If only you had $20+ to spend with Robert Bell in 1971 1 1

[thehumantorch]

hulk 1 $16
FF 45 .50
FF 48 .50
FF 49 .50
FF 50 .50
FF 52 .50
ASM 14 1.50

[KirbyJack]

For fun, I approached this as myself as a beginning collector, owning nothing listed. 
I went with Fantastic Four 4 and 15. I’ve always felt that The Thinker should be a bigger deal.

[aardvark88]

1 minute ago, thehumantorch said:

FF 45 .50
FF 48 .50
FF 49 .50
FF 50 .50
FF 52 .50
ASM 14 1.50

Robert Bell always asked for alternate choices. I recommend ASM # 50 at a lofty 75c or Strange Tales 110 for a mighty $1, as I know you liked Paste Pot Pete in kindergarten.

[Dave2739]

I would have gotten Grandma to "loan" me $3 and snagged the AF15 

[thehumantorch]

19 minutes ago, Dave2739 said:

I would have gotten Grandma to "loan" me $3 and snagged the AF15 

Pawn her knitting needles....

[KCOComics]

I love looking at old pricing. 

Amazing to see FF1 ran away from AF15 back then. 

Also the high cost of FF2-5 relative to books like Hulk 1, JIM83, TOS39. 

 

[Math Teacher]

2 hours ago, aardvark88 said:

In 1970, I got into a fistfight with my brother so he would not lend me the $3 I needed to go 'all in' to get AF #15 for a total of $23 postage included. Thus, I got a bloody nose and NO AF 15.

Although neither result was good, I know which one was the worst.

[Math Teacher]

2 hours ago, aardvark88 said:

Sorry, I just pulled this Robert Bell mail order list off Facebook (FB). Don't know where the silver DC list is. If I was a spec in 1970, I would have ordered a $20 dealer pack of Strange Tales #110 x 20 copies @ $1 then being Nostrodamos could retire when the first trailer for Dr. Strange movie dropped.

In 1970, I got into a fistfight with my brother so he would not lend me the $3 I needed to go 'all in' to get AF #15 for a total of $23 postage included. Thus, I got a bloody nose and NO AF 15.

Also, during that time frame, you would have only had to pick up 30 soda bottles to earn that $3.

[Mercury Man]

FUN!

Tales of Suspense #39    $10

X-Men #1                         $7

SIlver Surfer #4                $2

FF #48                              .50

FF#49                               .50

                                   ---------------

                                   =shut up and take my money

[vheflin]

I would want the horror titles for $.75 each

but since he's charging a 5x markup for new comics I'd go to the newsstand instead

[pemart1966]

3 hours ago, aardvark88 said:

Sorry, I just pulled this Robert Bell mail order list off Facebook (FB). Don't know where the silver DC list is. If I was a spec in 1970, I would have ordered a $20 dealer pack of Strange Tales #110 x 20 copies @ $1 then being Nostrodamos could retire when the first trailer for Dr. Strange movie dropped.

In 1970, I got into a fistfight with my brother so he would not lend me the $3 I needed to go 'all in' to get AF #15 for a total of $23 postage included. Thus, I got a bloody nose and NO AF 15.

This ladies and gentlemen is the definition of a TRUE comic book collector...

I pounded my brother after he used the cover of one of my mint Turoks to practice his printing.  There was crying but no blood  

[ttfitz]

I don't think I ever bought anything from Robert Bell, but I'm pretty sure I sent in for that free sample comic bag offered there. I couldn't decide what to put in it, so I ended up putting my only #1 issue - Human Torch #1, because it's a number one, so it must be valuable!  

Like Sharon, in 1971 I was mostly a DC guy. So if we are talking about 1971 Timmy, and knowing how much $20 would be to 9-year-old me, I would probably have tried for the most books for my money, so....

Probably Fantastic Four 41-80 @50 cents each, or X-Men 12-51.

If I were sending a message back thru time to my 9-year-old self and had to buy for my own collection, either

Spider-Man #1 for the whole $20

or

Fantastic Four #5 ($13), Spider-Man #9, #14 ($1.50 each), Strange Tales #102 ($4.00)

since those are still on my wantlist today.

[pemart1966]

12 hours ago, innocuous said:

Call him up and negotiate $20 for the AF15. If he won't budge, send him my Submariners 20-27 as part of trade + Cash.

...except that there's no phone number...

 

[aardvark88]

12 hours ago, vheflin said:

but since he's charging a 5x markup for new comics I'd go to the newsstand instead

To clarify, the Robert Bell prices expired Dec. 31, 1970. Compare to pricey Howard Rogofsky price list from Sept, 1967 (borrowed from Moe's Attic on FB):

[comicginger1789]

As a Spidey fan, I would have to do the following:

ASM 4-8- $15

ASM 14- $1.50

ASM 50- $0.75

FF 48, 49, 50, 52 - $2

Avengers 57- $0.50

And I would take my quarter remaining and buy lunch!

[JohnH19]

I was losing interest in collecting comics as a 12 year old in 1971. I was down to Thor and Avengers as my only monthly pickups. However, if my 62 year old self was transported back, I would definitely take that $20 ASM 1 to complete my Vol. 1 run.

[rexinnih]

Think I'll go Spiderman 1 and call it a day. 

[RickSp]

With my current mindset I'd be going for that ASM 1.

If I was thinking the way I did as a kid when I first started collecting I'd be going for as many 0.50 and $1 books to make up the 20, give myself plenty to read! I think it took me a long time to start associating value to what I was simply reading and enjoying looking after.

[APDallas]

i am amazed the SGT.FURY #1 goes for the same as JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #83.

 

 

Edited May 27, 2021 by APDallas
typo

[pemart1966]