TMNT #1 Club 18 18

[sorrenmj]

On 8/26/2020 at 7:32 PM, valiantman said:

I actually think about the fact that he got a first printing TMNT #1 for $61 in 1999 every time I pay $20 for a nice condition first printing of ElfQuest #2 (1978 edition with the $1.00 cover).  They're not the same as TMNT #1 at all, but it is unbelievable how cheap the first printings of ElfQuest #2 still are... it's also the first issue of the series, black and white independent book with a good following for decades, reprinted twice over 40 years ago, and 6 years older than TMNT #1.   Still about $20?  Yes, please! 

(Not Mile High, though, I don't trust them to send me a first printing or to grade correctly.) 

That's funny you mention it because I purchased TMNT #2 vol. 4 first print and they sent me a 2nd print instead, which as it turns out is rarer. I didn't realise Mile High had a reputation for these things

[sorrenmj]

On 9/12/2021 at 7:49 PM, Ryan. said:

I read mine when I first got it in 2011, before sending it off to get signed and graded. 

Very cool!

[sorrenmj]

On 8/27/2020 at 1:11 AM, LDarkseid1 said:

I’m just mainly happy I jumped on a super high grade 2nd print before it got nutty. It would suck to have owned any version of TMNT 1 and now not have it anymore.

I feel the same way about mine

[sorrenmj]

On 8/28/2020 at 1:13 PM, spracknetch23 said:

I don't. I stopped collecting all the reprints a couple of years ago. The last one I picked up was the Artisan Edition, a cool hardcover printing which used scans of the original art, and printed in the size of the original art. It's packed away (I'm in the middle of moving), but here's a pic I took at the time.

That Jim Lawson page is stunning and atmospheric!

[sorrenmj]

On 8/29/2020 at 4:48 AM, TMNT said:

You are completely right, E. I used to love this thread... But as it seems as the price goes up, the nastier it gets in here. Money brings out the best I guess... 

You're both bang on but I continue to love this thread regardless of the negativity of late. I see a lot of people celebrating their #1's and that is why I am here and I'm getting a real education at the same time! 

[sorrenmj]

On 9/8/2020 at 2:33 PM, tvindy said:

I'll use my first post to join this group. I bought a TMNT #1 first edition back in 1984 when it first came out. Back then, I bought all my comics from a wholesaler, so I actually paid less for it than cover price. I've just started going through my old comic book collection, separating out the most valuable comics. I figured I should send TMNT off to CGC, since not only is it valuable, but it wasn't even bagged! I'd feel a lot more secure with it slabbed. CGC said it would be a good candidate for pressing, so I authorized pressing. (It had gotten a bit rolled, since it hadn't remained completely upright in the box it was stored in.) I was expecting a grade from 7.0 to 8.0, but when I finally got the grade, it was 9.6! (Certification #3710982001) I'm quite happy with this news, and I'll be holding onto it for at least a few more years, so I can enjoy owning it for awhile.

Very cool story. Paid less than cover price in 1984. Stored in a box since. It gets a bit rolled over the years from storage. Now comes back 9.6 from CGC! Wow. Good for you!

[spracknetch23]

On 9/12/2021 at 1:47 PM, sorrenmj said:

What did it feel like leafing thru it?!

It was a great feeling. The coolest part was getting to the end and seeing the Gobbledygook ad..never saw it in person before. This was about 2014.

[spracknetch23]

On 9/12/2021 at 4:17 PM, sorrenmj said:

That Jim Lawson page is stunning and atmospheric!

Thanks! It's still one of the top pieces in my OA collection.

[sorrenmj]

On 9/12/2021 at 9:50 PM, spracknetch23 said:

It was a great feeling. The coolest part was getting to the end and seeing the Gobbledygook ad..never saw it in person before. This was about 2014.

Only those with 1st prints can comprehend this!

[sorrenmj]

On 9/12/2021 at 9:51 PM, spracknetch23 said:

Thanks! It's still one of the top pieces in my OA collection.

I love the starry night sky. it just takes me away into the night. I know that is far from the real draw to the illustration you hold but it is the night sky that beckons me every time.

[sorrenmj]

On 9/9/2020 at 4:13 PM, Chip Hart said:

Thanks - this looked like the thing to do, but it's nice to have confirmation.  Unfortunately, there's no dealer near me I can confer with.  I called a dealer about 90m from me last week and had a long chat with an employee, but no return call.  Oh well!

You can complete an application to CGC online and then send in your comic for grading yourself

[Otter1775]

On 1/19/2009 at 8:23 PM, RockMyAmadeus said:

 

Why not? We're not snobs, like those guys over in the AF #15 Club.

 

Any printing will do....

Good afternoon fellow collectors (3rd Printing):

 

Edited September 12, 2021 by Otter1775
Updated

[Subby1938]

On 8/27/2020 at 8:19 AM, Wolverinex said:

It's a seller's market right now.  You overpaid on your house

I’m plus 300K on that endeavour thanks 

[sorrenmj]

On 10/10/2020 at 5:45 PM, GM8 said:

Ok I can finally get this off my chest. I'm in the club. I've been following the Turtles since they originally came out and have loved talking with other Turtle-heads over the years on this forum but have kept my collection private mostly. Some PMs here or there but I've never felt the time was right. Now is the time. Why? Because they're safe and sound in a safe deposit box and I don't have to stress about the risk of having them get stolen/damaged, etc.

My first "1st print" purchase was from a big NYC comic shop back in 1986 or 1987. I got it and was so happy, paying about $125 at the time. A couple looks later and something didn't sit right with me. I looked closer and in better light and saw the abrasion below the word "First" on the inside cover. Then I read a little about it, I don't recall where, but they talked about counterfeit copies. It was a third print with the "third" scratched out and "first" written in. I told the comic shop guy (who probably knew it was fake) and luckily he acquiesced and gave me my money back. His reply to me was "you were right!". Yeah. I was really disappointed of course and gave up the search at the time.

Finally not long after, I got the urge again as I saw prices were increasing. I managed to track down not one but two first prints. Originally I bought them from two different sellers in the Comics Buyers Guide probably around '89 and '91 for the two purchases. I believe I paid about $180 for the signed one and $300 for the unsigned one a couple years later. They graded 9.6 and 9.8 a couple years ago at CGC respectively, both blue label. Seeing those grades at first was just unbelievable in the moment for me. I lost my s*&t when the 9.8 popped up on my screen! 

Just a big weight off my shoulders now that they're safe and secure. Not sharing photos/CGC #'s until I decide to part with them. Either way, I'll hold on to my 3rd print which I bought off the shelf in '85. 

Great story. Make sure the safety deposit box is free of moisture. I've read stories where people's comics got exposed to trapped moisture in their boxes and it caused the staples to rust. Those silicon gel packs can help I think, though got to change them every so often

[sorrenmj]

On 12/4/2020 at 7:15 PM, Subby1938 said:

Finally got these all in and I’m happy . I’m noticing on eBay two cgc tmnt 2 went in auction

cgc 9.0 $997.00 Canadian

cgc 9.4 $913.00 Canadian 

just a heads up folks be smart in your bidding and watch for new listings . Whoever bought the 9.4 got a steal compared to other listing that day.

Now back to my books

That's a gorgeous set there. Do you still own these?

[sorrenmj]

On 12/12/2020 at 3:20 PM, pubmonkey said:

There are only 1000 of these so supply and demand should push these up. The HC version is limited to 500.

while not part of the original oversize prints they recapture that magic in deluxe format 8 years later (1992). The quality of the paper is excellent in comparison and frankly I'm surprised more of them have not retained their minty fresh condition of at least 9.8. The Hardcover is signed but I am having a hard time remembering if they have sketches or not. will check later...

There was an initial surge of interest around 2013/2014 and they were hot property. since then, maybe due to a lack of submissions, they haven't really taken off again. We need a CGC certified one go for sale to gauge the interest. I have seen them selling in raw vf condition for between $60 and $100 sometimes more. The copies I see always seem to have been beaten up tho...

The HC has a price tag $25 wasn't that a lot of money for a comic back in 1992? Yeah you would think that they would have been better preserved.

[WolverineX]

On 9/12/2021 at 6:12 PM, Subby1938 said:

I’m plus 300K on that endeavour thanks 

Nice job

[spracknetch23]

On 9/12/2021 at 4:54 PM, sorrenmj said:

I love the starry night sky. it just takes me away into the night. I know that is far from the real draw to the illustration you hold but it is the night sky that beckons me every time.

I agree. I also love the shading techniques used on these old Mirage pages. Here's a better image (scan) of that page. I won it on clink in 2017.

[Subby1938]

On 9/12/2021 at 6:38 PM, sorrenmj said:

That's a gorgeous set there. Do you still own these?

I own a set of 9.6s issues 1-4 

1 third print 

2 first print 

3 first print non variant 

4 first print 

I’m currently paying off my third print issue one will update group shot once it arrives 

[sorrenmj]

On 9/13/2021 at 2:13 AM, Subby1938 said:

I own a set of 9.6s issues 1-4 

1 third print 

2 first print 

3 first print non variant 

4 first print 

I’m currently paying off my third print issue one will update group shot once it arrives 

Yeh that’s a super cool set and nice they’re all the same high grade. Smart purchase!