Tri-Color Brian Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 (edited) So some family members figured out what was going on and blocked the deal? I guess that's better than grabbing an Action #1 and ripping it in half! Yeah, I think that when the OO's estate was divided up, the comics were thought to be worth very little. When it became clear the kind of prices they were selling for recriminations (and litigation) followed. Alas, we live in a greedy world, and belong to a greedy hobby... Edited January 5, 2016 by tricolorbrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29dukedog Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 (edited) So some family members figured out what was going on and blocked the deal? I guess that's better than grabbing an Action #1 and ripping it in half! Our best theory is that the family saw the books selling on eBay for considerably more than they originally expected... then the dollar signs began rolling in their eyeballs... and perhaps they decided they'd do much better with the books if they cut out the middle man, or "re-negotiated" whatever arrangement they'd originally made with him. Edit: yeah, the most likely problem, in a word, was greed. Edited January 5, 2016 by 29dukedog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tri-Color Brian Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 So some family members figured out what was going on and blocked the deal? I guess that's better than grabbing an Action #1 and ripping it in half! Our best theory is that the family saw the books selling on eBay for considerably more than they originally expected... then the dollar signs began rolling in their eyeballs... and perhaps they decided they'd do much better with the books if they cut out the middle man, or "re-negotiated" whatever arrangement they'd originally made with him. Edit: yeah, the most likely problem, in a word, was greed. So, the arrangement was to grade the books in small groups, sell on ebay, and share profits? OK, I take back much of what I said. But, he should have gotten a written contract... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tri-Color Brian Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 (edited) So some family members figured out what was going on and blocked the deal? I guess that's better than grabbing an Action #1 and ripping it in half! Our best theory is that the family saw the books selling on eBay for considerably more than they originally expected... then the dollar signs began rolling in their eyeballs... and perhaps they decided they'd do much better with the books if they cut out the middle man, or "re-negotiated" whatever arrangement they'd originally made with him. Edit: yeah, the most likely problem, in a word, was greed. So, the arrangement was to grade the books in small groups, sell on ebay, and share profits? OK, I take back much of what I said. But, he should have gotten a written contract... See my post above. The problem was that some of the heirs got the comics (and other stuff) and some of the heirs got other stuff (but no comics). The assumption was that the comics weren't worth much. When the comics started to be sold for high prices, the heirs who didn't get any felt that they had received a raw deal from the division of the estate and litigated. The dispute was between family members, not between the family and the dealer. I don't know how to READ... I'm doing the best I can by looking at the pictures... Edited January 5, 2016 by tricolorbrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29dukedog Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 So some family members figured out what was going on and blocked the deal? I guess that's better than grabbing an Action #1 and ripping it in half! Our best theory is that the family saw the books selling on eBay for considerably more than they originally expected... then the dollar signs began rolling in their eyeballs... and perhaps they decided they'd do much better with the books if they cut out the middle man, or "re-negotiated" whatever arrangement they'd originally made with him. Edit: yeah, the most likely problem, in a word, was greed. So, the arrangement was to grade the books in small groups, sell on ebay, and share profits? OK, I take back much of what I said. But, he should have gotten a written contract... See my post above. The problem was that some of the heirs got the comics (and other stuff) and some of the heirs got other stuff (but no comics). The assumption was that the comics weren't worth much. When the comics started to be sold for high prices, the heirs who didn't get any felt that they had received a raw deal from the division of the estate and litigated. The dispute was between family members, not between the family and the dealer. Oh, ok. That's new info to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tri-Color Brian Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Thank you for coming to my defense Dog... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tri-Color Brian Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 So some family members figured out what was going on and blocked the deal? I guess that's better than grabbing an Action #1 and ripping it in half! Our best theory is that the family saw the books selling on eBay for considerably more than they originally expected... then the dollar signs began rolling in their eyeballs... and perhaps they decided they'd do much better with the books if they cut out the middle man, or "re-negotiated" whatever arrangement they'd originally made with him. Edit: yeah, the most likely problem, in a word, was greed. So, the arrangement was to grade the books in small groups, sell on ebay, and share profits? OK, I take back much of what I said. But, he should have gotten a written contract... See my post above. The problem was that some of the heirs got the comics (and other stuff) and some of the heirs got other stuff (but no comics). The assumption was that the comics weren't worth much. When the comics started to be sold for high prices, the heirs who didn't get any felt that they had received a raw deal from the division of the estate and litigated. The dispute was between family members, not between the family and the dealer. I don't know how to READ... That's why you like comics. You can just look at the pictures. Yeah, well, you actually read those girly romance books...real men just look at the covers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tri-Color Brian Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 So some family members figured out what was going on and blocked the deal? I guess that's better than grabbing an Action #1 and ripping it in half! Our best theory is that the family saw the books selling on eBay for considerably more than they originally expected... then the dollar signs began rolling in their eyeballs... and perhaps they decided they'd do much better with the books if they cut out the middle man, or "re-negotiated" whatever arrangement they'd originally made with him. Edit: yeah, the most likely problem, in a word, was greed. So, the arrangement was to grade the books in small groups, sell on ebay, and share profits? OK, I take back much of what I said. But, he should have gotten a written contract... See my post above. The problem was that some of the heirs got the comics (and other stuff) and some of the heirs got other stuff (but no comics). The assumption was that the comics weren't worth much. When the comics started to be sold for high prices, the heirs who didn't get any felt that they had received a raw deal from the division of the estate and litigated. The dispute was between family members, not between the family and the dealer. I don't know how to READ... That's why you like comics. You can just look at the pictures. Yeah, well, you actually read those girly romance books...real men just look at the covers... That Dana Dutch was actually a heck of a writer. Jus sayin'. Well, if I could READ I might know that...of course, I'd never tell anyone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Love Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 My understanding is, correct me if I'm wrong Sqeggs, that the books were being walked into a retail store in chunks, almost weekly. The comic store owner had limited capital and had to turn the books around in order to fund continued purchases, plus the family was playing it close to the chest and apparently doling out books but not information. The buyer wasn't greedy imho but was engaging in price discovery - rationally and methodically. The market was coming to him, and that process was beginning to accelerate once the first few brave souls took the plunge (one brave soul in particular made quite a nice profit off those "high prices", more power to him.) I, and many others, wish now we had gobbled them all up at those price points. Finally, the "agent" wised up and moved off a static pricing on Ebay to the auction venue and that's when the market really chimed in with true worth. Which is when the family apparently reneged on their agreement and went litigious in some fashion. Free markets at work. What we should be more concerned with (buyers and sellers both) is what's out there, slabbed and in the census as a phantom, but coming one day to an auction near you. 1950's war comics 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29dukedog Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Aside from the Crippen books, is there another collection of Baker romance books of this depth and quality? Late in 2003, Neat Stuff Collectibles auctioned an extensive GA collection on eBay which they dubbed "The Mama's Collection", after the colorful old woman from Indiana from whom the books were purchased. There were quite a few runs of Baker romance. I'm sure RICK STARR and Flex Mentallo remember it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tri-Color Brian Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 One other nugget: When the seller first told me that he would no longer be able to sell the books, he said there were a "ton" of them left with 300 to 400 already slabbed. Presumably that includes non-Baker books. If he had just sold them all for $5 each, none of the heirs would have gotten suspicious... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tri-Color Brian Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 You mean this old thing? The only Sixth Street book I got and wish I had more. Ken Nice pickup Ken. Gonna be at Terry's show this month? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RICK STARR Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 (edited) A few more... Edited January 6, 2016 by RICK STARR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comicnoir Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Something recent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmpknface Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Something recent Man, I completely love the dame on this cover. It's books like this that make me so tempted to chase Baker books. Maybe if I hit the powerball tonight.... Excellent looking copy! I can understand why the top may not be shown, but what's the grade? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29dukedog Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Something recent Man, I completely love the dame on this cover. It's books like this that make me so tempted to chase Baker books. Maybe if I hit the powerball tonight.... Excellent looking copy! I can understand why the top may not be shown, but what's the grade? I know! I know! It's 7.0 OW/W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comicnoir Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Something recent Man, I completely love the dame on this cover. It's books like this that make me so tempted to chase Baker books. Maybe if I hit the powerball tonight.... Excellent looking copy! I can understand why the top may not be shown, but what's the grade? I know! I know! It's 7.0 OW/W Wise guy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29dukedog Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Something recent Man, I completely love the dame on this cover. It's books like this that make me so tempted to chase Baker books. Maybe if I hit the powerball tonight.... Excellent looking copy! I can understand why the top may not be shown, but what's the grade? I know! I know! It's 7.0 OW/W Wise guy! I can also tell you how much he paid for it... his credit card numbers... eBay and Paypal passwords... any personal information you want. ...but it'll cost you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comicnoir Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Something recent Man, I completely love the dame on this cover. It's books like this that make me so tempted to chase Baker books. Maybe if I hit the powerball tonight.... Excellent looking copy! I can understand why the top may not be shown, but what's the grade? I know! I know! It's 7.0 OW/W Wise guy! I can also tell you how much he paid for it... his credit card numbers... eBay and Paypal passwords... any personal information you want. ...but it'll cost you. How much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29dukedog Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Something recent Man, I completely love the dame on this cover. It's books like this that make me so tempted to chase Baker books. Maybe if I hit the powerball tonight.... Excellent looking copy! I can understand why the top may not be shown, but what's the grade? I know! I know! It's 7.0 OW/W Wise guy! I can also tell you how much he paid for it... his credit card numbers... eBay and Paypal passwords... any personal information you want. ...but it'll cost you. How much? Maybe you're willing to make me an offer to not reveal your info? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
