Comics, Pulps, and Paperbacks: Why such a discrepancy in values? 25 25

[Black Cactus]

On 1/2/2024 at 2:13 PM, Surfing Alien said:

Some of them are pretty pedestrian art-wise (I can imagine it may have been tough to get top straight artists to paint this stuff) but I like this one. I've seen PEC line books before and they definitely have better art than most adult titles.

In this case the author Carl Corley is also the cover artist! He painted his own covers for most of the ~22 books he wrote and published.

[Surfing Alien]

In the realm of standard size pbs, I brought home some grails this year that I never thought I'd get. Books like "The Killer Inside Me" have always been top tier desireable and so have been salted away into long term collections since the 1980's. Others, like "No Virgins In Cham Ky" are so rare that you barely even see images of them on the web, although the ASE of "Frankenstein" might even be rarer than that Bonfils beauty.

I upgraded my copy of the Ace "Junkie" along with a nice D-1 and picked up an astonishingly mint set of the Ace LOTR along with the best centered 1st Print of The Hobbit i've ever seen. I already own the Ballantine file copy of The Hobbit, which is near flawless, and a very high grade set of LOTR, but I'd have a hard time choosing between these sets.

Here's a sample of some of my favorites of the years goodness...

Edited January 2 by Surfing Alien

[Black Cactus]

On 1/2/2024 at 3:40 PM, Surfing Alien said:

I've always loved the more illustrative covers of the LOTR paperbacks. Some of the other covers you shared seem pretty pedestrian art-wise, but I suppose that's not unique to any one genre.
 

[Warlord]

Had this misfiled and just found it again. The Blonde in Black!

 

[Surfing Alien]

On 1/3/2024 at 10:19 PM, Warlord said:

Had this misfiled and just found it again. The Blonde in Black!

 

Such a sweet Barye Phillips bad girl cover image. Unfortunate that it was dwarfed by the invasion of the GIANT FONTS that infected art directors' souls around this time   Not bad typography at least tho... still a cool cover

[Surfing Alien]

As a big RSG aficionado, I thought this was interesting

https://comics.ha.com/itm/books/vintage-paperbacks/reform-school-girl-nn-reprint-edition-diversey-1948-cgc-vg-35-cream-to-off-white-pages/p/40254-16001.s?ic4=OtherResults-SampleItem-071515&tab=ArchiveSearchResults-012417#40254-16001

I'm pretty sure it's the copy Dale Roberts had on his website recently that jimjum pointed out here, the rust on the staples looks the same iirc, although I did not save a scan of the book when it was for sale.

I've thought about sending my copies in for some time, just because, but have never liked the look of the giant case with the digest sized mags they slab. Seeing it now kind of reinforces that feeling. If they produced a smaller sized slab for the digests I'd be much more inclined to get a bunch of mine slabbed.

The large slabs for digests was already a known issue but what I'm really not thrilled with is the labeling and wanted to see what y'all thought.  Two things bug me, the most egregious is the prominent labeling of it as "Reprint Edition" - although this is technically correct, since it reprints an earlier hardcover edition (which was titled "House of Fury"), I think that nomer calls into question it's originality/authenticity, as if it were a later reprint of the rare digest it is (like the fairly recent "journal" with the RSG cover reprinted on it that can be found for sale around the web). I think it should be described as the First Paperback edition, since that is also technically accurate and doesn't have the negative connotation of calling it a reprint, and also leaves the door open for the small Avon "House of Fury" edition and the later Berkley HOF edition to be called the 2nd and 3rd paperback editions.

The other thing is the notation that it was "distributed with page 2 removed by the publisher", which, again is technically accurate, but how would they label copies like mine and @Robot Man's that have the letters page intact? Not sure how they would handle that other than to indicate "distributed with page 2 intact by the publisher" - although neither of those declarations makes it clear that there are two states with one even rarer than the other.

All that aside, it will be interesting to see where it ends up. The hype in the listing is hilarious and blatantly false, as you can see 5 previous copies listed in their past auction history. Still infinitely less than the dozens of sales of the later comic book that swiped the cover. I'm not a fan of the staple rust but it's pretty nice otherwise for a 3.5, the central image is clear and bright. I'm pretty sure both of mine would garner 6.0 or north thereof, likewise for Robot Man's copy, although I've only seen front cover scans of his. Anyway, it was fun to see what RSG looks like in a slab!

[Darwination]

It looks horrible.  Even with a proper fit, a slab is a horrible frame for art.  They aren't an even width around the sides like a picture frame, denote no edge, and have the tacky notes and holographs at the top.  Slabs are ugly in the first place, and it looks utterly ridiculous in this instance with all that space around the book.  And then you get the newton rings and mess, no thanks.

On the other hand, some mooks are happy to pay multiple of a book's value if it's in plastic, so I'm not gonna judge anybody for following the dollar.

It's hard to beat the way a paperback looks with the right sized bag and board even if they do seem to want to jump off the shelf in display mode sometimes.

 

Edited January 6 by Darwination

[Darwination]

[Surfing Alien]

On 1/5/2024 at 8:00 PM, Darwination said:

It looks horrible.  Even with a proper fit, a slab is a horrible frame for art.  They aren't an even width around the sides like a picture frame, denote no edge, and have the tacky notes and holographs at the top.  Slabs are ugly in the first place, and it looks utterly ridiculous in this instance with all that space around the book.  And then you get the newton rings and mess, no thanks.

On the other hand, some mooks are happy to pay multiple of a books value if it's in plastic, so I'm not gonna judge anybody for following the dollar.

It's hard to beat the way a paperback looks with the right sized bag and board even if they do seem to want to jump off the shelf in display mode sometimes.

 

Tell us how you REALLY feel!   Agree mostly but it serves its purpose at least if it fits properly!

[mrwoogieman]

On 1/2/2024 at 5:08 PM, Black Cactus said:

Oh man, there's so many gems that I laugh over. I've bought as many books because I found the cover/title hilarious, as any other reason.

Welcome to the boards and this wonderful thread! During my quick scroll through your gay-risque books, I thought the last one was called Andy Sex Will Do, at first glance!

 

[Surfing Alien]

On 1/5/2024 at 8:00 PM, Darwination said:

It's hard to beat the way a paperback looks with the right sized bag and board even if they do seem to want to jump off the shelf in display mode sometimes.

Truth here, which is why I've been gradually cutting boards for my books, this way you can lean them back to display (so they won't jump off the shelf) without worrying about bending the spine.

[Robot Man]

On 1/5/2024 at 4:39 PM, Surfing Alien said:

As a big RSG aficionado, I thought this was interesting

https://comics.ha.com/itm/books/vintage-paperbacks/reform-school-girl-nn-reprint-edition-diversey-1948-cgc-vg-35-cream-to-off-white-pages/p/40254-16001.s?ic4=OtherResults-SampleItem-071515&tab=ArchiveSearchResults-012417#40254-16001

I'm pretty sure it's the copy Dale Roberts had on his website recently that jimjum pointed out here, the rust on the staples looks the same iirc, although I did not save a scan of the book when it was for sale.

I've thought about sending my copies in for some time, just because, but have never liked the look of the giant case with the digest sized mags they slab. Seeing it now kind of reinforces that feeling. If they produced a smaller sized slab for the digests I'd be much more inclined to get a bunch of mine slabbed.

The large slabs for digests was already a known issue but what I'm really not thrilled with is the labeling and wanted to see what y'all thought.  Two things bug me, the most egregious is the prominent labeling of it as "Reprint Edition" - although this is technically correct, since it reprints an earlier hardcover edition (which was titled "House of Fury"), I think that nomer calls into question it's originality/authenticity, as if it were a later reprint of the rare digest it is (like the fairly recent "journal" with the RSG cover reprinted on it that can be found for sale around the web). I think it should be described as the First Paperback edition, since that is also technically accurate and doesn't have the negative connotation of calling it a reprint, and also leaves the door open for the small Avon "House of Fury" edition and the later Berkley HOF edition to be called the 2nd and 3rd paperback editions.

The other thing is the notation that it was "distributed with page 2 removed by the publisher", which, again is technically accurate, but how would they label copies like mine and @Robot Man's that have the letters page intact? Not sure how they would handle that other than to indicate "distributed with page 2 intact by the publisher" - although neither of those declarations makes it clear that there are two states with one even rarer than the other.

All that aside, it will be interesting to see where it ends up. The hype in the listing is hilarious and blatantly false, as you can see 5 previous copies listed in their past auction history. Still infinitely less than the dozens of sales of the later comic book that swiped the cover. I'm not a fan of the staple rust but it's pretty nice otherwise for a 3.5, the central image is clear and bright. I'm pretty sure both of mine would garner 6.0 or north thereof, likewise for Robot Man's copy, although I've only seen front cover scans of his. Anyway, it was fun to see what RSG looks like in a slab!

All good points. I wonder if you could request a comic book slab. Would present much nicer than a magazine slab. I would request “letter page intact” if I graded mine. I doubt most folks don’t get much further than the cover and probably have no idea about the significance of the letter page. Will be interesting to see what this one goes for. When does it close? Here is mine with the controversial letters page.

[jimjum12]

[Darwination]

Beauty!

[Darwination]

On 1/6/2024 at 10:48 AM, Robot Man said:

All good points. I wonder if you could request a comic book slab. Would present much nicer than a magazine slab. I would request “letter page intact” if I graded mine. I doubt most folks don’t get much further than the cover and probably have no idea about the significance of the letter page. Will be interesting to see what this one goes for. When does it close? Here is mine with the controversial letters page.

Thanks, RM, for posting the controversial page, an interesting read - I'd like to read the rest of it now.

[jimjum12]

On 1/6/2024 at 2:42 PM, Darwination said:

Thanks, RM, for posting the controversial page, an interesting read - I'd like to read the rest of it now.

RM has been the eye in the sky since the "get-go." I still remember when he found us, it was like going from the stone to iron age. When I'm gone for a minute, the first thread I check, is his 50 year effort. GOD BLESS ... 

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

[Darwination]

On 1/5/2024 at 10:08 PM, Surfing Alien said:

Truth here, which is why I've been gradually cutting boards for my books, this way you can lean them back to display (so they won't jump off the shelf) without worrying about bending the spine.

I think I'd have less problem with the occasional fall if I wasn't going for books behind all the time  

Paperbacks are a little more flighty than comics or mags.  I think if I had a ton of vintage ones, I'd have some sort of vintage and appropriate shallow shelving.   Honestly, a huge number of my paperbacks are in the attic, albeit on shelves and accessible.  It's not great for their preservation, but there's only so much shelf space, and they aren't quite as attractive as other books we keep in the public parts of the house.   I bet most stashes of paperbacks live in boxes in attics and storage units ><

I rotate display books fairly often and will end up with them stacked three and four deep sometimes.  I like to display something I've just acquired or scanned but also favorites.

I've recently started cutting some backers from a nice black matte board.  A black border is sweet for some things, and the thickness is killer for keeping larger mags or papers stiff

Edited January 6 by Darwination

[Surfing Alien]

On 1/6/2024 at 11:48 AM, Robot Man said:

All good points. I wonder if you could request a comic book slab. Would present much nicer than a magazine slab. I would request “letter page intact” if I graded mine. I doubt most folks don’t get much further than the cover and probably have no idea about the significance of the letter page. Will be interesting to see what this one goes for. When does it close? Here is mine with the controversial letters page.

 

It's in the 2024 February 8 Golden Age Comics Showcase Auction Featuring the Secret Sound Collection #40254

Your back cover looks as nice or nicer than the front

It's true most people don't get past the cover but the book itself is considered a JD/Lesbian classic. Although I know the letters page is not in the small paperback version, I never had the hardcover so don't know if they were original to the book contents without doing some digging. The letters certainly are sleazy inbred fare but I wonder why Marty Collins' father got so upset about them when he'd allowed her to pose like this at 17 in the first place (although as many have pointed out she sure doesn't look 17 here)

 

[OtherEric]

On 1/6/2024 at 4:44 PM, Surfing Alien said:

 

It's in the 2024 February 8 Golden Age Comics Showcase Auction Featuring the Secret Sound Collection #40254

Your back cover looks as nice or nicer than the front

It's true most people don't get past the cover but the book itself is considered a JD/Lesbian classic. Although I know the letters page is not in the small paperback version, I never had the hardcover so don't know if they were original to the book contents without doing some digging. The letters certainly are sleazy inbred fare but I wonder why Marty Collins' father got so upset about them when he'd allowed her to pose like this at 17 in the first place (although as many have pointed out she sure doesn't look 17 here)

 

The digest is out of my range, but the House of Fury paperback really is still quite affordable, I should get one before it goes crazy...

[Surfing Alien]

On 1/6/2024 at 7:56 PM, OtherEric said:

The digest is out of my range, but the House of Fury paperback really is still quite affordable, I should get one before it goes crazy...

An absolute classic cover in it's own right    Teen girl praying behind bars, art by Bill Randall.