Sqeggs Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Yes, if it's a few collectors driving these results, then prices can certainly be lower the next time around since the high bidder in these auctions now has a copy. So if the third highest bidder was way down there, bidder number 2 may pick up a copy much more cheaply. Or maybe more people have begun to discover these books. If so, prices may remain elevated because they are pretty scarce. I just looked up how many copies of each are listed on the census: 1 -- 33 copies 2 -- 20 copies 3 -- 15 copies 4 -- 17 copies 5 -- 14 copies 6 -- 15 copies Given the high prices being realized lately, I would guess these census numbers will begin to expand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Mann Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Yes, if it's a few collectors driving these results, then prices can certainly be lower the next time around since the high bidder in these auctions now has a copy. So if the third highest bidder was way down there, bidder number 2 may pick up a copy much more cheaply. Or maybe more people have begun to discover these books. If so, prices may remain elevated because they are pretty scarce. I just looked up how many copies of each are listed on the census: 1 -- 33 copies 2 -- 20 copies 3 -- 15 copies 4 -- 17 copies 5 -- 14 copies 6 -- 15 copies Given the high prices being realized lately, I would guess these census numbers will begin to expand. This was the only one (#3) that I ever saw on the newsstand. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7355/9352333932_33d6f5a345_z.jpg' alt='9352333932_33d6f5a345_z.jpg'>IMG PHANTOM STRANGER #3 mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBedrock Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 I think #6 is supposed to be the scarcest in the run of books. #5 is the toughest. 6 is hard, but 5 is definitely the toughest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N e r V Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 ? Heritage has sold two copies of #5 in the last few months, a copy sold recently here on the boards in the sellers section and I saw two copies of #5 in San Diego this year. Superworld has a low grade for sale and I've seen at least one #5 on eBay this year. I was targeting #6 because it's the only decent copy I found in the last two years and now you tell me #5 is going to be a problem?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBedrock Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 ? Heritage has sold two copies of #5 in the last few months, a copy sold recently here on the boards in the sellers section and I saw two copies of #5 in San Diego this year. Superworld has a low grade for sale and I've seen at least one #5 on eBay this year. I was targeting #6 because it's the only decent copy I found in the last two years and now you tell me #5 is going to be a problem?? Sorry for the bad news, but in my experience #5 has always been the toughest of the run (I've completed it twice). Other than #1 and maybe #3, none of the issues are particularly easy. But #5 is especially difficult...and impossible in high grade. The nice ones are not going to be available anytime soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sqeggs Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Were all issues represented in the Vancouver collection? Two 7.5s are the highest on the census for issue 5 and one 8.0 is the highest on the census for issue 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sqeggs Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Yes, if it's a few collectors driving these results, then prices can certainly be lower the next time around since the high bidder in these auctions now has a copy. So if the third highest bidder was way down there, bidder number 2 may pick up a copy much more cheaply. Or maybe more people have begun to discover these books. If so, prices may remain elevated because they are pretty scarce. I just looked up how many copies of each are listed on the census: 1 -- 33 copies 2 -- 20 copies 3 -- 15 copies 4 -- 17 copies 5 -- 14 copies 6 -- 15 copies Given the high prices being realized lately, I would guess these census numbers will begin to expand. This was the only one (#3) that I ever saw on the newsstand. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7355/9352333932_33d6f5a345_z.jpg' alt='9352333932_33d6f5a345_z.jpg'>IMG PHANTOM STRANGER #3 mm Interesting that DC wouldn't have had good distribution on these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Yes, if it's a few collectors driving these results, then prices can certainly be lower the next time around since the high bidder in these auctions now has a copy. So if the third highest bidder was way down there, bidder number 2 may pick up a copy much more cheaply. Or maybe more people have begun to discover these books. If so, prices may remain elevated because they are pretty scarce. I just looked up how many copies of each are listed on the census: 1 -- 33 copies 2 -- 20 copies 3 -- 15 copies 4 -- 17 copies 5 -- 14 copies 6 -- 15 copies Given the high prices being realized lately, I would guess these census numbers will begin to expand. This was the only one (#3) that I ever saw on the newsstand. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7355/9352333932_33d6f5a345_z.jpg' alt='9352333932_33d6f5a345_z.jpg'>IMG PHANTOM STRANGER #3 mm I have graded copies of 2,4 & 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstrange Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Were all issues represented in the Vancouver collection? Two 7.5s are the highest on the census for issue 5 and one 8.0 is the highest on the census for issue 4. Did you mean Spokane? I don't think there are any Vancouvers. Spokane collection contained 1 - 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N e r V Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Yes, if it's a few collectors driving these results, then prices can certainly be lower the next time around since the high bidder in these auctions now has a copy. So if the third highest bidder was way down there, bidder number 2 may pick up a copy much more cheaply. Or maybe more people have begun to discover these books. If so, prices may remain elevated because they are pretty scarce. I just looked up how many copies of each are listed on the census: 1 -- 33 copies 2 -- 20 copies 3 -- 15 copies 4 -- 17 copies 5 -- 14 copies 6 -- 15 copies Given the high prices being realized lately, I would guess these census numbers will begin to expand. This was the only one (#3) that I ever saw on the newsstand. My great uncle I believe was living in the Los Angeles area when he bought issues #1 thru 5 off the newstand. I know he was unable to get a #6 until a couple months later after its release. I went by that fact along with its likely lower print run due to being the last issue and Gerber's census number along with the fact it's a popular cover too. It's his flawless original owner books that got my interest started I think there are still many more raw copies out there that haven't been to visit CGC yet. I can see why #5 would have also been likely low on its print run too being second to last and it also has that crazy green cover to give it a boost with collectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstrange Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 ? Heritage has sold two copies of #5 in the last few months, a copy sold recently here on the boards in the sellers section and I saw two copies of #5 in San Diego this year. Superworld has a low grade for sale and I've seen at least one #5 on eBay this year. I was targeting #6 because it's the only decent copy I found in the last two years and now you tell me #5 is going to be a problem?? Sorry for the bad news, but in my experience #5 has always been the toughest of the run (I've completed it twice). Other than #1 and maybe #3, none of the issues are particularly easy. But #5 is especially difficult...and impossible in high grade. The nice ones are not going to be available anytime soon. 5 is the toughest in high-ish grade in my experience as well. 6 is especially tough to get in high-ish grade and with an attractive cover and pages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sqeggs Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Were all issues represented in the Vancouver collection? Two 7.5s are the highest on the census for issue 5 and one 8.0 is the highest on the census for issue 4. Did you mean Spokane? I don't think there are any Vancouvers. Spokane collection contained 1 - 5. Right, Spokane. Do you know if they have all been graded? Obviously the Spokane copy of issue 1 is the 9.4 that went for $24K in the HA auction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstrange Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Were all issues represented in the Vancouver collection? Two 7.5s are the highest on the census for issue 5 and one 8.0 is the highest on the census for issue 4. Did you mean Spokane? I don't think there are any Vancouvers. Spokane collection contained 1 - 5. Right, Spokane. Do you know if they have all been graded? Obviously the Spokane copy of issue 1 is the 9.4 that went for $24K in the HA auction. 1 - 3 were slabbed. I think the 4 was slabbed. The 5 has not been slabbed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBedrock Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Were all issues represented in the Vancouver collection? Two 7.5s are the highest on the census for issue 5 and one 8.0 is the highest on the census for issue 4. Did you mean Spokane? I don't think there are any Vancouvers. Spokane collection contained 1 - 5. Right, Spokane. Do you know if they have all been graded? Obviously the Spokane copy of issue 1 is the 9.4 that went for $24K in the HA auction. 1 - 3 were slabbed. I think the 4 was slabbed. The 5 has not been slabbed. Who in the world could have the Spokane Phantom Stranger #5? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstrange Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Were all issues represented in the Vancouver collection? Two 7.5s are the highest on the census for issue 5 and one 8.0 is the highest on the census for issue 4. Did you mean Spokane? I don't think there are any Vancouvers. Spokane collection contained 1 - 5. Right, Spokane. Do you know if they have all been graded? Obviously the Spokane copy of issue 1 is the 9.4 that went for $24K in the HA auction. 1 - 3 were slabbed. I think the 4 was slabbed. The 5 has not been slabbed. Who in the world could have the Spokane Phantom Stranger #5? Not me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sqeggs Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Were all issues represented in the Vancouver collection? Two 7.5s are the highest on the census for issue 5 and one 8.0 is the highest on the census for issue 4. Did you mean Spokane? I don't think there are any Vancouvers. Spokane collection contained 1 - 5. Right, Spokane. Do you know if they have all been graded? Obviously the Spokane copy of issue 1 is the 9.4 that went for $24K in the HA auction. 1 - 3 were slabbed. I think the 4 was slabbed. The 5 has not been slabbed. Who in the world could have the Spokane Phantom Stranger #5? Not me I figured it couldn't be since adamstrange is not in this world ... at least not all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illustrious Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 I've bought and sold two previous copies of #1 thinking I could buy another copy down the road, but in the last two years it seems they're dried up completely. Thankfully I'm back in the club once more with this copy, and I won't be parting with it this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebel 1911 Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 I've skipped over some copies of #1 thinking also that I could get one easily enough and of course that hasn't been the case when I was actively looking for it. One of these days... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forbush-Man Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 I think #6 is supposed to be the scarcest in the run of books. #5 is the toughest. 6 is hard, but 5 is definitely the toughest. I've found 4 & 5 to be the toughest, with number 6 following. I'll have to scan my run and post them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Mann Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 This is the only one in my collection. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7355/9352333932_33d6f5a345_z.jpg' alt='9352333932_33d6f5a345_z.jpg'>IMG PHANTOM STRANGER #3 mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
