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Are prices still climbing or have they eased up a bit???
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Started by InfantTerrible,

6,926 posts in this topic

KCOComics

KCOComics

Posted
Posted
On 1/27/2023 at 7:44 PM, Parabellum said:

Maybe it’s just me but the corners don’t look that sharp.  Also is that a spine tick to the left of the black arrow “He’s here….”?

If this book was posted in the spare a grade area with that bottom left corner, I wouldn't give it a 9.6. 

Agree that it looks like a spine tic, but I can only assume it isn't if it got a 9.9. 

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lou_fine

lou_fine

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Posted (edited)
On 1/27/2023 at 7:52 PM, KCOComics said:
On 1/27/2023 at 4:44 PM, Parabellum said:

Maybe it’s just me but the corners don’t look that sharp.  Also is that a spine tick to the left of the black arrow “He’s here….”?

If this book was posted in the spare a grade area with that bottom left corner, I wouldn't give it a 9.6. 

Agree that it looks like a spine tic, but I can only assume it isn't if it got a 9.9. 

Well, let's not forget that grading has certainly changed over the years from when CGC first opened their doors as compared to today.  :gossip:

Especially since CGC's grading at the beginning was much more in line with the old school grading before Heritage arrived on the scene and before they got a chance to "fine tune" their grading standards to target specific defects.  Compared it to nowadays and particularly with the current grading regime where it's all about the "additional revenue generating defects" and moving them to the top of their hit parade charts whereby everybody involved can make more money if they play by the rules of the game.  hm

Interesting to note that not only is this CGC 9.9 graded copy of Hulk 181 certified in the first year or so of CGC's existence, but that the highest graded copy of every single one of the Marvel SA first appearance issues (save for two of them) were also all graded during this same time period.  So, within the past 20+ years of certification, we have yet to see another copy for any of these books (save for the two of them which I can't remember) surpass the graded condition level of those initial highest graded copies.  Rather surprising considering the length of time (i.e. decades) involved and the number of copies graded for these issues during the past 20+ years.  :whatthe:

So, from your comments here, it would appear that both of you are looking at either a 2000 or early 2001 graded copy of Hulk 181 through eyes that are probably more attuned to 2023 grading standards.  (shrug)

Edited by lou_fine
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WNY

WNY

Posted
Posted
On 1/27/2023 at 1:32 PM, g-man said:

RAD176E720101223_12568 (1).jpg

My biggest issue with this is actually the transparency of the cover (when you see the printing on the inside cover). It doesn’t seem to affect the grade but the experts can chime in. I do not have a good sense of what books will be graded, etc. 

I have owned a few books with bad transparency. X1 is notorious for it. But people don’t seem to care and I don’t get that. If you have one of these books in front of you, it’s hard to appreciate the book when the see-through of the inside cover advertising is so visible and prominent. 
 

Just curious about other people’s views on that… 

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Tec-Tac-Toe

Tec-Tac-Toe

Posted
Posted
On 1/27/2023 at 7:44 PM, Parabellum said:

Maybe it’s just me but the corners don’t look that sharp.  Also is that a spine tick to the left of the black arrow “He’s here….”?

It looks like an "11.0, Mint Plus Plus" to me. :wink:

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lizards2

lizards2

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On 1/28/2023 at 5:46 AM, WNY said:

My biggest issue with this is actually the transparency of the cover (when you see the printing on the inside cover). It doesn’t seem to affect the grade but the experts can chime in. I do not have a good sense of what books will be graded, etc. 

I have owned a few books with bad transparency. X1 is notorious for it. But people don’t seem to care and I don’t get that. If you have one of these books in front of you, it’s hard to appreciate the book when the see-through of the inside cover advertising is so visible and prominent. 
 

Just curious about other people’s views on that… 

The transparency is caused by the microchamber paper.

I was schooled on this when I first got to this site and complained about it.

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WNY

WNY

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On 1/28/2023 at 10:09 AM, lizards2 said:

The transparency is caused by the microchamber paper.

I was schooled on this when I first got to this site and complained about it.

Agree - but they all have microchamber paper and some are way more transparent than others. Feels like the original paper was thinner or that it has been worn down somehow over the years. But it takes away a lot of eye appeal for me when there is meaningful transparency. 

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lizards2

lizards2

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Posted (edited)
On 1/28/2023 at 7:15 AM, WNY said:
On 1/28/2023 at 7:09 AM, lizards2 said:

The transparency is caused by the microchamber paper.

I was schooled on this when I first got to this site and complained about it.

Agree - but they all have microchamber paper and some are way more transparent than others. Feels like the original paper was thinner or that it has been worn down somehow over the years. But it takes away a lot of eye appeal for me when there is meaningful transparency. 

No, no they don't all have microchamber placed between the cover and the interior pages. I have cracked out over 400+ books, and the microchamber can be one, two or zero pages per book. CGC began placing microchamber back a couple pages inside the books, particularly DCs, because (I believe) they were popping so many staples in the encapsulation process.

You can test this out yourself by scanning one of your own books without microchamber paper, and then scanning again wtih microchamber placed between the cover and the interior pages. 

Edited by lizards2
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WNY

WNY

Posted
Posted
On 1/28/2023 at 10:18 AM, lizards2 said:

No, no they don't all have microchamber placed between the cover and the interior pages. I have cracked out over 400+ books, and the microchamber can be one, two or zero pages per book. CGC began placing microchamber back a couple pages inside the books, particularly DCs, because (I believe) they were popping so many staples in the encapsulation process.

You can test this out yourself by scanning one of your own books without microchamber paper, and then scanning again wtih microchamber placed between the cover and the interior pages. 

Interesting. Learn something new everyday. I thought they all had microchamber paper especially all the modern label ones… I’ve never cracked a case so don’t have that perspective.
 

But their website explicitly says they put microchamber paper in all the books that they grade and is part of what they are saying is their value-add and why their encapsulation process is designed to “last for generations”.  
 

Unless they are lying, then a significant majority of new label books should have microchamber paper and therefore the transparency issue still stands, no? 

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lizards2

lizards2

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Posted
On 1/28/2023 at 9:11 AM, WNY said:

Interesting. Learn something new everyday. I thought they all had microchamber paper especially all the modern label ones… I’ve never cracked a case so don’t have that perspective.
 

But their website explicitly says they put microchamber paper in all the books that they grade and is part of what they are saying is their value-add and why their encapsulation process is designed to “last for generations”.  
 

Unless they are lying, then a significant majority of new label books should have microchamber paper and therefore the transparency issue still stands, no? 

I am not sure they are lying so much as they have not updated their website?

If I remember correctly, the old ones all had microchamber between the covers and the interior pages. As you get into the newer cases, that is where you find the variation. I have definitely cracked several with no microchamber paper at all.

I kind of notice that stuff, because most of my normal-sized books that I put into M2s and Fullbacks, I put three pieces of microchamber paper in, usually one between each cover front and back, then one in the center. The 64 page giants, or any stinky book, I will put 5 to 7 or maybe more in. I thought the microchamber paper might draw out some of the stink, but so far, I haven't noticed any mitigation. 

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Sweet Lou 14

Sweet Lou 14

Posted
Posted
On 1/27/2023 at 10:52 PM, KCOComics said:

If this book was posted in the spare a grade area with that bottom left corner, I wouldn't give it a 9.6. 

Agree that it looks like a spine tic, but I can only assume it isn't if it got a 9.9. 

I've been buying lots of 9.6s and the truth is, most of them have at least one corner with imperfections like what you see there.  Sometimes it's clear that there's a bend or fold that likely happened during / post encapsulation, but only sometimes.

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WNY

WNY

Posted
Posted
On 1/28/2023 at 12:27 PM, lizards2 said:

I am not sure they are lying so much as they have not updated their website?

If I remember correctly, the old ones all had microchamber between the covers and the interior pages. As you get into the newer cases, that is where you find the variation. I have definitely cracked several with no microchamber paper at all.

I kind of notice that stuff, because most of my normal-sized books that I put into M2s and Fullbacks, I put three pieces of microchamber paper in, usually one between each cover front and back, then one in the center. The 64 page giants, or any stinky book, I will put 5 to 7 or maybe more in. I thought the microchamber paper might draw out some of the stink, but so far, I haven't noticed any mitigation. 

Stinky books? 

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lizards2

lizards2

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Posted
On 1/28/2023 at 10:21 AM, WNY said:

Stinky books? 

Mothballs and other substances.

FlamingTelepath sold off a collection that just reeked about 10-12  years ago. I recently upgraded one of them, and when I took that book out of the bag, I knew immediately where that book came from. I ended up throwing out the M2, Fullback and microchamber paper, as all of it just reeked. I think the books were enclosed somewhere with mothballs to keep the bugs away from them.

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blazingbob

blazingbob

Posted
Posted
On 1/28/2023 at 2:20 PM, lizards2 said:

Mothballs and other substances.

FlamingTelepath sold off a collection that just reeked about 10-12  years ago. I recently upgraded one of them, and when I took that book out of the bag, I knew immediately where that book came from. I ended up throwing out the M2, Fullback and microchamber paper, as all of it just reeked. I think the books were enclosed somewhere with mothballs to keep the bugs away from them.

Ah,  so did the notes specify SLB?  Smells Like Balls?  Could be worse,  could be the dreaded SLA code - Smells Like A

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