44 years in... my journey 0

[Shadow]

So, this weekend I subscribed to GPA Analysis to get a better idea on some of my collection. I still love getting the OSPG and will continue. I started back in 1978 at the age of 12, took a break from 1984 - 1994 for college, marriage, starting a family. 1994 pulled me back in like Al Pacino. Started documenting my collection with Excel in 1994. JLA, X-Men, Conan, Avengers and team ups have always been core. Probably heavier DC than Marvel overall but not heavily skewed. Based on OSPG, DC is 57% vs 43% of overall value. Not the case for the top 76 books (out of 5395) which make up 51% of the overall value using GPA. 59% Marvel and 41% DC of those. OSPG says these books make up 27.6%. 

So I looked back in my Excel at 1993, 2000 and 2010 for my reference on how many of those 76 books I owned and what they represented as my collection (per OSPG).

• 1993: 12 books equaled 4.8% of my collection
• 2000: 34 books equaled 5.7% of my collection
• 2010: 55 books equaled 10.2% of my collection

My wife always wonders why I bother because I won't sell them any time soon.  But it's fun for me to look back. Here are some that I bought as a young man prior to college that made the list of 76:

• X-Men #4 at a 1982 comic show in Toledo for $5. Probably a 3.5. Boy it was a lot of money for this 16 year old to pay for one comic at the time.
• Captain America #100 (probably a 6.0) for $2 at the Comic Shop in Toledo. Owner had a sale so I bought it off the wall on impulse.
• Batman #234 and #251 both around VG. Bought at a small booth set up at Franklin Park Mall circa 1979. Maybe spent $3 total. 
• Newstand: New Teen Titans #2, DC Comics Presents #26 and #47... (I don't count X-Men #129 as I didn't officially start collecting X-Men until #138 but my mom bought this one at the Comic Shop for me for Christmas that year. It's only a 9.0 now but she paid the princely sum of $1 for it. lol) 
• Overall, there are 23 X-Men in the 76, followed by 10 JLA and 6 Brave and the Bold

Thanks for letting me share. I think this is 18 years being a member here and I've learned so much about the hobby in that time. I've learned how to grade better, what to look for (I've been burned on a couple of touched up books in the past) and who are some rock solid dealers. It was fun to dig into GPA this weekend and work with it. (Wish I could figure how to log some of my books not graded but that would impact the algorithm) Reminded me I have a ton of filler...  Now to kick the sentimental collector in me. 

[marvelmaniac]

Nice story, a lot of us on this site can relate, I started in 1965, had to stop in 69, restarted again in 79 and I also have no intentions of selling, ENJOY Your Collection!!!

[djpinkpanther67]

I miss 1977-1984 back issue prices 

[lordbyroncomics]

I'm ashamed to admit I hadn't heard of GPA Analysis, I've been using CovrPrice but appreciate input and suggestions from my fellow members here. Thanks for sharing this Shadow, it's actually quite inspiring.

[ADAMANTIUM]

On 5/22/2022 at 7:16 PM, wisbyron said:

I'm ashamed to admit I hadn't heard of GPA Analysis, I've been using CovrPrice but appreciate input and suggestions from my fellow members here. Thanks for sharing this Shadow, it's actually quite inspiring.

Just as a point of interest 

If you have not heard of gpa,

That 130point.com helps to find out realized prices of "best offers" on Ebay.....

It will show all the prices of a searched book, even if it was best offer

Not sure if it was mentioned yet 

 

[lordbyroncomics]

On 5/22/2022 at 8:20 PM, ADAMANTIUM said:

Just as a point of interest 

If you have not heard of gpa,

That 130point.com helps to find out realized prices of "best offers" on Ebay.....

It will show all the prices of a searched book, even if it was best offer

Not sure if it was mentioned yet 

 

Ahhh, thank you. Perhaps I'm dehydrated from the heat, how did I not connect the, yes, frequently mentioned GPA with "gpa analysis" of course. Covrprice is kinda hot & cold and I'm curious what the majority of collectors here on the boards think. Thanks Adamantium

[ADAMANTIUM]

On 5/22/2022 at 7:22 PM, wisbyron said:

Ahhh, thank you. Perhaps I'm dehydrated from the heat, how did I not connect the, yes, frequently mentioned GPA with "gpa analysis" of course. Covrprice is kinda hot & cold and I'm curious what the majority of collectors here on the boards think. Thanks Adamantium

Its understandable as GPA is more a general accounting term, so without the full web address, it's easy to miss out on the subject. 

I hadn't heard of cover price, so I appreciate it too