jlee Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Surprised, but not shocked! shocked I say! A great book, unique actually in terms of theme for Baker, and very very very tough to come by in anything approaching grade. I've always considered it a minor grail, along with TAR 45. And after all these years, none on the census till this showed up, and that club is getting smaller and smaller. If I'm not mistaken both Rick Starr and Sqeggs have lesser copies, shall we say, and I wouldn't put it past either of them to go for this one. Nor would I say it's a bad move. If you were committed to a world class Baker collection, this book would be a must have. A bit out of my budget, but expenditures are very relative. These days 2K ain't no big thang. I got my copy many years ago and have seen a few available over the past 15 years. But agree very tough in Fine or better as my copy is definitely not as nice as the Heritage copy. It will be interesting to see how Baker romances do in future auctions as there are many other ones that I could see threaten the 5K barrier like Teen Age Romances 9 and Giant Comics Edition 12. That barrier has already been broken: A GCE 12 CGC 7.0 went for $9,300 in a CLink auction in August 2013. Thanks for the reminder on that one. I guess I should have said 10k! There's a CGC 8.0 copy of GCE 12 out there that would presumably blow through the $10K barrier if it were auctioned. The Seven Seas 4 CGC 9.0 might do the same. There are probably some high-grade copies of other issues as well that would sell above $10K. I wish I owned them! That makes two of us! If we were talking about only Baker romance titles excluding Giant Comics Edition, it would be interesting to see which issue would have the best shot of breaking the 10K barrier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bumble Kitty Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 (edited) I was very surprised at the final price -- maybe I am a little out of touch with the going rate on Baker books. Edited February 22, 2016 by Bumble Kitty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bumble Kitty Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 There's a CGC 8.0 copy of GCE 12 out there that would presumably blow through the $10K barrier if it were auctioned. The Seven Seas 4 CGC 9.0 might do the same. There are probably some high-grade copies of other issues as well that would sell above $10K. I wish I owned them! I wonder if I own any like these. With these prices, I am almost tempted to sell some of mine...almost, but not quite willing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlee Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 (edited) I was very surprised at the final price -- maybe I am a little out of touch with the going rate on Baker books. It is possible that this Heritage Auction was a unique situation as many books went for astronomical prices. I guess folks just love owning the best existing copy and have little price sensitivity for that honor. Of course, that price might encourage a few additional CGC submissions on that book. Edited February 22, 2016 by jlee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sqeggs Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 That makes two of us! If we were talking about only Baker romance titles excluding Giant Comics Edition, it would be interesting to see which issue would have the best shot of breaking the 10K barrier. Interesting point. I think both GCE 12 and SS 4 benefit from crossover interest from non-romance collectors. I'm not sure that a Baker book that is strictly romance would break the $10K barrier unless it was, say, an uber-high-grade copy--like a 9.6 or 9.8--of a very scarce book. Even then, I'm not sure how the auction would go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlee Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 (edited) That makes two of us! If we were talking about only Baker romance titles excluding Giant Comics Edition, it would be interesting to see which issue would have the best shot of breaking the 10K barrier. Interesting point. I think both GCE 12 and SS 4 benefit from crossover interest from non-romance collectors. I'm not sure that a Baker book that is strictly romance would break the $10K barrier unless it was, say, an uber-high-grade copy--like a 9.6 or 9.8--of a very scarce book. Even then, I'm not sure how the auction would go. I haven't checked recently, but I don't recall if there are any CGC 9.6 or 9.8 Baker romance books. I have a CGC 9.2 as my highest graded Baker romance book. My guess is you would need the ultra high grade combined with an iconic cover like a Cinderella Love 25 to break 10K. Edited February 22, 2016 by jlee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sqeggs Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 That makes two of us! If we were talking about only Baker romance titles excluding Giant Comics Edition, it would be interesting to see which issue would have the best shot of breaking the 10K barrier. Interesting point. I think both GCE 12 and SS 4 benefit from crossover interest from non-romance collectors. I'm not sure that a Baker book that is strictly romance would break the $10K barrier unless it was, say, an uber-high-grade copy--like a 9.6 or 9.8--of a very scarce book. Even then, I'm not sure how the auction would go. I haven't checked recently, but I don't recall if there are any CGC 9.6 or 9.8 Baker romance books. I have a CGC 9.2 as my highest graded Baker romance book. My guess is you would need the ultra high grade combined with an iconic cover like a Cinderella Love 25 to break 10K. CL 25 in 9.8 ... That's a $10K book, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sqeggs Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 i'm pretty sure that this is my highest graded Baker romance book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sqeggs Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Actually, it's this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sqeggs Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Baker cover (although not attributed to him by CGC), but not a St John book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29dukedog Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 That makes two of us! If we were talking about only Baker romance titles excluding Giant Comics Edition, it would be interesting to see which issue would have the best shot of breaking the 10K barrier. Interesting point. I think both GCE 12 and SS 4 benefit from crossover interest from non-romance collectors. I'm not sure that a Baker book that is strictly romance would break the $10K barrier unless it was, say, an uber-high-grade copy--like a 9.6 or 9.8--of a very scarce book. Even then, I'm not sure how the auction would go. I haven't checked recently, but I don't recall if there are any CGC 9.6 or 9.8 Baker romance books. I have a CGC 9.2 as my highest graded Baker romance book. My guess is you would need the ultra high grade combined with an iconic cover like a Cinderella Love 25 to break 10K. There's a CGC 9.6 copy of True Love Pictorial #3. It's the only 9.6 St. John romance issue I'm aware of, and there's almost certainly nothing higher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29dukedog Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Just picked these up... ...from my printer. And I just received my copy today. Thanks, Joe, it's a gorgeous reproduction. You might think about selling them here on the boards. Can't wait for the hardcover Pictorial Confessions/Romances! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29dukedog Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 That makes two of us! If we were talking about only Baker romance titles excluding Giant Comics Edition, it would be interesting to see which issue would have the best shot of breaking the 10K barrier. Interesting point. I think both GCE 12 and SS 4 benefit from crossover interest from non-romance collectors. I'm not sure that a Baker book that is strictly romance would break the $10K barrier unless it was, say, an uber-high-grade copy--like a 9.6 or 9.8--of a very scarce book. Even then, I'm not sure how the auction would go. I haven't checked recently, but I don't recall if there are any CGC 9.6 or 9.8 Baker romance books. I have a CGC 9.2 as my highest graded Baker romance book. My guess is you would need the ultra high grade combined with an iconic cover like a Cinderella Love 25 to break 10K. CL 25 in 9.8 ... That's a $10K book, I think. With prices like that Going Steady 14 just went for, you might only need the highest graded CL 25 to break the 10K barrier... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Love Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 That makes two of us! If we were talking about only Baker romance titles excluding Giant Comics Edition, it would be interesting to see which issue would have the best shot of breaking the 10K barrier. Interesting point. I think both GCE 12 and SS 4 benefit from crossover interest from non-romance collectors. I'm not sure that a Baker book that is strictly romance would break the $10K barrier unless it was, say, an uber-high-grade copy--like a 9.6 or 9.8--of a very scarce book. Even then, I'm not sure how the auction would go. I haven't checked recently, but I don't recall if there are any CGC 9.6 or 9.8 Baker romance books. I have a CGC 9.2 as my highest graded Baker romance book. My guess is you would need the ultra high grade combined with an iconic cover like a Cinderella Love 25 to break 10K. There's a CGC 9.6 copy of True Love Pictorial #3. It's the only 9.6 St. John romance issue I'm aware of, and there's almost certainly nothing higher. and I believe there are only three 9.6 St. Johns at all - that's their entire output as a publisher we're talking about 1950's war comics 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrooge Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Only 4 !!! St. John in 9.6+ (There seems to be a lone signature 9.8 but that's misclassified in the data). http://cgcdata.com/cgc/search/publisher/:St:John:/label/all/census/160216/censusprior/160216/ Canteen Kate # 1 Laurel & Hardy # 2 Texan # 13 True Love Pictorial # 3 and only 26 in 9.4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29dukedog Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 and I believe there are only three 9.6 St. Johns at all - that's their entire output as a publisher we're talking about Only 4 !!! St. John in 9.6+ (There seems to be a lone signature 9.8 but that's misclassified in the data). http://cgcdata.com/cgc/search/publisher/:St:John:/label/all/census/160216/censusprior/160216/ Canteen Kate # 1 Laurel & Hardy # 2 Texan # 13 True Love Pictorial # 3 and only 26 in 9.4. And I believe this data will ultimately figure in and define exactly what "highest graded" means, where the St. Johns are concerned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlee Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Only 4 !!! St. John in 9.6+ (There seems to be a lone signature 9.8 but that's misclassified in the data). http://cgcdata.com/cgc/search/publisher/:St:John:/label/all/census/160216/censusprior/160216/ Canteen Kate # 1 Laurel & Hardy # 2 Texan # 13 True Love Pictorial # 3 and only 26 in 9.4. This is a great view of all the St. John titles. Thanks so much for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sqeggs Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) Only 4 !!! St. John in 9.6+ (There seems to be a lone signature 9.8 but that's misclassified in the data). http://cgcdata.com/cgc/search/publisher/:St:John:/label/all/census/160216/censusprior/160216/ Canteen Kate # 1 Laurel & Hardy # 2 Texan # 13 True Love Pictorial # 3 and only 26 in 9.4. This is a great view of all the St. John titles. Thanks so much for sharing. +1 I hadn't realized you can search that source by publisher. Fascinating stuff! Edited February 25, 2016 by Sqeggs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VintageComics Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ltpink2002 Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Very cool book Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
