First Print or no ?.

[synch]

Hey guys I'm thinking of getting this one graded but then I noticed the bar code says "04"

 

 

 

 

So I'm wondering if this is a 4th print or first print or what ?... I know they did things differently back then

 

Now I'm all messed up Figured I'd go to the experts

 

[Bill Robinson]

It should say on the indica, right?

The title info inside the cover should say what printing it is.

[synch]

I took a look inside but could not see anything about printing

 

[shadroch]

Look at the brazillion or so copies on ebay and compare them.

[BradleyX2]

The "04" is for the month, April in this case.

 

It's a 1st print.

 

The 2nd print has a silver cover.

 

[synch]

You just made me very happy thank you!

 

[RockMyAmadeus]

That number on a newsstand copy stands for the month that is the cover date of the book.

 

Here are some more examples:

 

 

 

Now, when there were more than 12 issues printed in a standard year, Marvel/DC generally noted either the number that had been published that year, a la Spidey #310:

 

 

So, even though the cover date is December, because it was bi-monthly that year, #310 was the 15th, as opposed to the 12th, book in the run published with a 1988 cover date.

 

Then, the next month, it reverted back to 01, as shown with #311:

 

 

DC did it this way:

 

 

Instead of using the number of issues printed that year, they just used the last two numbers of the current issue.

 

They would then revert back to "01" with the Jan issue, like so:

 

 

DC/Marvel have used both of these methods interchangeably over the years.

 

To answer your question, then, your Spidey #361 is a first print. The second printings all had a silver background, like so:

 

 

Hope that helps!

 

 

[RockMyAmadeus]

The "04" is for the month, April in this case.

 

It's a 1st print.

 

The 2nd print has a silver cover.

 

 

Sure, Bradley, go with the easy answer...

 

Now what was someone saying about "minutiae" earlier tonight...?

[A-DONIS]

If you don't want it I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands

[synch]

Oh I want it... I'm thinking of getting it graded...

 

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=4014135#Post4014135

 

its a keeper for getting autographed though if I don't

[RockMyAmadeus]

Don't worry too much about the roller tears (those nicks on the pages)...they're certainly allowed as far up as 9.8, if not higher.

[synch]

So ... roller tears ?.. Like from when the book gets made ?.. I was thinking it had to be something like that I know I've seen it before in other comics... thanks man

 

 

[hikeeba-migration]

Wouldn't getting this graded be a waste of money?

[oakman29]

I'm afraid with that tear at the lower staple this book wont get a 9.8,my opinion get a book already graded 9.8 shipping and grading fees would cost just as much,and you'll only have a 9.4/9.6 to show for it.

[dicjones]

That is my fear for some of my moderns. I haven't sent in any yet, so I don't know what 9.8 really looks like...I'm really anal, and I think I know what one looks like, but I would hate to send one in just to have it come back at a 9.6, when I could have spent the shipping and slabbing fees on an already slabbed 9.8.

 

My instinct tells me that tear by the staple would kill you...I wouldn't send that one in hoping for a 9.8.

 

But like I said...I have no idea what I am talking about. .

[RockMyAmadeus]

That is my fear for some of my moderns. I haven't sent in any yet, so I don't know what 9.8 really looks like...I'm really anal, and I think I know what one looks like, but I would hate to send one in just to have it come back at a 9.6, when I could have spent the shipping and slabbing fees on an already slabbed 9.8.

 

My instinct tells me that tear by the staple would kill you...I wouldn't send that one in hoping for a 9.8.

 

But like I said...I have no idea what I am talking about. .

 

Just look at it this way...

 

If you can see a flaw within the first 5 seconds of looking at the book, it's not a 9.8.

 

If you can see a color breaking spine stress mark, it's not a 9.8.

 

If you can see any damage bigger than, say, 1/16" of an inch, it's not a 9.8.

 

There are, of course, exceptions, but those are the general guidelines. Most people gloss over those flaws, but genuine 9.8s are relatively tough to obtain (except, of course, for Wolverine #1 and Spiderman #1.)