What is your budget for a typical non-key issue comic, for each age? 1 1

[bc]

Bought it in 2013.

As far as the tape - CGC is a little more lenient on GA books. Minor color touch, glue on the spine, small tape pieces still get a Universal blue label as long as the change is very minor.

-bc

[paperheart]

Moderns on my list to fill in sets: $2

[stormflora]

On 11/23/2023 at 10:07 AM, bc said:

Bought it in 2013.

As far as the tape - CGC is a little more lenient on GA books. Minor color touch, glue on the spine, small tape pieces still get a Universal blue label as long as the change is very minor.

-bc

Nice. You planning to keep it for your collection, or are you letting it appreciate over time? Also, what site did you use for that information?

And thanks for the tidbit about the restoration. Gives me a good idea for what is considered acceptable. I think transparent paper tape would fly undetected, in that case, as it would act more like a library tape restoration.

[bc]

On 11/23/2023 at 10:09 AM, stormflora said:

Nice. You planning to keep it for your collection, or are you letting it appreciate over time? Also, what site did you use for that information?

And thanks for the tidbit about the restoration. Gives me a good idea for what is considered acceptable. I think transparent paper tape would fly undetected, in that case, as it would act more like a library tape restoration.

That info came from a subscription based site called GPAnalysis

https://comics.gpanalysis.com/

You'll see regular references to "GPA" pricing on the boards - that's where it comes from.

It's part of a small set of early Human Torch covers. I add a book or so every year.

-bc

 

[Dr. Balls]

On 11/23/2023 at 7:38 AM, stormflora said:

Interesting, it seems you have a higher budget for your comic collection, in my eyes. Do you try to collect lengthy series, or just a few specific issues?

For Golden Age Pre Code Horror, it's basically any cover that I like - I don't collect runs at all, just the cover art I like. Anything I want to actually read, I have in TPB format.

For Bronze Horror, I try to chip away at runs and series' - because they tend to be pretty short, ranging from 10-20 issues is all, so those are easier to collect in high grade.

[Robot Man]

On 11/22/2023 at 10:24 PM, D2 said:

Yep, with two kids, and a nasty mortgage rate 

Yeah, I was in the same boat at one time. I spent more time at flea markets, and garage and estate sales. I would buy lots of books and keep what I wanted then flip the rest to fund my collection. My collection has pretty much always been self funded.

Now, my mortgage is a joke and my kids are out of the house. But, I pretty much do the same thing.

I buy what ever I want (within reason) and pay what I am comfortable with and can afford. Collecting GA has always been a challenge. But I have been doing it for a LONG time and hung on to the stuff I like the most. Never did it with the thought of making big money. 

[stormflora]

On 11/23/2023 at 10:27 AM, bc said:

That info came from a subscription based site called GPAnalysis

https://comics.gpanalysis.com/

You'll see regular references to "GPA" pricing on the boards - that's where it comes from.

It's part of a small set of early Human Torch covers. I add a book or so every year.

-bc

 

Ah, it's a subscription-based site. That's unfortunate. (I'm just a newbie to collection and am running under a budget.)

Would you say that PriceCharting.com is any good? It's free and seems to keep track of sold eBay listings to offer an average of what is to be expected from most comics and issues.

[ADAMANTIUM]

On 11/23/2023 at 11:09 AM, stormflora said:

Ah, it's a subscription-based site. That's unfortunate. (I'm just a newbie to collection and am running under a budget.)

Would you say that PriceCharting.com is any good? It's free and seems to keep track of sold eBay listings to offer an average of what is to be expected from most comics and issues.

Gpaanalysis.com 

does have a try it feature, with 3 pretty major books: Hulk 181, FF 48, and ASM 129.

It might be fun to bookmark the page in case it ever comes in handy, or if you own them or want to analyze market trends with them.

 

[bc]

On 11/23/2023 at 12:09 PM, stormflora said:

Ah, it's a subscription-based site. That's unfortunate. (I'm just a newbie to collection and am running under a budget.)

Would you say that PriceCharting.com is any good? It's free and seems to keep track of sold eBay listings to offer an average of what is to be expected from most comics and issues.

Anything that tracks eBay sales is also a good tool to have. 

It's all good to have a budget 

-bc

 

[universal soldier]

On 11/23/2023 at 12:56 AM, D2 said:

Right now, this very second… I can’t afford to buy a comic book. I am on a comic book freeze. 

🥶

 

On 11/23/2023 at 1:24 AM, D2 said:

Yep, with two kids, and a nasty mortgage rate 

Ebb and flow of collecting when life gets in the way (for all the right reasons). I didn't buy a single back issue from the end of 2014 to 2019 as my daughter was in college.  I'm making up for it now.

[D2]

On 11/24/2023 at 10:07 AM, universal soldier said:

 

Ebb and flow of collecting when life gets in the way (for all the right reasons). I didn't buy a single back issue from the end of 2014 to 2019 as my daughter was in college.  I'm making up for it now.

you are a good parent. 
some parents would just let their kids jack up debt. 
Are there any outliers that you saw and missed out on that you really remember and it stuck to you?

[MattTheDuck]

On 11/23/2023 at 9:09 AM, stormflora said:

Ah, it's a subscription-based site. That's unfortunate. (I'm just a newbie to collection and am running under a budget.)

Would you say that PriceCharting.com is any good? It's free and seems to keep track of sold eBay listings to offer an average of what is to be expected from most comics and issues.

Sometimes, if one asks nicely and not too often or about too many books, a Boardie with a GPA subscription will look up some values for someone who doesn't have/can't afford a GPA subscription.

[LowGradeBronze]

StormFlora said: 

And... For the comic-ally oblivious, how much is that worth? 

Also, I just realized something. The CGC note on that slab states that there's tape within, but that is not considered restoration. I wonder if using transparent paper tape on a graded comic would still make it fall under the Universal grade, or would it be marked as a Restoration grade? Just some brainstorming here. Mending with Japanese paper would likely convert it to Restoration grade, but tape might just knock the grade down a notch while still keeping it Universal grade. Maybe someone at CGC could clue in for me here.

Tape is considered a defect, I believe, hence the universal grade. Clear attempts at resto or conservation are noted and given the appropriate label by CGC. Others will chime in to 'tidy up' my less than exact understanding/explanation  (Apologies, I didn't even mange to quote you properly. It's 'Two left thumbs Friday'!)

Edited November 24, 2023 by LowGradeBronze

[universal soldier]

On 11/24/2023 at 10:43 AM, D2 said:

you are a good parent. 
some parents would just let their kids jack up debt. 
Are there any outliers that you saw and missed out on that you really remember and it stuck to you?

The biggest was not being able to finish my ASM run until after 2019. I was down to 5 early issues and while I didn't pay top of market for any, I paid a lot more than if I had been able to pull the trigger in that time frame. Some FF issues I'm kicking myself for, especially 94. I passed on at least 3 opportunities to get nice copies for dirt cheap as I thought they were "over priced" and then I pulled the trigger on a decent copy during the hype . I can only hope the Agatha series will actually be good. Anything Doom has jumped a lot too.

[Phicks]

I collect high grade Silver Age for the most part (8.0-9.0).   The average comic on my want list is $200 US.  I have been at this hobby for 35 purchasing years, so I already have acquired the low hanging fruit.  I probably only find and buy a book on my want list on a quarterly basis.

[stormflora]

On 11/24/2023 at 8:47 PM, Phicks said:

I collect high grade Silver Age for the most part (8.0-9.0).   The average comic on my want list is $200 US.  I have been at this hobby for 35 purchasing years, so I already have acquired the low hanging fruit.  I probably only find and buy a book on my want list on a quarterly basis.

Well, on a quarterly basis, that would average out to around $50 a month. That's not too bad for a high grade, high value comic.

[southern cross]

I've been targeting bronze age lately in really nice raw grade.

$15, I bought a few of these doc savage and gave away two copies to forum members on here. They were just to cheap and nice not to give a couple away.

$20 each.

Unread copies

Then this key $175

Then I couldn't help myself as they look so nice 

Generally my sweet spot is $30

I'm always looking for a bargain even a key from my lcs.

During the 2022 crazy prices

$400

$125

$30

 

$10

$5

And $500

$125

I try and buy well.

And the prices I'm paying I'm sure I could possibly find at least one collector to pay me what I actually paid.

I generally buy the cheaper books under $30 or less unless something comes along and the price I feel is right and I'd like to own the book.

Edited November 25, 2023 by southern cross
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