Popular Post Duffman_Comics Posted December 1, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 1, 2020 Interesting topic. Here's a ramble. I sold almost everything, once, for the stupidest reason. Late 1973 I had just picked up Amazing Spider-Man #121. I had been collecting for at least five years and had built a solid collection of mainly Marvels. Amazing Fantasy #15, Tales of Suspense #39 up, Amazing Spider-Man #1-121 (of course), Hulk #1-6, Fantastic Four #1-130, Journey into Mystery #83 – 120, Avengers #1-100, anyway, I am sure you get the picture. Read ASM #121 and was so pissed off with Gerry Conway killing Gwen Stacy I sold the lot. Well, not all of them but all the keys went. Some nice stuff was left over so I just hung on to it. The smart thing I did after the stupid thing was to roll all the money gained into D.C.’s, especially Batman and Detective. These were very hard to find in these parts as they were not distributed until the late seventies. As the years rolled by I was able to re-acquire most of the books I had sold. The AF15 still hurts, but my DC mass is solid. Stopped buying new comics late 1991, but I will buy a “modern”, if recommended, as a back issue. Fast forward to November 2019. Bushfires got to my back fence (I am on acreage) and I had packed a “bug out” bag and shoved the dogs and a few things in the car but no comics. There are 16,000 of them. Which lives and which dies? That’s when I thought for the first time “do I really need all this (combustible) stuff”. Fast forward again to January 2020. My father dies (94 in a War Veterans Home) and the three “kids” (we are all in our sixties) have to sort out the estate and especially clear out the house – Mum passed in 2000. Covid19 means none of the charity trucks are running. Our little band with a couple of helpers and trucks had to clear it all out and take most of the furniture to the dump. None of us wanted to do that but we did not have room in our own houses to either use or store it. Oh, smaller stuff was salvaged, but my eyes were really opened to what happens when we are no longer there. Absent Covid19 it’s not pretty but throw that into the mix and, well, it is a force multiplier. I am still buying comics (and coins, trading cards, action figures) but I have really slowed down a lot and despite the fact I am OK financially, I really question the wisdom of putting big bucks into funny books. Why the long post? I am on the precipice. Take the opportunity, whilst relatively fit and well, to do a controlled disbursement of the collection or trust my heir (no kids, just the missus) to do the prudent thing. I don’t know. As I said to AJD just after the fires “talk me down from the ledge”. I guess wanting to be talked down just means I am not ready to let go yet – but that was 11/2019. Old_Man_Adam, Hollywood1892, troydivision1 and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Aldred Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 (edited) For me, it’s the first time during the pandemic that two people I know have contracted Covid, this last week. Luckily, milder symptoms. Hardly surprising that there are so many introspective posts at a time when the future is quite so uncertain. I appreciate what’s being said here, anyway. Edited December 1, 2020 by Ken Aldred HighVoltage, John R, Larryw7 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmtg9 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 I have just listed 40% of my collection on ebay. My wife's aunty died of Covid last month. It took them days to clear her place and most of it went in the bin. It did make me think what would happen when I go. Who would be interested in Red Sonja 7 in VG? I'm going to keep the major titles and runs and focus on them. I haven't lost interest but I do need to focus. Those 16 boxes of dreck were just going to sit in the attic anyway. They're just things, things with little relative value. I sold mine and my dad's original owner collection back in 95 for a pittance and regret it still but this time I feel its a positive thing to do. When they do sell I will buy a key that will mean something more to me and be of more use to the kids if I do disappear. HighVoltage, Ken Aldred, jimjum12 and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kav Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 4 hours ago, ADAMANTIUM said: So I took my kicking and kept on ticking so to speak..... You can take your kicking if you want!! ADAMANTIUM 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Max Carnage Posted December 1, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 1, 2020 4 hours ago, Ken Aldred said: For me, it’s the first time during the pandemic that two people I know have contracted Covid, this last week. Luckily, milder symptoms. Hardly surprising that there are so many introspective posts at a time when the future is quite so uncertain. I appreciate what’s being said here, anyway. Me and the wife had it back in March - again mild symptoms but I was having breathing issues up to June. Feeling better now. John R, davidtere, toro and 5 others 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StreetPreacher Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 On 11/28/2020 at 12:15 PM, followtheleader said: Totally with you brother. Really down to me just listing as I have pics and a decent list. Toys are really the only fun in the last couple years for me. Patrick And good time to do it. the 40 somethings that are currently spiking the market will be dead soon too, and most kids today don't seem to have much interest in comic books, so there might be a precipitous drop in comic book value coming as this generation dies off... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Aldred Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 5 hours ago, nmtg9 said: I have just listed 40% of my collection on ebay. My wife's aunty died of Covid last month. It took them days to clear her place and most of it went in the bin. It did make me think what would happen when I go. Who would be interested in Red Sonja 7 in VG? I'm going to keep the major titles and runs and focus on them. I haven't lost interest but I do need to focus. Those 16 boxes of dreck were just going to sit in the attic anyway. They're just things, things with little relative value. I sold mine and my dad's original owner collection back in 95 for a pittance and regret it still but this time I feel its a positive thing to do. When they do sell I will buy a key that will mean something more to me and be of more use to the kids if I do disappear. Sorry to hear about your loss. I hope the Mrs is keeping well, as from our PMs, I know she’s in a vulnerable group. I always keep in mind your experience with the dealer involved in the OO collection you mentioned here, as it’s a nightmare to think that my relatives might sell off my four figure keys to someone like him for 50 quid, depriving, say, my preferred medical and animal protection charities of much-needed funding. For the current thread, he’s my benchmark for the negative; been thinking exactly the same. Stay safe. nmtg9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Aldred Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 2 hours ago, Max Carnage said: Me and the wife had it back in March - again mild symptoms but I was having breathing issues up to June. Feeling better now. Very glad to hear it. Max Carnage 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theCapraAegagrus Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 On 11/28/2020 at 12:10 PM, shadroch said: I've been collecting comics since 1972 and they have been a major part of my life. I've owned two comic shops, managed a third, done countless shows and been buying and selling on the internet since the day after I got my first webtv. Two years ago, I decided to move from Las Vegas to Bisbee ,with the intention of opening a shop that would have a large comic presence. I ran into a few roadblocks and then the virus came along setting me back further. I never dreamed I would be in a position of almost no money coming in for 18 months and I also realized I no longer really want to work. It's been six years since I worked more than an occasional part time gig and the thought of opening a shop and being there fulltime simply isn't appealing anymore. Two weeks ago, I decided I would break into my " retirement vault" - my 100 books worth at least $1,000 each, and sell five of them. In 2016, circumstances forced me into the same situation and I really agonized over which two books to sell. It was like ripping a child out of my arms. This time it was different. Avengers 1 was my pride and joy, now I look at it and see $3,000. My Avengers 4- signed by Stan and Joe Simon-that one I will hold onto. Captain America Comics- I love the Schomburg covers, but I have an original painting and two lithos that are much nicer. I'm still finding a few books I have an emotional tie to- Defenders 10, Captain America 3, the Legion Adventures, Judge Dredd 1, but increasingly I look at the rest and I just see dollar bills. Even when one lives alone, sixty plus comic boxes take up a lot of space. I'm reminded of my friends Mom. Her husband worked for Con Ed and over the course of his career, managed to buy $250,000 worth of stock in the company. I'm sure he intended that to provide for his family, but when he died the mother refused to sell the stock. She insisted that her beloved husband scrimped and saved to buy them the stock and it would dishonor his memory if they were to sell them. He ended up leaving CW Post to go to a state school because they didn't have the money. My son, whom I am not close with, and my nephews, who I am close to , have zero interest in my books. If I die, they would be a burden on my nephew to sell. In my will, I leave my books to a comic industry charity. but they can have what is left over. I also have underestimated what these book are going for. A GS X-Men I bought on these boards for $300 sold for $920 even when it turned out to be restored , and another copy I bought from MCS for $410 just sold for $1400. While I don't "need" the money, those two books just allowed me to buy a nice patio set. I've thought about selling out in the past, but I'm pretty sure this time I will go thru with it. I look at my two bookcases full of Omni's , Archives and Masterpeces and realize I will most likely never get around to reading them. Time to pass them along to someone who will appreciate them. I think I will still bargain hunt when I can, but 99% of my collection no longer means much to me. Forgive my rant, I thought writing this might make me feel different but it didn't. Have you considered selling the whales, then taking a break, and that may give you some inspiration to read those collected editions? We are all susceptible to burnouts from our hobbies; Just like careers or jobs that we spend an enormous amount of time on. I hope that maybe your spark gets renewed at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE_BEYONDER Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 (edited) It gets to a point that your stuff owns you. Eventually that burden becomes overwhelming, and it’s time to let go. Consider it a blessing your stuff is worth good money right now. Edited December 1, 2020 by THE_BEYONDER drbanner, lizards2, silverseeker and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old_Man_Adam Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 3 hours ago, StreetPreacher said: the 40 somethings that are currently spiking the market will be dead soon too, Is the mortality rate in the United States 50 now or is it still 78? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old_Man_Adam Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 (edited) I’ve started moving stuff I can live without - I’m keeping marvel keys and still working on full runs , but am moving most / all of my DC - haven’t sent a book to be graded in awhile as it doesn’t feel like a necessity presently . I can’t believe how many boxes of drek I’ve acquired over time Edited December 1, 2020 by Old_Man_Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post alexgross.com Posted December 1, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 1, 2020 my mother died in 2019 after a lengthy illness. it was left to my brother and i to dispose of her 'stuff.' thankfully, she was not a hoarder, and she had known this was coming, and already gotten rid of some things, so it was not a terrible burden. but big things like furniture can really be tough to move. piano? forget about it. my collection is focused on keys and semi-keys, and i only have a few boxes of drek, so to speak. i personally don't think the idea of inheriting comics is a burden, unless you're talking about dozens of longboxes of drek. if i die tomorrow, my wife could send a few dozen of the best slabs of ours to heritage or bob storms, and for the rest, i know several dealers that would be happy to take them. i still personally love the thrill of collecting, and it doesnt hurt that my passion is also not a bad investment financially. one of my collecting buddies here has even agreed to help her with this stuff if something untimely happens. just my two cents, but i don't see liquid, valuable assets as a 'burden.' Ken Aldred, Beige, jimjum12 and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post buttock Posted December 1, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 1, 2020 7 minutes ago, www.alexgross.com said: my mother died in 2019 after a lengthy illness. it was left to my brother and i to dispose of her 'stuff.' thankfully, she was not a hoarder, and she had known this was coming, and already gotten rid of some things, so it was not a terrible burden. but big things like furniture can really be tough to move. piano? forget about it. my collection is focused on keys and semi-keys, and i only have a few boxes of drek, so to speak. i personally don't think the idea of inheriting comics is a burden, unless you're talking about dozens of longboxes of drek. if i die tomorrow, my wife could send a few dozen of the best slabs of ours to heritage or bob storms, and for the rest, i know several dealers that would be happy to take them. i still personally love the thrill of collecting, and it doesnt hurt that my passion is also not a bad investment financially. one of my collecting buddies here has even agreed to help her with this stuff if something untimely happens. just my two cents, but i don't see liquid, valuable assets as a 'burden.' I agree with this. If you can be disciplined enough to focus on a small and quality collection, it is unlikely to be a burden. I still get tremendous happiness out of collecting, but I have fewer than 1000 books -- enough to look at regularly and enjoy. If I had rooms full of longboxes that I couldn't get through and was buying impulsively/compulsively, then I wouldn't enjoy that. I only buy things that I really want, and so long as I do that I'm going to win every time. My kids have a passing interest in some of my books, but they know that they're valuable and I have explicit instructions about how to deal with the collection when I'm gone. But I'm also not leaving them piles of junk. I can't imagine a life where my hobby is a burden, so I've chosen not to make it so. AwesomeSauce, HighVoltage, Beige and 5 others 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crops068 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 On 11/28/2020 at 11:10 AM, shadroch said: I've been collecting comics since 1972 and they have been a major part of my life. I've owned two comic shops, managed a third, done countless shows and been buying and selling on the internet since the day after I got my first webtv. Two years ago, I decided to move from Las Vegas to Bisbee ,with the intention of opening a shop that would have a large comic presence. I ran into a few roadblocks and then the virus came along setting me back further. I never dreamed I would be in a position of almost no money coming in for 18 months and I also realized I no longer really want to work. It's been six years since I worked more than an occasional part time gig and the thought of opening a shop and being there fulltime simply isn't appealing anymore. Two weeks ago, I decided I would break into my " retirement vault" - my 100 books worth at least $1,000 each, and sell five of them. In 2016, circumstances forced me into the same situation and I really agonized over which two books to sell. It was like ripping a child out of my arms. This time it was different. Avengers 1 was my pride and joy, now I look at it and see $3,000. My Avengers 4- signed by Stan and Joe Simon-that one I will hold onto. Captain America Comics- I love the Schomburg covers, but I have an original painting and two lithos that are much nicer. I'm still finding a few books I have an emotional tie to- Defenders 10, Captain America 3, the Legion Adventures, Judge Dredd 1, but increasingly I look at the rest and I just see dollar bills. Even when one lives alone, sixty plus comic boxes take up a lot of space. I'm reminded of my friends Mom. Her husband worked for Con Ed and over the course of his career, managed to buy $250,000 worth of stock in the company. I'm sure he intended that to provide for his family, but when he died the mother refused to sell the stock. She insisted that her beloved husband scrimped and saved to buy them the stock and it would dishonor his memory if they were to sell them. He ended up leaving CW Post to go to a state school because they didn't have the money. My son, whom I am not close with, and my nephews, who I am close to , have zero interest in my books. If I die, they would be a burden on my nephew to sell. In my will, I leave my books to a comic industry charity. but they can have what is left over. I also have underestimated what these book are going for. A GS X-Men I bought on these boards for $300 sold for $920 even when it turned out to be restored , and another copy I bought from MCS for $410 just sold for $1400. While I don't "need" the money, those two books just allowed me to buy a nice patio set. I've thought about selling out in the past, but I'm pretty sure this time I will go thru with it. I look at my two bookcases full of Omni's , Archives and Masterpeces and realize I will most likely never get around to reading them. Time to pass them along to someone who will appreciate them. I think I will still bargain hunt when I can, but 99% of my collection no longer means much to me. Forgive my rant, I thought writing this might make me feel different but it didn't. In the end just be happy with what you have done. The rest is just water under the bridge. HighVoltage and Old_Man_Adam 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KPR Comics Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Speaking from experience, I can say that getting rid of your collection/inventory is extremely liberating. It was always about the hunt and capture. Storage, which essentially is what most collections become, wasn’t very satisfying. Moondog, HighVoltage and Ken Aldred 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HighVoltage Posted December 1, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 1, 2020 1 hour ago, www.alexgross.com said: my mother died in 2019 after a lengthy illness. it was left to my brother and i to dispose of her 'stuff.' thankfully, she was not a hoarder, and she had known this was coming, and already gotten rid of some things, so it was not a terrible burden. but big things like furniture can really be tough to move. piano? forget about it. my collection is focused on keys and semi-keys, and i only have a few boxes of drek, so to speak. i personally don't think the idea of inheriting comics is a burden, unless you're talking about dozens of longboxes of drek. if i die tomorrow, my wife could send a few dozen of the best slabs of ours to heritage or bob storms, and for the rest, i know several dealers that would be happy to take them. i still personally love the thrill of collecting, and it doesnt hurt that my passion is also not a bad investment financially. one of my collecting buddies here has even agreed to help her with this stuff if something untimely happens. just my two cents, but i don't see liquid, valuable assets as a 'burden.' Having dealt with some family passing and also moving in recent years, it was an eye-opener regarding 'stuff.' I felt strange - almost sick - in the process of dispersing some family member's belongings. Things that I knew meant so very much to them, but virtually nothing to anyone else. I do want to say there there was some joy in finding new homes for things... like my daughter really connecting with some of her great-grandmother's items. They are a touch-stone and reminder of her great-grandmother. Moving - ugh - I was mostly just amazed at all the stuff we had accumulated in being in one location for 20 years. We were always the youngest couple in all our family, so a lot of other family members would offer to hand things down when they had upgraded or changed 'stuff.' It was always an upgrade for us too, so we'd take it! We ended up having so much furniture, I couldn't believe it! Thank heavens for Habitat for Humanity! alexgross.com, silverseeker, Diana Gamache and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old_Man_Adam Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 I love the TPB’s as that’s really the only way ill “ read” issues now - even the rare new books purchase I put immediately in plastic. I’d like to cut down on random TPB’s I have and just focus on Omni’s and hardcovers . Ken Aldred and piper 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoMan Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 16 hours ago, ADAMANTIUM said: No I just thought I might have offended him by asking to be an heir.... It could be it's not a joke worthy subject for some..... So I took my kicking and kept on ticking so to speak..... I joke. It's all good. This is a comic book board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADAMANTIUM Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 2 minutes ago, NoMan said: I joke. It's all good. This is a comic book board. Cool, all good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...