Need Help Solving A Mystery 0

[sfcityduck]

I have been continuing to investigate the ultimate fate of Dave Wigransky's legendary collection of more than 6,000 Golden Age comics (likely thousands more) as pictured here in 1948:

It is now clear that sometime between the late 1950s and 1966 he embarked on a selling program. My guess is that the last comics he sold could have been these from a remarkable ad in RBCC 44 he took out under his nom de plume of Dave Jay. A complete mint EC set was sold by him to Russ Cochran through this ad:

A complete mint set of the EC new trend really stood out in that issue of RBCC!

Sure there were some other great books being sold by founders of comic fandom like Jerry Bails and Glenn Goggin - check out this ad with All-Star 3-7, CA 1, CM Jr. 1, etc.:

But they do not include long runs. I have to assume that Dave took out other ads for runs of his comics just like he did for the ECs. Perhaps he sold the ECs last (would make sense as he loved them and was buying MAD up to the date of the ad), but I have yet to find any other ads by Wigransky.  Only one other ad in that RBCC had the kind of content that Dave Wigransky would have been selling - this:

Dave is reported to have sold a lot of his comics to an early dealer. Perhaps this is the dealer that bought Dave's run and pieced it out?  Possible. But that is sheer unfounded crazy baseless speculation. And the thing is that while that incredible run of Batman, described as being "fine" to "almost mint", is the kind of material I'd expect to see Dave Wigransky selling, that ad is by dealer William Ostfeld. Seems unlikely that Dave sold out to him as he was pretty far away from DC - in Chicago:

I need some help. I believe Dave took out ads sometime from 1960 to 1966 in a major fanzine or adzine to sell his comics. I have no access to 1965 - 1966 issues of RBCC other than the one I bought b/c I knew Dave was in it. Those are a high value target. It's possible Dave started selling even earlier in 1961 or before. Dave may also have had ads in early issues of Alter Ego and Xero as he appears to have known about those publications.

I would be very grateful if anyone who owns those fanzines, especially RBCC in 1965-1966, would give them a run through for sale ads by "Dave Jay" or "Dave Wigransky." It is for a good cause! Look for books being sold in groups (probably full runs). 

Also let me know if you know links to sites with the content of RBCC or Xero.  

Thanks for any help!

Backstory on why I ask:

 

 

Edited March 7 by sfcityduck

[50YrsCollctngCmcs]

Interesting research endeavor. How did you determine he came to be known as Dave Jay in the RBCC ad?

[sfcityduck]

On 3/9/2024 at 5:07 PM, 50YrsCollctngCmcs said:

Interesting research endeavor. How did you determine he came to be known as Dave Jay in the RBCC ad?

The main thread on Wigransky explains that.  Basically, he took up that aka for purposes of dealing records, putting out his own 45s, putting out his own book, and for his DJ act. His friends verify. “Dave Jay” not only was a riff on DJ but his friends in the Jolson collecting community said he meant the “Jay” to stand for Jolson. And the address in the ad is his residence. 100% certainty.

Grant Geissman confirmed Russ bought the books for $300. That price was more than the then record of $250 paid for an Action 1.

Edited March 10 by sfcityduck

[Captainwonder]

Amazing to see this! What did he charge for sensation 1 in that condition? I’d love to see that.

[Telegan]

@sfcityduck, I can't help you with your request, but have you ever seen this blog post?  It gives a bit of a nod to you and your sleuthing in your "first great comic collector" thread regarding Dave Wigransky.

[sfcityduck]

On 3/11/2024 at 9:42 PM, Telegan said:

@sfcityduck, I can't help you with your request, but have you ever seen this blog post?  It gives a bit of a nod to you and your sleuthing in your "first great comic collector" thread regarding Dave Wigransky.

Thanks saw that about a week ago.  Posted it on my main Wigransky thread. Call me crazy but I am ok with the descriptions of me and the thread as they aren’t far from accurate.