Attempting to collect DC Showcase 1-104 in 9.0 or better! 7 7

[FloridianDemon]

Hello!
I am a massive lover of dc and feel alot of silver age runs are underrated and undervalued. As a result of this, I have a dream/goal of obtaining entire showcase run in at least 9.0 or better, aiming to have the great collection possible. I will post pics here with any ones I obtain. So far I have 66,67 at 9.0 and 84 coming in the mail at 9.6, not too bad of a start! I think the best way for me to tackle this is to knock out the minor/keys 1st then somehow figure out how to get the giants. If you have any high grade slabs of this run, let me know! Or just feel free to watch my journey as I get them all!

[CGC Mike]

I have approved this post.  However, it is not ok to turn this into a want to buy thread.  You can share the books you acquire but, do not ask forum members if they have books you are missing.   We do have a special section for that, which will be visible to you when you reach 50 posts.  

Mike

[KCOComics]

Good luck with your journey.  

Conventional wisdom has been to buy the big keys first since the prices historically go up. 

The big keys in that grade will be really tough! 

[FloridianDemon]

On 11/8/2022 at 9:09 PM, CGC Mike said:

I have approved this post.  However, it is not ok to turn this into a want to buy thread.  You can share the books you acquire but, do not ask forum members if they have books you are missing.   We do have a special section for that, which will be visible to you when you reach 50 posts.  

Mike

Oh gotcha, I was wondering if there was a thread for that, noted! I will just post my finds here then!

[FloridianDemon]

On 11/8/2022 at 9:50 PM, KCOComics said:

Good luck with your journey.  

Conventional wisdom has been to buy the big keys first since the prices historically go up. 

The big keys in that grade will be really tough! 

Yeah i would agree but in these cases it would be insane  I have no idea how i would even start to tackle those.

[KCOComics]

On 11/8/2022 at 11:33 PM, FloridianDemon said:

Yeah i would agree but in these cases it would be insane  I have no idea how i would even start to tackle those.

Oh yeah! 

Truthfully, I can't remember the last time a NM SC4 turned up.  No recent sales on GPA, but I imagine it would be WELL into 6 figures. 

[FloridianDemon]

On 11/9/2022 at 12:01 AM, KCOComics said:

Oh yeah! 

Truthfully, I can't remember the last time a NM SC4 turned up.  No recent sales on GPA, but I imagine it would be WELL into 6 figures. 

Even #6, that book is scarce as it is, in a 9.0? Pfffft. But im determined! and Im 26 so i got time! 

[FloridianDemon]

ACKKKKKKK! found a 9.8 of #95 and my bid didnt go through. So depressed about that, it went dirt

[FloridianDemon]

On the bright side i did get this one! 30 on the census

[Qalyar]

All of the early books will be simply brutal to find in 9.0+:

• Showcase 1: one 9.0, none higher
• Showcase 2: two 8.5, none higher
• Showcase 3: one 9.0, none higher
• Showcase 4: 8 books at 9.0 or higher with Universal labels, but ... erm ... yeah.
• Showcase 5: one 9.4, none higher (and nothing else above an 8.5)

After that, it gradually starts to get a little easier, although these will remain extremely elusive, extremely expensive books for a long way into the run. By the time you're into the late-1960s/1970s issues, some of the minor keys (Spectre covers, 79, 97) will still be fairly spendy objects (but nothing like the early books), and ... whatever you call the opposite of a key, like #81, will be tough to simply find. But at least they exist.

[FloridianDemon]

On 11/9/2022 at 12:47 PM, Qalyar said:

All of the early books will be simply brutal to find in 9.0+:

• Showcase 1: one 9.0, none higher
• Showcase 2: two 8.5, none higher
• Showcase 3: one 9.0, none higher
• Showcase 4: 8 books at 9.0 or higher with Universal labels, but ... erm ... yeah.
• Showcase 5: one 9.4, none higher (and nothing else above an 8.5)

After that, it gradually starts to get a little easier, although these will remain extremely elusive, extremely expensive books for a long way into the run. By the time you're into the late-1960s/1970s issues, some of the minor keys (Spectre covers, 79, 97) will still be fairly spendy objects (but nothing like the early books), and ... whatever you call the opposite of a key, like #81, will be tough to simply find. But at least they exist.

Yes. once you hit 30 on onward it isnt too crazy. I have multiple leads on high grade 61's and such. Thats why im clearing out the higher issue numbers 1st since as you said, they are scarce as hell. the 66 for example. 2, thats it. Even the most impressive showcase collection i saw only has it in a 8.5.  but thats the fun!

[FloridianDemon]

On 11/9/2022 at 12:47 PM, Qalyar said:

All of the early books will be simply brutal to find in 9.0+:

• Showcase 1: one 9.0, none higher
• Showcase 2: two 8.5, none higher
• Showcase 3: one 9.0, none higher
• Showcase 4: 8 books at 9.0 or higher with Universal labels, but ... erm ... yeah.
• Showcase 5: one 9.4, none higher (and nothing else above an 8.5)

After that, it gradually starts to get a little easier, although these will remain extremely elusive, extremely expensive books for a long way into the run. By the time you're into the late-1960s/1970s issues, some of the minor keys (Spectre covers, 79, 97) will still be fairly spendy objects (but nothing like the early books), and ... whatever you call the opposite of a key, like #81, will be tough to simply find. But at least they exist.

right now there is a #80 at a 9.6 coming up im hoping to grab in a few a weeks

[FloridianDemon]

here is the 84 btw! hard find at a 9.6 with only 8 on the census

[KCOComics]

On 11/9/2022 at 12:47 PM, Qalyar said:

All of the early books will be simply brutal to find in 9.0+:

• Showcase 1: one 9.0, none higher
• Showcase 2: two 8.5, none higher
• Showcase 3: one 9.0, none higher
• Showcase 4: 8 books at 9.0 or higher with Universal labels, but ... erm ... yeah.
• Showcase 5: one 9.4, none higher (and nothing else above an 8.5)

After that, it gradually starts to get a little easier, although these will remain extremely elusive, extremely expensive books for a long way into the run. By the time you're into the late-1960s/1970s issues, some of the minor keys (Spectre covers, 79, 97) will still be fairly spendy objects (but nothing like the early books), and ... whatever you call the opposite of a key, like #81, will be tough to simply find. But at least they exist.

 

I'll give you my opinion... and if you can't trust the opinion of a stranger on the internet,  who can you trust? 

It's going to be really hard to get those issues in high grade. There are few available and allot of demand. So when they pop up,  deep pocketed collectors will be ready. 

That means, for you to compete you have to have the liquidity to spend big bucks relativity quickly. And that's hard for most of us. 

For those early issues,  I would make it a priority to get in the door early with the nicest copies you can. 3.5, 4.0, 2.0

Then you can focus on upgrading as opportunities present themselves.  Sell your copy to help fund the next. 

 If you end up with a complete run,  with the big issues being G and the later issues being NM, I think all of us would applaud you. Because that's a huge undertaking. 

I know I would love to own SC1, 4 or 6 in any grade. 

[KCOComics]

On 11/9/2022 at 12:47 PM, Qalyar said:

All of the early books will be simply brutal to find in 9.0+:

• Showcase 1: one 9.0, none higher
• Showcase 2: two 8.5, none higher
• Showcase 3: one 9.0, none higher
• Showcase 4: 8 books at 9.0 or higher with Universal labels, but ... erm ... yeah.
• Showcase 5: one 9.4, none higher (and nothing else above an 8.5)

After that, it gradually starts to get a little easier, although these will remain extremely elusive, extremely expensive books for a long way into the run. By the time you're into the late-1960s/1970s issues, some of the minor keys (Spectre covers, 79, 97) will still be fairly spendy objects (but nothing like the early books), and ... whatever you call the opposite of a key, like #81, will be tough to simply find. But at least they exist.

 

I'll give you my opinion... and if you can't trust the opinion of a stranger on the internet,  who can you trust? 

It's going to be really hard to get those issues in high grade. There are few available and allot of demand. So when they pop up,  deep pocketed collectors will be ready. 

That means, for you to compete you have to have the liquidity to spend big bucks relativity quickly. And that's hard for most of us. 

For those early issues,  I would make it a priority to get in the door early with the nicest copies you can. 3.5, 4.0, 2.0

Then you can focus on upgrading as opportunities present themselves.  Sell your copy to help fund the next. 

 If you end up with a complete run,  with the big issues being G and the later issues being NM, I think all of us would applaud you. Because that's a huge undertaking. 

I know I would love to own SC1, 4 or 6 in any grade. 

[FloridianDemon]

On 11/10/2022 at 7:07 AM, KCOComics said:

 

I'll give you my opinion... and if you can't trust the opinion of a stranger on the internet,  who can you trust? 

It's going to be really hard to get those issues in high grade. There are few available and allot of demand. So when they pop up,  deep pocketed collectors will be ready. 

That means, for you to compete you have to have the liquidity to spend big bucks relativity quickly. And that's hard for most of us. 

For those early issues,  I would make it a priority to get in the door early with the nicest copies you can. 3.5, 4.0, 2.0

Then you can focus on upgrading as opportunities present themselves.  Sell your copy to help fund the next. 

 If you end up with a complete run,  with the big issues being G and the later issues being NM, I think all of us would applaud you. Because that's a huge undertaking. 

I know I would love to own SC1, 4 or 6 in any grade. 

Yeah thats some great advice! So i have been doing alot of research, it seems that MOST of it will not be hard or crazy expensive. I think some of the earlier ones i might just have to get raw and grade but over all at least 70% of the run wont break the bank, just hard to find. I like the insane challenge of it. Im also adding an extra rule. the issues from 77' to end MUST be in 9.8 or nothing.The hardest part will of course be the huge keys and minor keys that hard to find in high grade like 15 and 17. but I WILL complete it somehow lol. I also have some decent bigger marvel books to help maybe trade wise.

[FloridianDemon]

Another grab! 5 down!  15 on the census, amazing Heath cover!

[DanCooper]

You will probably enjoy the hunt and thrill of putting together the Showcase run in 9.0+ from issues 25-104. These issues will take some digging, but should be obtainable if you stick with it.

Showcase 1-24 in 9.0+ is going to be a totally different story. It's going to require time, patience, resources and luck to complete.

First, on the resources side. The current Overstreet guide value for the Showcase 1-24 run in 9.0 is around $272,000. That would probably be what dealers are willing to pay for those issues, if they could find them in CGC 9.0. Showcase 4 and 22 in 9.0 would probably be near that figure alone together, if found in 9.0.

On the time, patience and luck aspects - if a long time, high grade DC collector's collection comes to market in the next few years, that could be an opportunity to get a bunch of issues in grade together. The problem is, in the last 30 years or so, I've only seen two collections that have produced a run of early Showcases in grade. One was the Bethlehem collection, which yielded some high grade copies (a Showcase 4 in CGC 9.0) and the other was probably the definitive early Showcase collection, that Mike Goldman of Motor City Comics found in the early 1990s, dubbed the "Newsboy Collection".

The "Newsboy Collection" had Showcase issues 1-8, 10-17 and 20, all in high grade. It took Mike about 15 years to let go of them (as a dealer no less!) and that was in 2009 at a Heritage auction. The "Newsboy" yielded the high grade Showcase 4 in CGC 9.6. Some issues, from that original run, have appeared in Heritage auctions over the last couple of years, but that amounts to another decade plus of waiting for an opportunity to obtain. Hence, the time and patience angle. Also, prices for these "Newsboy" issues were up there - (i.e. Showcase 13 - $38,400 in CGC 9.2, Showcase 17 - $26,400 in 9.0, Showcase 15 - $16,800 in 9.2, Showcase 1 - $10,200 in 9.0, to give examples of recent high grade Showcase prices compared to guide)

One suggestion, on the Showcase 1-24 part of the run, is to lower grade standards to 8.0 (or even 7.5). It will still take some time, patience and resources, but would probably produce a more realistic time frame to complete the run and have at least VF copies and above. It would still be a complete Showcase run that would be hard to beat!

I wish the best on this endeavor! It will be enjoyable watching the hunt here!

Edited November 14, 2022 by DanCooper

[MAR1979]

#57 is brutally difficult. Had for 25 years what I thought was a 9.2-9.4 candidate and I've been told I'm an ultra harsh grader.  I submitted it early this year and it  came back a 6.5.

Unlike Marvel most 60's DC is NOT plentiful in higher grades and much of the higher end stuff is locked up in private collections.  To the OP if you desire a realistic chance of finishing during your lifespan, consider lowering your minimum grade requirement.

 

P.S. Please ignore my sig for this post

Edited November 12, 2022 by MAR1979

[FloridianDemon]

On 11/12/2022 at 4:48 PM, MAR1979 said:

#57 is brutally difficult. Had for 25 years what I thought was a 9.2-9.4 candidate and I've been told I'm an ultra harsh grader.  I submitted it early this year and it  came back a 6.5.

Unlike Marvel most 60's DC in NOT plentiful in higher grades and much of it is locked up in private collections.  To the OP if you desire a realistic chance of finishing during your lifespan, consider lowering your minimum grade requirement.

 

P.S. Please ignore my sig for this post

Yeah I actually tried to find leads on this one today. I did find a raw candidate in the 9.2 range i might take a shot on. Im sticking with goals no matter how silly it sounds :P. Also on the bright side. I just got a #76 Pennsylvania Dutch pedigree in 9.6-9,8 range raw! Getting it graded ASAP. Its getting easier every day haha