Your "My best find ever" story...

[AtlasFan]

I always enjoy a good story how collectors just kind of stumble over a treasure of comics.

 

Here''s one of my own:

 

About 12 years ago, I stumbled across a small ad in the classified section of the Comic Buyers Guide. I called the number asking about the book advertised (I dont rememeber which initial book it was). While talking to the seller, he mentioned that he had a nice run of 1950s HOUSE OF MYSTERY and HOUSE OF SECRETS. Being a big '50s Sci Fi collector, I told him I was interested.

 

He described the condition only as "decent". So I plunked down something like $150 and a couple of weeks later he shipped me a wonderful VF run of both titles HOM (60-90) and HOS (4-20). There are some really nice Kirby issues in that mix.

 

I will never forget how thrilling it was opening that box and seeing those books!

Lets hear your stroy...

Bill

[djpinkpanther67]

I used to help the old guy next door (mowing his lawn, helping unload the groceries)...He gave me a bunch of Captain Americas/Human Torch books & other War comics from the 40's, about 30 all told...Step-Daddy tossed them in the dumpster

 

more recently...

My fiance Got a VF copy of UXM #8 for me on eBay for $50. That's officially my oldest comic right now...

[ronm3-migration]

I had a neighbor sell me what would be the equivalent of 3 long boxes of late silver early bronze books for $100.00.

He just wanted to get rid of them.

[comicdonna]

I was about 11 years old in the mid seventies. I used to work on a farm during summer vacation. There was a shed, with a bunch of junk in it. I found a stack of comics (about 50 books) They were all westerns, and in pretty bad shape. (mouse chews, water damage ect...) I was fascinated with the books. I kept them and in time, kinda forgot about them until about 2002, and ended up selling them, when I joined ebay. It was at that point when I regained my fascination for comics, mostly from the artwork on the cover. I put together over 200 HG westerns, and about 400 HG FC Since that day in 2002 comics have been in my thoughts everyday. I only collect GA actions now. If I had not stumbled on these books as a kid, I doubt I would have ever been a comic collector.

[aardvark88]

I was selling back issues at a weekly flea market about 16 yrs ago. A collector waves a Wizard in front of me as he tries to sell me a raw bundle of SA DC. I told him he was asking too much for the 8 comics so I cherry picked 1. He overgraded the JLA #28 but I bought it anyways. It was actually a Brave Bold # 28 vg.

 

If u know enough to use current Wizard or Ostreet as a price guide, u better know what u are trying to sell to me.

[jools&jim]

A (VERY) low-grade Amazing Spider-Man #1 at the Pittsburgh Comic-Con about 10 years ago or so for $100.

 

It ain't pretty...but it's the only copy I'll ever be able to afford, and the interior paper is actually pretty good:

 

[Smokinghawk]

As a kid my friends thought I was stupid because they spend their $20 allowances and got a stack of black-and-white-glut books (Aircel comics, Eagle, Elflord, Samurai), while I plunked down $20 and only got one single comic book: Amazing Spider-Man #14, F.

 

On my first anniversay, my wife's "paper"-themed gift was a collection of SA Spidey,s too. That's when I knew the marriage would make it.

[ciorac]

Hmmm...

 

The More Fun Collection - 2400 Golden Age books?

The Crescent City Collection - 240 high grade Golden Age books?

The Champagne Collection - Full run of Atom Age/Silver Age Marvel in VF or better?

 

Nope, it had to be the little old lady who walked in the store with Action 1 - 23! That was the happiest day of my comic collecting life, and one I am sure I will never be able to duplicate.

 

There were a lot of other fun collections with interesting stories during the time I owned the store, but I'll save some of those for another day.

[comicdonna]

Hmmm...

 

The More Fun Collection - 2400 Golden Age books?

The Crescent City Collection - 240 high grade Golden Age books?

The Champagne Collection - Full run of Atom Age/Silver Age Marvel in VF or better?

 

Nope, it had to be the little old lady who walked in the store with Action 1 - 23! That was the happiest day of my comic collecting life, and one I am sure I will never be able to duplicate.

 

There were a lot of other fun collections with interesting stories during the time I owned the store, but I'll save some of those for another day.

You saved every single book. Right?

[johnenock]

Hmmm...

 

The More Fun Collection - 2400 Golden Age books?

The Crescent City Collection - 240 high grade Golden Age books?

The Champagne Collection - Full run of Atom Age/Silver Age Marvel in VF or better?

 

Nope, it had to be the little old lady who walked in the store with Action 1 - 23! That was the happiest day of my comic collecting life, and one I am sure I will never be able to duplicate.

 

There were a lot of other fun collections with interesting stories during the time I owned the store, but I'll save some of those for another day.

You saved every single book. Right?

 

Parents threw them out.

[ciorac]

Hmmm...

 

The More Fun Collection - 2400 Golden Age books?

The Crescent City Collection - 240 high grade Golden Age books?

The Champagne Collection - Full run of Atom Age/Silver Age Marvel in VF or better?

 

Nope, it had to be the little old lady who walked in the store with Action 1 - 23! That was the happiest day of my comic collecting life, and one I am sure I will never be able to duplicate.

 

There were a lot of other fun collections with interesting stories during the time I owned the store, but I'll save some of those for another day.

You saved every single book. Right?

 

Not quite....

[Pirate]

went to a yard sale. lady had 3 long boxes of silver/bronze and sold them to me for $170. Have sold most of it off but still have the Thors and some of the keys I got. Made my money back 20x over.

[VintageComics]

My personal DD collection was formed around a box of about 150 to 200 DD books that i bought for about $500. It was unbelieveable to find a run of hi grade silver age DD's in this box. #6 was about vf/nm, 7 vf, 11 nm, 14 nm-, 15 nm+, 21 NM+ onwards all in vf/nm to NM+ range.

Really cool.

[shadroch]

Three come to mind.

 

1) going thru a bunch of 50s/60s funny animal comics in a box at the 8th ave. Flea Market,circa 1990,when

I come across a beat up copy of Flash 105.A few books later,I find a Journey into Mystery 82,then a 79, and an 89.

2) answering a response to an ad I'd placed to buy comics,I came across a guy whose house had to resemble Edgar Churchs.Over 700 long boxes kept in a tiny house.His living room table was a sheet of ply wood on top of 14 boxes,his kids slept on mattresses on top of boxes. He wanted $10 a box,We settled on $5. He helped me move them,I cherry picked them for two weeks and sold the remaining 500 boxes for $25 a box.

3) walking into Mikes Comic Hut and seeing he had the original cover to Daredevil 112 on display.What was really odd was that I owned the cover and it was stored in my warehouse.A great way to discover your friend, a trusted employee is ripping you off.I got my cover back,Mike got his money back,and my former employee,in a fit of sorrow and dismay,plunged a BBQ fork into his back several times in an ill-fated attempt at atonement.

[comicdonna]

walking into Mikes Comic Hut and seeing he had the original cover to Daredevil 112 on display.What was really odd was that I owned the cover and it was stored in my warehouse.A great way to discover your friend, a trusted employee is ripping you off.I got my cover back,Mike got his money back,and my former employee,in a fit of sorrow and dismay,plunged a BBQ fork into his back several times in an ill-fated attempt at atonement.

Was he arrested?

[binarysunrise]

walking into Mikes Comic Hut and seeing he had the original cover to Daredevil 112 on display.What was really odd was that I owned the cover and it was stored in my warehouse.A great way to discover your friend, a trusted employee is ripping you off.I got my cover back,Mike got his money back,and my former employee,in a fit of sorrow and dismay,plunged a BBQ fork into his back several times in an ill-fated attempt at atonement.

Was he arrested?

 

Am I the only one who finds this account fishy? Aren't BBQ fork's really long? I'm trying to figure out how you could reach behind yourself with a long fork to stab yourself in the back.....

 

"He ran into my knife - he ran into my knife...nine times!"

- Chicago

[comicdonna]

walking into Mikes Comic Hut and seeing he had the original cover to Daredevil 112 on display.What was really odd was that I owned the cover and it was stored in my warehouse.A great way to discover your friend, a trusted employee is ripping you off.I got my cover back,Mike got his money back,and my former employee,in a fit of sorrow and dismay,plunged a BBQ fork into his back several times in an ill-fated attempt at atonement.

Was he arrested?

 

Am I the only one who finds this account fishy? Aren't BBQ fork's really long? I'm trying to figure out how you could reach behind yourself with a long fork to stab yourself in the back.....

 

"He ran into my knife - he ran into my knife...nine times!"

- Chicago

I guess I read it wrong. I thought he stabbed Mike

[lizards2]

walking into Mikes Comic Hut and seeing he had the original cover to Daredevil 112 on display.What was really odd was that I owned the cover and it was stored in my warehouse.A great way to discover your friend, a trusted employee is ripping you off.I got my cover back,Mike got his money back,and my former employee,in a fit of sorrow and dismay,plunged a BBQ fork into his back several times in an ill-fated attempt at atonement.

Was he arrested?

 

Am I the only one who finds this account fishy? Aren't BBQ fork's really long? I'm trying to figure out how you could reach behind yourself with a long fork to stab yourself in the back.....

 

"He ran into my knife - he ran into my knife...nine times!"

- Chicago

 

You could do it if you're somewhat double-jointed. I could do it.

 

Interestingly enough, about five years ago, our small town had a murder committed with a BBQ fork. It was one of those "best friends on alcohol" incidents..., at a BBQ.