Have you ever found anything good at an antique store? 1 1

[Bo_Hogg1]

I found out about an antique store that had a lot of comics so I got excited. It was a semi long drive but I came with 500 in cash ready to get some gems. What I found was a joke! They had a lot of comics alright, a lot of 70's and 80' garbarge. And the owner had the nerve to have dollar books locked in a glass case. She had Dazzler #1 in vg condition locked in the case. This was WTF moment. So I asked the owner if she had any comics from the 30's, 40's,50's and she walked me right back to the glass cases and told me how old these books are. I was like ma'am you can tell how old they are by the cover price. I told her that 25 cents and 30 cents is not old enough. So she quickly pointed to a 12 cent Showcase comic in the glass case. So I told her I am basically looking for 10 cent comics which she had none. She said, wow! I learn something everyday. She had hundreds of comics. Alll she had to do is buy an Overstreet. That was such a waste of gas to go over there.

So I want to know have you guys ever found anything good at these hole in the wall antique shops? Should I keep searching in places like this?

[comicjack]

If you didn't go and missed something great that would be the sad thing.The problem with those trips more often you don't find anything good,but that one time makes it all worth it.I came across a Fantastic Four 2 in very fine condition

for ten cents not to many years back sold it like a fool.That is the stuff we all have to live with,that should have could have part of our addiction 

[Pat Calhoun]

[Robot Man]

2 hours ago, Pat Calhoun said:

OK, I give. What is it Pat?  Looks very old and beautiful.

[Robot Man]

Antique stores, or malls, are usually pretty dead now. Ebay killed them as well as flea markets to a lessor degree. Out here, they are mostly filled with "shabby chic", dishes, cartoon glasses, modern toys and "limited edition collectibles". When you do run into comics they are usually a well thumbed pile of moderns.

As you probably know, I "do" lots more than just comics though. I have gotton lucky many times but it is few and far between these days.

As luck would have it, I did pick this up a few days ago on my lunch hour at a small shop near work for $2. The only comic book she had. So, it is still possible...

[Robot Man]

Since you are comic book folks, I won't bore you with my non-comic book finds though.

I have found my share of comics in the past but this is probably my favorite find.

Several years ago on my wife and I's yearly trip to the May Brimfield MA antique show, we landed in Philidelphia, rented a mini van and drove from PA to MA on the "back roads". We hit antique stores, flea markets and "barn sales" along the way.

A favorite stop for us is Addamstown, PA. This is almost an entire town full of antique shows and flea markets on the weekends. I imagine, some of you east coasters know of it and are lucky enough to pick there on a regular basis.

We were in a small antique store that specializes in old toys, dolls and my wife's favorite, super early teddy bears. She was working the lady on some stuff while I drooled over the beautiful, but expensive vintage toys. Her husband asked me what I collected and I said comic books. He scratched his head and smiled. From under the counter, out of sight he pulled this out. Told me it was the first Mickey Mouse comic and said he wanted $50. for it. I checked it out and handed him the money. My wife spent a whole lot more money there that day but I guarantee I was the one who went away the happiest!

But, it gets better, LOTS better...

[Robot Man]

Same day,we hit another co-op store. It was primarily full of old lamps, furnature, and general antiques. Pretty boring, I was ready to go back to the car to check out my new prize when I spotted a large table piled high with books, magazines and such. Right away I spotted a couple dead mint big little books. Donald Duck and Buck Rogers. I asked the seller how much they were. "$10. each from a house clean out the other day" he replied. There was a lot of stuff but I started sifting and digging. The only other piece that I was interested in was a beautiful 1942 Capt. Midnight Decoder Manual. Halfway through the last pile I pulled out this: (Now we're getting somewhere)

[Robot Man]

A couple of pieces down, I found this. Being a Timely guy, my eyes were popping! Into my short pile it went.

[Robot Man]

Then I saw this! Sadly only one number away... I have to admit, my knees were a little weak. I asked him again $10.each? "Everything on the table is $10. each son" he replied. And that was it. I paid the man and left without looking at any other booth. And yes, I kept all 3 in my personal stash ever since. I got some other stuff that day, but can't for the life of me remember what it was...

[Pat Calhoun]

most of the vintage Mexican Silver and Stone Maskettes hail from 1940s-1960s. 2"-4" pendants and brooches; I picked those two as they were found at local shops I like. Here's a couple off ebay...

[telerites]

I've not had good luck at antique stores.  Most comics I see are low grade drek, rarely GA, and way over-priced.  But still fun to look around.

[batman_fan]

I got NM/M copies of Classics Illustrated 13, 20, 31, and 78 from an Antique Store in Versailles, IN back in 1976 for $2 total.

[gadzukes]

Never any good comics (they're usually overpriced too).  I did find a box of 20 Oz books once including a 1st edition of "Wizard of Oz".  I asked how much for the books in the box and the guy said $20 a book.  I gave him $400 and bought every book.

[Montezuma]

Antique Malls have been good to me over the years, you see a lot of overpriced drek, but every so often there's a find that makes it worth the time. There's a shop I stop at in Kansas once a year that has all the comics in a box at the back for either $5 or $10. There are the usual gold key bugs bunnies for $10, but every time I dig through there are a few surprises. These two came out of that box, not high grade, but well worth $10.

[pemart1966]

Only over priced ?

  The owners gets ahold of the OPG and then price everything at "MINT" regardless of condition.

Edited February 27, 2018 by pemart1966

[BB-Gun]

I have purchased a lot of items from antique stores but only a few that were worth keeping.  Most of the time the comics are overpriced.  If they were a bargain, they would be gone.  I paid less than guide for this Sensation 3.

 

 

 

[BB-Gun]

I purchased a Human Torch 3 and Action 28 from a guy in an antique mall but sold them.  He sold me Marvel Mystery 26 when I visited him in Baltimore.  I still have that one.

I purchased a copy of Marvel Mystery 21 from Ernest Toth when I visited his house.  You couldn't walk around inside of his home because it was filled with stacks of books, magazines and comics.  He also had 3 garages full.

Edited February 26, 2018 by BB-Gun

[BB-Gun]

I purchased a bunch of Batman Comics and some Marvel Mystery comics from a guy at the Yellow Garage Antique Store in Mullica Hill, NJ.

[BB-Gun]

None of the books that I mentioned were cheap but usually 50% off guide if fairly graded.

I also picked up a Centaur Western when searching antique stores in San Francisco.  I was there for fun and it was an adventure searching around Frisco but parking on a hill was scary.

Edited February 26, 2018 by BB-Gun

[PovertyRow]

At an antique coop in New Hampshire I found a Detective 16 in very nice shape for $60.  At a different NH venue I found a Classics #3 (first print) for $12. That's about it from years of looking.