MAD 5 3 3

[Raze]

This is the 2nd book this year that Ive bought on ebay where I cant tell if a book is trimmed. I dont know if I could detect trimming until I sat with a few examples with a willing dealer to explain.

So heres the book in question MAD 5 (which if not trimmed is a big upgrade) and the link to the original ebay listing 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165220560361?_sp=p2488212.m41214.l9765&nma=true&si=FIWv10PCWNBNMULpmg%2B1vG7SYJ8%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557#rpdCntId

 

I would appreciate any and all help and opinions!

(This is also in the comics grading and restoration forum.)

[RayJr]

On 12/29/2021 at 12:07 AM, Raze said:

 

This is the 2nd book this year that Ive bought on ebay where I cant tell if a book is trimmed. I dont know if I could detect trimming until I sat with a few examples with a willing dealer to explain.

So heres the book in question MAD 5 (which if not trimmed is a big upgrade) and the link to the original ebay listing 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165220560361?_sp=p2488212.m41214.l9765&nma=true&si=FIWv10PCWNBNMULpmg%2B1vG7SYJ8%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557#rpdCntId

 

I would appreciate any and all help and opinions!

(This is also in the comics grading and restoration forum.)

It’s very hard for me to tell. The front cover post it looks like it but then when you see the other pages it looks normal. I would take it to a dealer like you said to see if they can detect it. If it is are you going to message the seller for a refund or partial for the book being trimmed or you think the seller didn’t know? Good luck my friend 

[grendelbo]

3.0/3.5

My guess is not trimmed.

Thanks for posting.

[Raze]

On 12/28/2021 at 10:37 AM, RayJr said:

It’s very hard for me to tell. The front cover post it looks like it but then when you see the other pages it looks normal. I would take it to a dealer like you said to see if they can detect it. If it is are you going to message the seller for a refund or partial for the book being trimmed or you think the seller didn’t know? Good luck my friend 

I talked to the seller when I won it and he was very nice, so I don’t think it would be on purpose. He has sold quite a few early copies of mad for well over what I paid for this copy.

I guess if I can get anything conclusive I would send him a message and see what the options would be. Whether a partial refund or returning the book back to him for a complete refund I think either way would be acceptable.

like I said this book would be a huge upgrade to the one that I currently have and I like the way this copy looks but I also don’t want a book with trimmingz

[OtherEric]

I'm leaning towards bad miscut, but it's hard for me to tell.

[Galen130]

3.0

[fifties]

The easiest way to tell is to simply place it on top of another Mad, published around the same period.  If the other book has a spine roll, line the left side up so that it aligns with the others left FC side.

The fanned pages seem to indicate that it has not been trimmed.

[Rip]

Miscut likely.

[I Am The Answer!]

The Answer is: 3.0

[Point Five]

On 12/30/2021 at 12:14 AM, fifties said:

The easiest way to tell is to simply place it on top of another Mad, published around the same period.  If the other book has a spine roll, line the left side up so that it aligns with the others left FC side.

The fanned pages seem to indicate that it has not been trimmed.

I feel like we've had this same conversation before, but...  

I respectfully disagree with your point #1. Production standards were low-to-nonexistent, and the sizes of different copies of the same issue varies *widely*. (As an exercise, pick a popular book like Shock Suspenstories #6 and compare all the Heritage copies in Universal slabs. There's no consistent width.)

I generally agree with your point #2, but fanned pages doesn't rule out a possible overhang trim of the cover.

 

[fifties]

On 12/30/2021 at 8:52 AM, Point Five said:

I feel like we've had this same conversation before, but...  

I respectfully disagree with your point #1. Production standards were low-to-nonexistent, and the sizes of different copies of the same issue varies *widely*. (As an exercise, pick a popular book like Shock Suspenstories #6 and compare all the Heritage copies in Universal slabs. There's no consistent width.)

I generally agree with your point #2, but fanned pages doesn't rule out a possible overhang trim of the cover.

 

Point taken, although this method has worked for me, so why I suggested it.  I DO know that later issues of a title could in fact be narrower, as my reason for advising to use a close numbered book as a standard.

Alternatively, given that the fanned pages indicate normalcy, if the covers overhang them just slightly, that would also indicate original width.  Lastly, comparing the FC graphics on the right edge with displays of the same book on the internet is yet another method.

[Funnybooks]

I'd be surprised if this copy was trimmed.