to Fine grade, I try not to pay more than £6 for (plus shipping, or postage as we call it here.) That's about $7.50 plus shipping. If I get a bee in my bonnet I may search extensively for one issue for a while and see what grades/prices are like and either adjust what I will have to pay (usually upwards,) or shrug and accept that books out of my reach for now at least, until I next get fixated on it. Usually if I'm patient, a book comes along in a grade I can accept for a price I'm willing to pay. But we're talking about books less than $25 as it's rare that I can spend more on one book lately. A $25 book would not be the norm. Current obsessions have included Kamandi (only the Kirby issues) and Doctor Strange's short original run 169 to 183. Low grades have had to suffice but if I like a book it gets a lot of handling. Colan/Palmer artwork from that run is pure joy to look at.

I think it would take a huge number of IH181 hitting the market to dent the price. There's so much pent up demand for that book. It would need tens of thousands. Plus, books turning up like that from another age, literally, are still fish out of water in 2023. They would still be able to command a high price. The people selling may be able to offer a little discount as a sweetener, if they had a whole pile of Doctor Strange 169, for instance, but its place in comicdom being assured now, it wouldn't be a dollar bin book.

Given that some of the defects, if we should even call them that, are in my eyes related to/consistent with production values of the time, I would go 7.5 as I can't see anything that would keep it below that. The spine stresses as viewed from the back are the worst flaws.

Certainly appears to be 9.0 range. Tiny corner crease btm right FC. That's about all I can see "wrong" with it. Handsome copy!!!