Questions on coverless Batman 37 0

[Jonezer]

Hello, 

      I’m new to CGC and grading comics. I’m in possession of a Batman 37. It is in decent shape, has all the pages, no rips, but.......it’s missing the cover. I’ve seen one could buy a replica cover. I think that is the direction I wish to go with it as that will help it present and display better. 
 

     How does one go about getting this kind of restoration done? Is it expensive? I understand I’ll get the purple label how will this effect the grade? Does it hurt the value? I’ve seen ones without the cover with a $200 asking price. I figured adding it will only help. 
 

   Thanks in advance any advice / info is helpful. 
 

     Jonezer

[Simon Comics]

Welcome!

 

Reproduction covers are common for coverless books, especially in the golden age community. You can simply print out a scan of the front ocver nad use it for display or pay someone to make you one by request. Batman 37 is actually quite common in coverless shape it appears. I have owned 2 copies, 1 coverless and one with a cover. This week 3 copies have been listed on ebay, 2 sold. Roughly $55 each. 

I would advise you to aquire a reproduction cover is you desrire to keep or sell the book as there really is no harm to having one. 

[LDarkseid1]

On 10/26/2020 at 6:56 PM, Jonezer said:

Hello, 

      I’m new to CGC and grading comics. I’m in possession of a Batman 37. It is in decent shape, has all the pages, no rips, but.......it’s missing the cover. I’ve seen one could buy a replica cover. I think that is the direction I wish to go with it as that will help it present and display better. 
 

     How does one go about getting this kind of restoration done? Is it expensive? I understand I’ll get the purple label how will this effect the grade? Does it hurt the value? I’ve seen ones without the cover with a $200 asking price. I figured adding it will only help. 
 

   Thanks in advance any advice / info is helpful. 
 

     Jonezer

A reproduction cover isn’t restoration, since it doesn’t alter the original element of the book in any way. Like any coverless book that has a reproduction cover added, you’ll simply get a CGC blue label NG (no grade) designation. There’s no definitive proof to show that a cover helps a book’s value or hurts it. It’s really dependent on the preference of the potential buyer(s). Some people prefer to see the interior splash page over a fake reprint cover, others like a repro cover on a coverless book to give the allure of having a complete book.

[I am not Glenda]

4 hours ago, LDarkseid1 said:

A reproduction cover isn’t restoration, since it doesn’t alter the original element of the book in any way. Like any coverless book that has a reproduction cover added, you’ll simply get a CGC blue label NG (no grade) designation. There’s no definitive proof to show that a cover helps a book’s value or hurts it. It’s really dependent on the preference of the potential buyer(s). Some people prefer to see the interior splash page over a fake reprint cover, others like a repro cover on a coverless book to give the allure of having a complete book.

I have struggled with this question for years with my Tex 27, I go back and forth & think it would be cool to have a complete Tec 27 NG blue with a repro cover but really the big problem is I don't want to send the book back out too CGC as the stress might do me in lol.

[LDarkseid1]

4 hours ago, I am not Glenda said:

I have struggled with this question for years with my Tex 27, I go back and forth & think it would be cool to have a complete Tec 27 NG blue with a repro cover but really the big problem is I don't want to send the book back out too CGC as the stress might do me in lol.

See I would never do that on a book of that magnitude. I definitely feel hiding that Batman splash page with a fake repro cover would likely devalue the book if ever sold. I guess I should have elaborated on that point in my first comment and my feelings there lol. On some general book from any era like a Batman 37, matters less imop. On mega grails though it’s a mistake. I think if you asked almost any collector who’s about to drop potentially over a hundred thousand dollars on an Action 1 or Tec 27, and say $10K-$30K on a Superman 1, Batman 1, Cap 1 or Marvel Comics 1, they would any day prefer to see those beautiful splash pages than a fake repro cover. Just my .02, possible others might disagree.

Edited October 29, 2020 by LDarkseid1

[I am not Glenda]

28 minutes ago, LDarkseid1 said:

See I would never do that on a book of that magnitude. I definitely feel hiding that Batman splash page with a fake repro cover would likely devalue the book if ever sold. I guess I should have elaborated on that point in my first comment and my feelings there lol. On some general book from any era like a Batman 37, matters less imop. On mega grails though it’s a mistake. I think if you asked almost any collector who’s about to drop potentially over a hundred thousand dollars on an Action 1 or Tec 27, and say $10K-$30K on a Superman 1, Batman 1, Cap 1 or Marvel Comics 1, they would any day prefer to see those beautiful splash pages than a fake repro cover. Just my .02, possible others might disagree.

Yea Iv went both ways a 100 times, I don't know if it impacts the value either way and I lean more towards its a personal preference depending on the collector. 

[LDarkseid1]

32 minutes ago, I am not Glenda said:

Yea Iv went both ways a 100 times, I don't know if it impacts the value either way and I lean more towards its a personal preference depending on the collector. 

I’m nearly 100% positive it affected the value of a coverless complete Superman 1 I sold a year or two ago. My copy went for $12K and had a repro cover on it. A copy without the repro cover sold not long after for around $23K.

Edited October 29, 2020 by LDarkseid1

[Professor K]

Curious. When people put a photocopy cover on a coverless book do they actually attach it with staples or just put it around the book unattached? I would probably do the latter as to not affect the condition of the book as is. I would leave it coverless if getting it slabbed.

 

Edited October 29, 2020 by Professor Chaos

[LDarkseid1]

2 hours ago, Professor Chaos said:

Curious. When people put a photocopy cover on a coverless book do they actually attach it with staples or just put it around the book unattached? I would probably do the latter as to not affect the condition of the book as is. I would leave it coverless if getting it slabbed.

 

They do both. I’ve bought them both ways.

[Professor K]

13 hours ago, LDarkseid1 said:

I’m nearly 100% positive it affected the value of a coverless complete Superman 1 I sold a year or two ago. My copy went for $12K and had a repro cover on it. A copy without the repro cover sold not long after for around $23K.

That's very interesting. Huge price difference. Pretty sure the majority get real turned off by repro covers. Gives the impression that the book was compromised and ruined.

[circumstances]

.

Edited October 31, 2020 by circumstances

[zen514]

On 10/29/2020 at 9:55 AM, LDarkseid1 said:

See I would never do that on a book of that magnitude. I definitely feel hiding that Batman splash page with a fake repro cover would likely devalue the book if ever sold. I guess I should have elaborated on that point in my first comment and my feelings there lol. On some general book from any era like a Batman 37, matters less imop. On mega grails though it’s a mistake. I think if you asked almost any collector who’s about to drop potentially over a hundred thousand dollars on an Action 1 or Tec 27, and say $10K-$30K on a Superman 1, Batman 1, Cap 1 or Marvel Comics 1, they would any day prefer to see those beautiful splash pages than a fake repro cover. Just my .02, possible others might disagree.

Splash all the way!