Official TMNT Speculation Thread 14 14

[BDubs]

I recently obtained a TMNT #3 Variant and went down a rabbit hole filled with some great information.  I was also shocked by the GoCollect Fair Market Value listing for this very hard to find variant. 


See below.  

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 Variant Cover "Laird's Photo" - Credit @AutomaticComics

50,000 copies of #3
300 copies of #3 Variant NOT 500!
New York City Comic Con - Incorrect - There was NOT a NYCC at the time,  as it was Creation Con. 

Lawrence Klein - "The #1 TMNT Fan! ~ Kevin Eastman"  Mr. Klein wrote a letter, published in issue #3. Kevin Eastman wrote a letter in return with three copies of the #3 variant to Mr. Klein where he states he pushed for 300 copies for the New Hampshire Comic 

"Hey got a surprise and special gift.  As you noticed there are three books enclosed, three copies of #3. Hooray! Why are these special? Because we pushed the printer into giving of  300 books early so we could have some to take to the New Hampshire Convention.  I mean we won't even be shipping these books for another  three weeks. I want you to get these to you as soon as possible.  Anything for our #1 fan. Take care Larry, I hope you enjoy the books and I would  like to hear what you think of them. Best Wishes, Kevin Eastman

Summary 
300 total copies NOT 500
Printed for the New Hampshire Convention NOT NYCC

 

 

Edited June 11, 2022 by BDubs

[MetalPSI]

On 6/11/2022 at 7:10 AM, BDubs said:

I recently obtained a TMNT #3 Variant and went down a rabbit hole filled with some great information.  I was also shocked by the GoCollect Fair Market Value listing for this very hard to find variant. 


See below.  

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 Variant Cover "Laird's Photo" - Credit @AutomaticComics

50,000 copies of #3
300 copies of #3 Variant NOT 500!
New York City Comic Con - Incorrect - There was NOT a NYCC at the time,  as it was Creation Con. 

Lawrence Klein - "The #1 TMNT Fan! ~ Kevin Eastman"  Mr. Klein wrote a letter, published in issue #3. Kevin Eastman wrote a letter in return with three copies of the #3 variant to Mr. Klein where he states he pushed for 300 copies for the New Hampshire Comic 

"Hey got a surprise and special gift.  As you noticed there are three books enclosed, three copies of #3. Hooray! Why are these special? Because we pushed the printer into giving of  300 books early so we could have some to take to the New Hampshire Convention.  I mean we won't even be shipping these books for another  three weeks. I want you to get these to you as soon as possible.  Anything for our #1 fan. Take care Larry, I hope you enjoy the books and I would  like to hear what you think of them. Best Wishes, Kevin Eastman

Summary 
300 total copies NOT 500
Printed for the New Hampshire Convention NOT NYCC

 

 

I was under the impression that this book was the first print, and not a "variant"

Reading the second print, the printer lost 10k copies of the first first print which is why they switched printers

[jaybuck43]

On 6/11/2022 at 9:10 AM, BDubs said:

I recently obtained a TMNT #3 Variant and went down a rabbit hole filled with some great information.  I was also shocked by the GoCollect Fair Market Value listing for this very hard to find variant. 


See below.  

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 Variant Cover "Laird's Photo" - Credit @AutomaticComics

50,000 copies of #3
300 copies of #3 Variant NOT 500!
New York City Comic Con - Incorrect - There was NOT a NYCC at the time,  as it was Creation Con. 

Lawrence Klein - "The #1 TMNT Fan! ~ Kevin Eastman"  Mr. Klein wrote a letter, published in issue #3. Kevin Eastman wrote a letter in return with three copies of the #3 variant to Mr. Klein where he states he pushed for 300 copies for the New Hampshire Comic 

"Hey got a surprise and special gift.  As you noticed there are three books enclosed, three copies of #3. Hooray! Why are these special? Because we pushed the printer into giving of  300 books early so we could have some to take to the New Hampshire Convention.  I mean we won't even be shipping these books for another  three weeks. I want you to get these to you as soon as possible.  Anything for our #1 fan. Take care Larry, I hope you enjoy the books and I would  like to hear what you think of them. Best Wishes, Kevin Eastman

Summary 
300 total copies NOT 500
Printed for the New Hampshire Convention NOT NYCC

 

 

Where did you get this story from? It’s neither a first or second printing, it’s an error variant cover. The interior of the books were all printed at once. They then ran off 500 covers to bring with them at nycc which was held in the Roosevelt hotel back then, in March of 1985. The covers weren’t checked and the plates weren’t right so lairds photo shows up as white in some places and blue on others. It’s supposed to be a uniform light blue. 
 

It wasn’t the reed pop convention you know today, comic convention traveled all around and was held in the Roosevelt hotel each year in NY (the also had shows in Albany). back then (I remember my uncle taking me as a kid in the early 90s late 80s) it used to be a very famous hotel, located next to grand central. I remember Kevin smith telling the story of him and Jay taking the bus into the city to go to the Roosevelt and getting mugged. Ah the city before Times Square was cleaned up…. Or today apparently  

[BDubs]

On 6/11/2022 at 6:57 PM, jaybuck43 said:

Where did you get this story from? It’s neither a first or second printing, it’s an error variant cover. The interior of the books were all printed at once. They then ran off 500 covers to bring with them at nycc which was held in the Roosevelt hotel back then, in March of 1985. The covers weren’t checked and the plates weren’t right so lairds photo shows up as white in some places and blue on others. It’s supposed to be a uniform light blue. 
 

It wasn’t the reed pop convention you know today, comic convention traveled all around and was held in the Roosevelt hotel each year in NY (the also had shows in Albany). back then (I remember my uncle taking me as a kid in the early 90s late 80s) it used to be a very famous hotel, located next to grand central. I remember Kevin smith telling the story of him and Jay taking the bus into the city to go to the Roosevelt and getting mugged. Ah the city before Times Square was cleaned up…. Or today apparently  

I put credits in the beginning but here's the link to the YouTube video. Thanks for the information.  I'm going to continue to see if I can get in touch with Mr Klein and see if he would share the letter in pdf for the group.  
 

 

[sorrenmj]

On 6/11/2022 at 2:10 PM, BDubs said:

I recently obtained a TMNT #3 Variant and went down a rabbit hole filled with some great information.  I was also shocked by the GoCollect Fair Market Value listing for this very hard to find variant. 


See below.  

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 Variant Cover "Laird's Photo" - Credit @AutomaticComics

50,000 copies of #3
300 copies of #3 Variant NOT 500!
New York City Comic Con - Incorrect - There was NOT a NYCC at the time,  as it was Creation Con. 

Lawrence Klein - "The #1 TMNT Fan! ~ Kevin Eastman"  Mr. Klein wrote a letter, published in issue #3. Kevin Eastman wrote a letter in return with three copies of the #3 variant to Mr. Klein where he states he pushed for 300 copies for the New Hampshire Comic 

"Hey got a surprise and special gift.  As you noticed there are three books enclosed, three copies of #3. Hooray! Why are these special? Because we pushed the printer into giving of  300 books early so we could have some to take to the New Hampshire Convention.  I mean we won't even be shipping these books for another  three weeks. I want you to get these to you as soon as possible.  Anything for our #1 fan. Take care Larry, I hope you enjoy the books and I would  like to hear what you think of them. Best Wishes, Kevin Eastman

Summary 
300 total copies NOT 500
Printed for the New Hampshire Convention NOT NYCC

 

 

Simply awesome thanks for sharing @BDubs. Congrats on adding this grail to your collection!

[BDubs]

On 6/12/2022 at 8:10 AM, sorrenmj said:

Simply awesome thanks for sharing @BDubs. Congrats on adding this grail to your collection!

Thank you!  Its been a really fun journey to say the least!

[jaybuck43]

On 6/11/2022 at 8:57 PM, BDubs said:

I put credits in the beginning but here's the link to the YouTube video. Thanks for the information.  I'm going to continue to see if I can get in touch with Mr Klein and see if he would share the letter in pdf for the group.  
 

 

Thanks @BDubs.  I messaged Fiona to get Kevins side on this.  

[Ozonetv]

Very cool to hear theres 300, not 500 copies of the variant...I'll have to get these graded soon.

[BDubs]

On 6/13/2022 at 2:02 PM, jaybuck43 said:

Thanks @BDubs.  I messaged Fiona to get Kevins side on this.  

Awesome!  End of day, it's fun to "speculate" especially on something so cool as the OG TMNT runs in the early days. Would be neat to get the real story from K. E.!  Thanks JB!

[sorrenmj]

On 6/13/2022 at 8:02 PM, jaybuck43 said:

Thanks @BDubs.  I messaged Fiona to get Kevins side on this.  

Please feedback anything you find out, thanks!

[BDubs]

No response on previous information above. 

I recently sold the following books I had pressed and graded at auction/Buy It Now on Ebay to recoup some $$$ building out my quest in volume 1.  Avid buyer, first time seller.  Overall pleased with the process however Ebay DOES eat into profits considerably.

Here were the results:

Purchased entire vol.1 set + extras on September. 21, 2021 for $3,450 of which had the following four comics graded and press for around $750 (WALKTHRU) if memory serves correctly.  (Included in the walkthru: raph #1 cgc 8.0 and figitoid #1 9.2? which I haven't tried to sell.)

TMNT #1 3rd print 9.6 - Sold $2012.00 yesterday
TMNT #2 1st print 9.8 - Sold $2000.00 Aug 4
TMNT #3 1st print 9.6 - Sold $500.00 July 14th 
TMNT #4 1st print 9.8 - Sold $700 July 30th

Total costs - $4200.00 (including initial purchase of #5-62 but excluding their pending pressing and grading (incl. all the various vol.1 prints 2-62 + minis leo, raph, don, mich, fugitoid, keys)

Four books sold total $5012.00 giving a profit on roughly $1,200 with 80 books still at CGC.

Any advice on best selling practices would be appreciated.  

InSummary: Current state of the market (Ebay specific) using Auction and Buy it Now.

 

Edited August 9, 2022 by BDubs

[The Comics Trip]

On 6/13/2022 at 5:24 PM, Ozonetv said:

Very cool to hear theres 300, not 500 copies of the variant...I'll have to get these graded soon.

It's a great feeling to have them graded!

[BDubs]

 

On 8/11/2022 at 2:42 PM, The Comics Trip said:

It's a great feeling to have them graded!

Not sure I'm more impressed with the grades or the speed at which you received them!  Absolutely amazing!  How'd the 2 #3 Laird Variants grade?  I'm currently holding a 9.6 looking for a 9.8 

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by BDubs

[MAR1979]

All I know is every 1980's Mirage Turtles book I had graded last year now sells for nearly 1/2 what they did in April-May 2022 time frame.

Admittedly stuff I submitted was not the cream of the crop. With them sinking like a stone sure glad I don't sell comics.

1 -  3rd 9.6w, 4th 9.6w

5,6,7 CGC 9.8w

Donatello 1 CCC 9.8w

All were my original when new LCS purchases.  Only sent in for nostalgia's sake and #5 is my favorite Turtles cover

 

 

Edited August 12, 2022 by MAR1979

[ADAMANTIUM]

On 8/11/2022 at 6:09 PM, MAR1979 said:

All I know is every 1980's Mirage Turtles book I had graded last year now sells for nearly 1/2 what they did in April-May 2022 time frame.

Admittedly stuff I submitted was not the cream of the crop. With them sinking like a stone sure I don't sell comics.

1 -  3rd 9.6w, 4th 9.6w

5,6,7 CGC 9.8w

Donatello 1 CCC 9.8w

All were my original when new LCS purchases.  Only sent in for nostalgia's sake and #5 is my favorite Turtles cover

 

 

That's nothing to sneeze at

 

[The Comics Trip]

On 8/11/2022 at 4:16 PM, BDubs said:

 

Not sure I'm more impressed with the grades or the speed at which you received them!  Absolutely amazing!  How'd the 2 #3 Laird Variants grade?  I'm currently holding a 9.6 looking for a 9.8 

 

The Grades ARE impressive. So is the Walk Through shipping and insurance cost from the #1!

I my #3s are all standard all blue Laird signs....they are on a slow boat at CGC now.

[The Comics Trip]

Just got some comic sized Turtles back!

HUGE shout out to Punch Comics and Pressing in Dartmouth MA for Press & Clean and the flawless service and ship to CGC!

<<Open to trades for the 9.6 (FMV ~150) for other CGC Turtles #6 and up>>

 

[BDubs]

On 8/16/2022 at 10:01 AM, The Comics Trip said:

Just got some comic sized Turtles back!

HUGE shout out to Punch Comics and Pressing in Dartmouth MA for Press & Clean and the flawless service and ship to CGC!

<<Open to trades for the 9.6 (FMV ~150) for other CGC Turtles #6 and up>>

 

Ok, looks like they have a new customer incoming.  Do you have a link for pressing and submittal services?  I have a few TMNT #1 3rd prints and teens I need pressing and submitted!

[Hulksdaddy1]

What do we all think about this?

https://collectorscomics.com/#/auctionlisting/d5d63ed4-d48c-47de-b5ef-60592b578266

Super strong price, makes me question its legitimacy 

[Ryan.]

On 8/18/2022 at 11:55 PM, Hulksdaddy1 said:

What do we all think about this?

https://collectorscomics.com/#/auctionlisting/d5d63ed4-d48c-47de-b5ef-60592b578266

Super strong price, makes me question its legitimacy 

I'm not sure. That's Mark Wilson's kid and he runs those auctions completely fee free but he's also selling his own books in the auctions so shilling would be easy. I was considering sending a book in as a try out for the next auction but the seller portal is horrible.