Flash Gordon #1 King 1968 military giveaway is it scarce? 3 3

[rjpb]

I picked up a couple of these in a lot I bought. It's a 1968 reprint of the 1966 FG #1, with the 4 pg Mandrake story replaced by ads, including a re-enlist pitch. It was apparently (meant to be?) given away on military bases, and has "complimentary" in the banner where "brand new" appeared originally.

While there are probably a couple dozen copies of the 1966 edition on ebay, and nearly as many sold, I can't find a single copy of this on ebay, current or sold. Is it actually scarce? And if so is there a warehouse stash of 200K copies waiting to found? 

 

[Get Marwood & I]

I have one of these, @rjpb, as I collect complimentary Kings and Charltons:

They don't come up that often on eBay lately, and are comparatively scarce compared to the original - as you say, 20 or so regular copies available / sold on eBay currently but no complimentaries - but I have seen listings in the past that suggest bulk lots being a thing, as you might expect:

I haven't detected a huge premium on them which stands to reason as few will likely be interested. Accordingly, I wouldn't expect it to go for more than the original unless someone was particularly keen to grab themselves a variant copy and took their chance on a highly priced BIN.

Beetle Bailey giveaways are fun to collect - both King and Charlton. Some are quite prevalent but others are extremely scarce. I'm not sure there is even a full list of what exists published anywhere (I have more examples than the GCD has to offer, currently) but I'm working on it.

Here's a nice one:

I love the look on the dog's face, which would make a good forum avatar  

 

[rjpb]

@Get Marwood & I Thanks for the info. I'll probably just list them on ebay, touting the "rarity" as compared to the regular issue, but without a premium attached, though there is a pretty broad FMV range even on the regular based on ebay sales, $15-$40  inc. shipping in similar condition. I was kind of surprised it was that much, as though it's a 56 year old book, it was one where supply seemed to outstrip interest back in the day, despite the nice Williamson art. 

[Get Marwood & I]

On 4/27/2022 at 5:27 PM, rjpb said:

I was kind of surprised it was that much, as though it's a 56 year old book, it was one where supply seemed to outstrip interest back in the day, despite the nice Williamson art. 

There's no accounting for taste, is there 

Good luck!

[Yorick]

Ah.  Now I know who my competition is!

A seller had a box of around 25-30 copies of the comp copy on feebay about a year ago.  I asked to buy several at once and they obliged by putting up a group of four (which I believe is where @Get Marwood & I image came from).

I have at least 10 copies of the complimentary copy at this point and I have not been satisfied that any are above 9.0.  I will likely have to send my best few to a presser/fixer if I ever decide to submit a book to CGC again.  I believe there is a 9.0+ on the census.  I want to buy it BADLY.

Al Williamson is awesome.

[Get Marwood & I]

On 4/27/2022 at 7:05 PM, Yorick said:

Ah.  Now I know who my competition is!

A seller had a box of around 25-30 copies of the comp copy on feebay about a year ago.  I asked to buy several at once and they obliged by putting up a group of four (which I believe is where @Get Marwood & I image came from).

I have at least 10 copies of the complimentary copy at this point and I have not been satisfied that any are above 9.0.  I will likely have to send my best few to a presser/fixer if I ever decide to submit a book to CGC again.  I believe there is a 9.0+ on the census.  I want to buy it BADLY.

Al Williamson is awesome.

Ha!

There seem to be two versions in circulation - the one shown in this thread and one with the purple colouring missing above the top corner complimentary wording:

  

Which do you have Yorick?

[Yorick]

On 4/27/2022 at 11:08 AM, Get Marwood & I said:

Which do you have Yorick?

Ooooo!  Look at you with all your fancy knowledge!!  I have not heard of nor seen that error before.  Thanks so much for adding another book to my list.

I checked the census.  1 copy at 9.0, 1 copy at 7.5, and 1 copy SS at 3.5.

[Get Marwood & I]

On 4/27/2022 at 7:12 PM, Yorick said:

Ooooo!  Look at you with all your fancy knowledge!!  I have not heard of nor seen that error before.  Thanks so much for adding another book to my list.

I can't help it Yorick. I've just this minute discovered a new Harvey variant. I'm like a machine 

[OtherEric]

I don’t have anything to add to the discussion on the variant, but feel compelled to add my voice to the chorus saying Al Williamson is awesome.

I’ve always found it easier to find the 60’s King issues than his 80’s Whitman or 90’s Marvel Flash Gordon issues, for whatever reason.

[Get Marwood & I]

On 4/27/2022 at 7:12 PM, Yorick said:

Thanks so much for adding another book to my list.

What Kings do you collect then - or is it a Flash fetish?

[Yorick]

@Get Marwood & I have you ever seen another of those King Comics Philippines print with the white cover?  I really want that one.

Just the other day a package arrived from the UK with some Flash Gordon pence copies and a Heritage edition.

[Yorick]

On 4/27/2022 at 11:17 AM, Get Marwood & I said:

What Kings do you collect then - or is it a Flash fetish?

Definitely fetish!  Flash Gordon 4 was my first comic book.

[Get Marwood & I]

On 4/27/2022 at 7:18 PM, Yorick said:

@Get Marwood & I have you ever seen another of those King Comics Philippines print with the white cover?  I really want that one.

This one?

On 4/27/2022 at 7:18 PM, Yorick said:

Just the other day a package arrived from the UK with some Flash Gordon pence copies and a Heritage edition.

[Yorick]

https://comics.www.collectors-society.com/registry/comics/PeopleSetDetail.aspx?PeopleSetID=92851

 

[Get Marwood & I]

On 4/27/2022 at 7:20 PM, Yorick said:

Definitely fetish!  Flash Gordon 4 was my first comic book.

Flash! Ah-aah! King of the IMPOSSIBLE!

[Get Marwood & I]

On 4/27/2022 at 7:21 PM, Yorick said:

https://comics.www.collectors-society.com/registry/comics/PeopleSetDetail.aspx?PeopleSetID=92851

 

[Yorick]

On 4/27/2022 at 11:21 AM, Get Marwood & I said:

This one?

Geez.  I need to leave this thread ASAP.  Now another on my list.

I won this Berk Collection copy a little while back:

[Get Marwood & I]

On 4/27/2022 at 7:24 PM, Yorick said:

Geez.  I need to leave this thread ASAP.  Now another on my list.

I won this Berk Collection copy a little while back:

Cor, that's nice. More stairs!

[Yorick]

On 4/27/2022 at 11:21 AM, Get Marwood & I said:

This one?

To answer your question, no.  It was in the Filipino comics thread and had Flash with two other characters arm-in-arm (drawn by Williamson) over a white background.  It was titled "King Comics", not Flash Gordon.

Edited April 27, 2022 by Yorick
I AM WRONG! Keep reading the Thread...

[Get Marwood & I]

@Yorick