Green Hornet #45 Pedigree says "File Copy" 1 1

[TegrityComics]

Looking for more definitive answer as why and how some books show a pedigree stating file copy.

I recently 2 GA Green Hornets #'s 26 and 45. Issue 45 came back showing file copy.

Tried to find on the boards but info is not concrete as to how it is determined for an issue. FYI nothing in grader notes referring to it.

Thanks for any help or info...

[theCapraAegagrus]

Does the issue not say "File Copy" on it in some form?

[TegrityComics]

There is nothing on the front and back covers and unfortunately the last time I read it was over 50 years ago, so I do not remember. LOL

 

[theCapraAegagrus]

On 2/15/2023 at 10:21 AM, TegrityComics said:

There is nothing on the front and back covers and unfortunately the last time I read it was over 50 years ago, so I do not remember. LOL

CGC must have provenance that your Pedigree issue is also the File Copy, then.

[zzutak]

The Harvey "File Copies" were actually warehouse copies that began coming to market in the mid 1990s.  Many different genres, dozens of different titles, literally thousands of copies, duplicates galore.  I purchased several dozen PCH from the Diamond Galleries catalog in early 1996, including those shown below:

Edited February 15, 2023 by zzutak

[revat]

I don't know if someone else will come provide an answer, but I don't think there's a downside to contacting CGC customer service about a comic that YOU paid CGC to grade, in which CGC recognized a pedigree.  They have phone, email, and multiple social media accounts.  You can ask about 'file copies' in general, and about yours in specific, as CGC would theoretically be have knowledge to know why CGC gave your comic a certain designation.

[TegrityComics]

Agree 100% with contacting CGC customer service and had done so already, just covering all my bases since I really don't think CGC has a true and definitive answer.

I have found that my peers on the boards have a much better and broader understanding of the hobby and most like to share knowledge.

Thanks for the advice. Hopefully someone can shed some light on this. 

Edited February 15, 2023 by TegrityComics

[KCOComics]

A file copy is usually an issue that the publisher pulled aside and "filed" away for future reference. 

There are Stan Lee file copies and perhaps the most famous are Gaine's File Copies.  William Gaines would take multiple copies of each EC book published, and carefully file them away. He treated them with great pride and many of his File Copies have come back with extremely high grades for 70 year old books. 

Some publishers put a stamp on the book that said "file copy" and others would staple a tag to them.

To answer your question on Harvey file copies, I found this thread: 

 

I also took a screenshot of someone who seems to know how CGC identifies Harvey file copies. 

 

 

[shadroch]

It's A file copy, not THE file copy.

[TegrityComics]

Thanks for all the info. So, I guess it must have some sort of file copy indicator on the inside of book that I missed.

I also take it that CGC does not think it is qualified for a Pedigree Label just an indication stating File Copy.

Can't ask my Grandfather how he got it back in the day, but I have it for over 55 years. 

[theCapraAegagrus]

On 2/15/2023 at 10:49 AM, zzutak said:

I purchased several dozen PCH from the Diamond Galleries catalog in early 1996, including those shown below:

Wow.

[zzutak]

@TegrityComics  Perhaps you'd be so kind as to share an image of your CGC-certified/encapsulated Green Hornet #45 (that includes its label, please)?  Much appreciated! 

 

[TegrityComics]

Here it is...

Thanks, 

 

 

 

[zzutak]

Very nice.  Many thanks. 

The following comments are made with regard to books designated as Harvey File Copies.  As I mentioned above, these books were unsold warehouse stock.  They were not "file" copies in the usual sense of the term.  As @shadroch points out above, specific issues should be regarded as "a" file/warehouse copy rather than "the" file/warehouse copy.  Need receipts?  Here's another "file copy" of your GH #45, two of my COC #15, and three of the WT #20

There are absolutely no stamps or other markings on the interior that identify these as "file copies" because they were just unsold stock.  Any boardie claiming otherwise is flat-out wrong.  So how does CGC distinguish these copies from specimens that were actually purchased off the rack?  Typically on the basis of their exterior and interior appearance.  For the early- to mid-1950s material, that would be bright cover inks with little to no handling wear, a toning or tanning halo on the inside front/back covers, and generally light tan to off-white or cream to off-white pages.  Stacking books unbagged/unboarded in a non temperature-controlled warehouse is not ideal from a standpoint of paper preservation.  Most of the CGC 7.0~8.0 PCH file copies were downgraded to those levels because of interior tanning rather than "structural" handling wear.  The Harvey file copies that date back to the 1960s typically have less interior toning/tanning and better page quality as a result of spending fewer years stacked in the warehouse.

Has CGC ever mistakenly identified a non-warehouse copy as a file copy (or vice versa)?  Almost certainly!  Are those misses a big deal?  In my opinion, no.  I hope this helps. 

[zzutak]

Just a few of my Diamond Galleries invoices from 1996, and only one of my later submissions to CGC (note the consecutive serial numbers):

Edited February 16, 2023 by zzutak

[TegrityComics]

Those are really cool !!!  Thanks for all your help.