Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #18 - Unopened Distributor Bundle (1970) SOLD!

[jools&jim]

 

Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #18 Distributor Bundle:

 

Here's an unopened original distribution bundle straight from late 1970: 48 unsold copies of Nick Fury #18...the last issue of the first series, and a 25-cent square bound book, too!

 

With a cover date of March, 1971, these comics were most likely counted and bundled for distribution to news vendors and other retail outlets sometime in December of 1970 -- that's nearly 42 years without a single living soul cutting the twine and sending these copies on their merry way.

 

As an in-tact artifact from the pre-Direct Market era, this is a striking visual testimony as to why high grade copies of ANY comics published before the mid/late '70s are such a rarity in perfect condition. After all, what sort of shape would you be in today if you were stacked by a machine or by some underpaid gorilla in a damp & dingy warehouse somewhere, bundled with twine, and tossed onto the street from the back of a truck over 40 years ago? Just as rough as this bundle, no doubt! And yet this was precisely how the vast majority of our prized comics from the '30s - '70s found their way into our hands!

 

The average grade here is probably in the G/VG range: the worst examples are obviously at the top and bottom of the pile, with copies in the middle of the stack possibly grading out a bit nicer than that.

 

Last year's OSPG lists NF 18 at 3 bucks in Good, so let's start this somewhat unique little piece of comics history at...

 

SOLD!!!

 

$100 shipped and insured in the US. (Sorry…this is a heavy item--over 8 pounds when packed--so International Shipping is not really an option).

 

PayPal is strongly preferred, and payment needs to be made within 3 days of closing the deal unless we've made other arrangements via PM.

 

 

 

[Dr. Balls]

Wow. This is cool.

[jools&jim]

 

Wow. This is cool.

 

Thanks...I think so, too.

 

I remember seeing old, wire-framed shopping carts full of comics bundles exactly like this one at the News Center in Camp Hill, PA, ca. 1975 or so, when my dad dragged me along to buy his cigarettes there -- I guess that was when they were loading the racks with the new books.

 

Back then, I had no earthly idea that there were that many comic books in the world...

 

 

 

 

[FineCollector]

Bravo! That's definitely a unique offering. My only question is, how do you display something like that? You should have a clause that the person who buys it leaves the binding intact!

[BlowUpTheMoon]

 

 

$100 shipped and insured in the US.

 

[jools&jim]

 

 

 

$100 shipped and insured in the US.

 

 

(thumbs u Thanks!

[Dr. Balls]

 

 

$100 shipped and insured in the US.

 

 

A man of taste and distinction. Congrats.

[TheAvenger80]

Ha! Cool! I would think some of the copies towards the middle should be at least decent right? You think there could be a VF in there? Maybe not.

[Pinky Lee Zepplin]

Wow, that was just cool to see.

[vaillant]

That’s one of the coolest offerings I have seen on the forum so far, j&j.

Besides, it’s the first time I see this issue. And that’s the 25¢ month issue, too.

Care to share how you got it?

[Bronty]

that is super cool.