Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 New York City Comic Con Cover Variant (1985) 5 5

[sorrenmj]

Hello 

I am hoping for any suggestions as to a possible grade for this gem. It was bagged and boarded on the day of the convention in 1985 by the original owner and has been kept that way since I purchased it from the original owner 20 years ago. It is unread. Any suggestions as to possible grades will be very gratefully received and will help me to determine whether or not I should get this slabbed. If it is worth it? Many thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Grendel72]

That's a beautiful high grade copy..get it slabbed pronto..

[sorrenmj]

5 minutes ago, Grendel72 said:

That's a beautiful high grade copy..get it slabbed pronto..

Thank you for your insight

[Finhead]

Yeah looks like a 9.4-9.6 from the pics. IMO unless you plan to sell why slab it? If you intend to sell these then yes 100% get them slabbed.

[sorrenmj]

2 minutes ago, Finhead said:

Yeah looks like a 9.4-9.6 from the pics. IMO unless you plan to sell why slab it? If you intend to sell these then yes 100% get them slabbed.

For preservation I guess. Maybe I would sell eventually though I have no idea what to sell it for. I purchased these when they were cheap. Now they’re a bit more valuable 

[sorrenmj]

5 minutes ago, Finhead said:

Yeah looks like a 9.4-9.6 from the pics. IMO unless you plan to sell why slab it? If you intend to sell these then yes 100% get them slabbed.

What can you see that stops it from being a 9.8 or 9.9?

[Finhead]

42 minutes ago, sorrenmj said:

For preservation I guess. Maybe I would sell eventually though I have no idea what to sell it for. I purchased these when they were cheap. Now they’re a bit more valuable 

 

It's 36 years old now, stored in a poly bag and board? Store it in a mylar with a acid free board and a few pieces of micro chamber paper and you can't really store it any better IMO. 

40 minutes ago, sorrenmj said:

What can you see that stops it from being a 9.8 or 9.9?

I'm just throwing out a guess based on the small ish pics posted. Can't really see all the corners the best etc. If you can't see any flaws and has no color breaks at all no corner blunting and zero stains at all could be a 9.8 You'd really have to make the call on that having it in hand.

[sorrenmj]

7 minutes ago, Finhead said:

 

It's 36 years old now, stored in a poly bag and board? Store it in a mylar with a acid free board and a few pieces of micro chamber paper and you can't really store it any better IMO. 

I'm just throwing out a guess based on the small ish pics posted. Can't really see all the corners the best etc. If you can't see any flaws and has no color breaks at all no corner blunting and zero stains at all could be a 9.8 You'd really have to make the call on that having it in hand.

Thanks that’s very helpful. I literally pulled out my box of comics a couple months ago and am now learning all about CGC and grading for the first time. I’m learning a lot here so thanks

[Galen130]

Are those actual signatures inside the front cover?  I haven't seen inside the cover before...

[sorrenmj]

24 minutes ago, Galen130 said:

Are those actual signatures inside the front cover?  I haven't seen inside the cover before...

Yes. They were signed at the New York convention in 1985. The original owner bagged it on the day and stored the comic in a tornado proof Mylar until I acquired it from them around twenty years ago (20 years ago, sigh!)

[Galen130]

7 minutes ago, sorrenmj said:

Yes. They were signed at the New York convention in 1985. The original owner bagged it on the day and stored the comic in a tornado proof Mylar until I acquired it from them around twenty years ago (20 years ago, sigh!)

I see a slight bend to the book when looking at it from the edge...a press will flatten this to a 9.8.  IMO.

With the signatures, this one would most likely end up with a green 'Qualified' label.  Green labels don't always sell well, if that's your intent, unless it's a particularly desirable book.  This one might have potential, more so if the signatures were on the outside.  Personally, I would clean/press/grade and add to my personal collection.  I honestly don't know how this copy would be value-wise based on the Con variant and the signatures. 

Remember, none of us chickens here are experts @Deadpoolica @Funnybooks, so decide as you see fit.  It's your book. 

[Finhead]

1 minute ago, Galen130 said:

I see a slight bend to the book when looking at it from the edge...a press will flatten this to a 9.8.  IMO.

With the signatures, this one would most likely end up with a green 'Qualified' label.  Green labels don't always sell well, if that's your intent, unless it's a particularly desirable book.  This one might have potential, more so if the signatures were on the outside.  Personally, I would clean/press/grade and add to my personal collection.  I honestly don't know how this copy would be value-wise based on the Con variant and the signatures. 

Remember, none of us chickens here are experts @Deadpoolica @Funnybooks, so decide as you see fit.  It's your book. 

No if the signatures were on the outside then you "might" get a green, being on the inside they just note the signatures. You'd have to go to CBCS to get verified sig

[sorrenmj]

1 minute ago, Galen130 said:

I see a slight bend to the book when looking at it from the edge...a press will flatten this to a 9.8.  IMO.

With the signatures, this one would most likely end up with a green 'Qualified' label.  Green labels don't always sell well, if that's your intent, unless it's a particularly desirable book.  This one might have potential, more so if the signatures were on the outside.  Personally, I would clean/press/grade and add to my personal collection.  I honestly don't know how this copy would be value-wise based on the Con variant and the signatures. 

Remember, none of us chickens here are experts @Deadpoolica @Funnybooks, so decide as you see fit.  It's your book. 

Thanks for the great insight. I think the comic is flat but was sitting on an uneven surface when I took the photo. It lays flat inside it’s Mylar case. I’ll definitely remember your advice if I get it slabbed. From my research it looks like the signed inside ones are somewhat desirable to collectors but I’m learning fast that there is no rhyme or reason to these things! I’m just very happy to have this one. Thanks again for your time @Galen130

[Galen130]

1 minute ago, Finhead said:

No if the signatures were on the outside then you "might" get a green, being on the inside they just note the signatures. You'd have to go to CBCS to get verified sig

Hence the operative word 'might'.  I personally own a slab with sigs on the inside...they tagged it green.  Never bothered to send it back, just rolled with it.   No one knows what CGC will do these days....just a thought for the OP when submitting. 

[sorrenmj]

4 minutes ago, Finhead said:

No if the signatures were on the outside then you "might" get a green, being on the inside they just note the signatures. You'd have to go to CBCS to get verified sig

Understood thank you

[Funnybooks]

Beauty

Appears 9.8 from this vantage point. Blue label with notation of sig on the label

[sorrenmj]

1 minute ago, Galen130 said:

Hence the operative word 'might'.  I personally own a slab with sigs on the inside...they tagged it green.  Never bothered to send it back, just rolled with it.   No one knows what CGC will do these days....just a thought for the OP when submitting. Se

[sorrenmj]

Just now, sorrenmj said:

1 minute ago, Galen130 said:

Hence the operative word 'might'.  I personally own a slab with sigs on the inside...they tagged it green.  Never bothered to send it back, just rolled with it.   No one knows what CGC will do these days....just a thought for the OP when submitting. Se

No rhyme or reason right!

[sorrenmj]

2 minutes ago, Funnybooks said:

Beauty

Appears 9.8 from this vantage point. Blue label with notation of sig on the label

That’s incredible. It don’t get better for a comic like this does it?!

[Funnybooks]

22 minutes ago, sorrenmj said:

That’s incredible. It don’t get better for a comic like this does it?!

Please keep in mind that grading is subjective and that "we" only have the benefit of pics and without the book in hand, even with the book in hand, we are only guessing. If you were to be able to provide better pics, the guesses could me more assured but still only guesses. The corners appear very sharp. The spine appears tick free on both the front and back covers. It's safe to say the book is minimally in the nm/nm+ range as suggested by Finhead and Galen earlier.

 

18 hours ago, Finhead said:

Yeah looks like a 9.4-9.6 from the pics. IMO unless you plan to sell why slab it? If you intend to sell these then yes 100% get them slabbed.