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

[Flex Mentallo]

[Hepcat]

Apparently, the guy didn't want his wife to know that he collected them....

 

Wise. I've noticed that women don't appreciate art or literature like us fellows.

 

...so had built a secret room to house them! It was only uncovered after his death.

 

So how would he have gone about building a secret room without his wife noticing the "home renovations" in progress?

 

Edited October 7, 2016 by Hepcat

[Flex Mentallo]

Truth is stranger than fiction!

 

'The Napa collection was literally “unearthed” in the Napa Valley of Northern California. It was discovered after an earthquake cracked the foundation and walls of a house revealing, to the wife of the Owner’s surprise, a massive room full of thousands of magazines placed in a hidden room with no windows. They were obtained from a local drugstore before they hit the shelves. These magazines had never been opened, read or circulated. They are mostly in near Mint condition with glossy covers that look the same as they did in the last century. The Napa Collection consists of deep runs of almost every single pin-up/sleaze magazine on the newsstands in the 50s-70s.'

[Flex Mentallo]

[Flex Mentallo]

[Flex Mentallo]

[Jayman]

 

What a great shark cover!

[Hepcat]

Truth is stranger than fiction!

 

...a massive room full of thousands of magazines placed in a hidden room with no windows. They were obtained from a local drugstore before they hit the shelves. These magazines had never been opened, read or circulated. They are mostly in near Mint condition with glossy covers that look the same as they did in the last century. The Napa Collection consists of deep runs of almost every single pin-up/sleaze magazine on the newsstands in the 50s-70s.'

 

Oh man!

 

[porcupine48]

[Robot Man]

 

Awsome! I would have died of fright seeing that...

[Robot Man]

 

[porcupine48]

[Flex Mentallo]

[Flex Mentallo]

[Flex Mentallo]

[lou_fine]

Truth is stranger than fiction!

 

'The Napa collection was literally “unearthed” in the Napa Valley of Northern California. It was discovered after an earthquake cracked the foundation and walls of a house revealing, to the wife of the Owner’s surprise, a massive room full of thousands of magazines placed in a hidden room with no windows. They were obtained from a local drugstore before they hit the shelves. These magazines had never been opened, read or circulated. They are mostly in near Mint condition with glossy covers that look the same as they did in the last century. The Napa Collection consists of deep runs of almost every single pin-up/sleaze magazine on the newsstands in the 50s-70s.'

 

Looks like they are the Edgar Church or Mile High equivalent for the Men's magazine collectors.

 

Big difference in valuation though as they seem to range in price from only $15 up to $100 for those Napa copies that are still available for sale. Definitely some pretty spicy and enticing covers there.

[Flex Mentallo]

[Flex Mentallo]

[Flex Mentallo]

[Flex Mentallo]

Truth is stranger than fiction!

 

'The Napa collection was literally “unearthed” in the Napa Valley of Northern California. It was discovered after an earthquake cracked the foundation and walls of a house revealing, to the wife of the Owner’s surprise, a massive room full of thousands of magazines placed in a hidden room with no windows. They were obtained from a local drugstore before they hit the shelves. These magazines had never been opened, read or circulated. They are mostly in near Mint condition with glossy covers that look the same as they did in the last century. The Napa Collection consists of deep runs of almost every single pin-up/sleaze magazine on the newsstands in the 50s-70s.'

 

Looks like they are the Edgar Church or Mile High equivalent for the Men's magazine collectors.

 

Big difference in valuation though as they seem to range in price from only $15 up to $100 for those Napa copies that are still available for sale. Definitely some pretty spicy and enticing covers there.

 

I suppose one could make the case given the alleged extent of the trove. From the blurb, I suspect the Napa Collection was cherry-picked long before it was more widely marketed. Perhaps that was an opportunity missed.

 

Some warehouse finds that popped up on Ebay in the '90's were of similar quality. (See below.)

 

But there is no strong collector base comparable to comics. Die hard collectors obsessively buy up multiple copies and what one sees on Ebay are typically in VG or lower grade. Hence never very much quality material in circulation at any given time, and it takes great patience to assemble runs. (I gave up long ago.)

 

The best (i.e.) most lurid covers in nice shape will command a premium but even then I've rarely seen one go past $200.

 

Original cover artwork does go for big bucks, I am led to believe.

 

Typically bonkers mad doctor trope (cover by Norm Eastman, who is perhaps the most strongly collected, along with Norman Saunders):