What's the deal with Detective #33

[jkrk]

For Mcmiles benefiit I would add the following:

 

While a reader of this thread could form an estimate of what others will pay for a CGC graded Tec 33, I assume that each of us adjust our bids based on the defects on an actual book. For instnce, I might downgrade CGC's grade if the book has tan pages. Therefore, I would only pay my VG price for a Fine Tec 33. I would pay more for a strong VG+ than a weak VG+ so all I am saying is that our estimates are guides only. I assume that we all look at the book to arrive at our purchase price in addition to the label?

[Dark Knight]

Here is my breakdown on unrestored Tec #33 prices on what I would pay:

 

3.0 = $5800-6200

3.5 = $6800-7000

4.0 = $7500-$8000

4.5 = $9000-9700

5.0 = $10200-10700

5.5 = $11200-11600

6.0 = $12200-12700

6.5 = $13300-13800

7.0 = $15000-16000

7.5 = $19500-22000

8.0 = $29000-31000

8.5 = $35000-40000

9.0 = $50000-70000

9.2 = $80000...

 

I'll stop there..

 

good looking numbers DK.

 

I have a buddy out in CA who has been looking for the big 4 in VF or better unrestored for 15 years without success, with the caveat that he wants to pay somewhere near guide for them. I just don't think it will happen, unless he gets extremely lucky.

 

Even over guide, those books just don't pop up in high grade too often.

 

A quick search of Heritage yields the following highest grades sold:

 

29 - 5.0

31 - 5.5

33 - 9.0(allentown) (sold for 43K five years ago!) (since 2005 only a 5.5 has sold)

35 - 5.5

 

GPA doesn't reveal anything further.

 

Even pedigrees may not help you. The Twilight 33 is restored, as is the Larson 35.

 

Lastly the census on CGC shows the following at 8.0 or above blue:

 

29 - 2

31 - 1

33 - 2

35 - 1

 

So his quest is mostly folly I'm afraid.

 

Hey Ciorac, thanks for the comment. Tell your friend that it is near impossible to find the big 4 books in VF unrestored condition. Most of the big 4 books I've seen have in in the VG range unrestored. I believe that the higher graded ones are in private collections and will most likely stay there.

[ciorac]

Here is my breakdown on unrestored Tec #33 prices on what I would pay:

 

3.0 = $5800-6200

3.5 = $6800-7000

4.0 = $7500-$8000

4.5 = $9000-9700

5.0 = $10200-10700

5.5 = $11200-11600

6.0 = $12200-12700

6.5 = $13300-13800

7.0 = $15000-16000

7.5 = $19500-22000

8.0 = $29000-31000

8.5 = $35000-40000

9.0 = $50000-70000

9.2 = $80000...

 

I'll stop there..

 

good looking numbers DK.

 

I have a buddy out in CA who has been looking for the big 4 in VF or better unrestored for 15 years without success, with the caveat that he wants to pay somewhere near guide for them. I just don't think it will happen, unless he gets extremely lucky.

 

Even over guide, those books just don't pop up in high grade too often.

 

A quick search of Heritage yields the following highest grades sold:

 

29 - 5.0

31 - 5.5

33 - 9.0(allentown) (sold for 43K five years ago!) (since 2005 only a 5.5 has sold)

35 - 5.5

 

GPA doesn't reveal anything further.

 

Even pedigrees may not help you. The Twilight 33 is restored, as is the Larson 35.

 

Lastly the census on CGC shows the following at 8.0 or above blue:

 

29 - 2

31 - 1

33 - 2

35 - 1

 

So his quest is mostly folly I'm afraid.

 

Hey Ciorac, thanks for the comment. Tell your friend that it is near impossible to find the big 4 books in VF unrestored condition. Most of the big 4 books I've seen have in in the VG range unrestored. I believe that the higher graded ones are in private collections and will most likely stay there.

 

I've been telling him that since 1992!

[Dark Knight]

Here is my breakdown on unrestored Tec #33 prices on what I would pay:

 

3.0 = $5800-6200

3.5 = $6800-7000

4.0 = $7500-$8000

4.5 = $9000-9700

5.0 = $10200-10700

5.5 = $11200-11600

6.0 = $12200-12700

6.5 = $13300-13800

7.0 = $15000-16000

7.5 = $19500-22000

8.0 = $29000-31000

8.5 = $35000-40000

9.0 = $50000-70000

9.2 = $80000...

 

I'll stop there..

 

good looking numbers DK.

 

I have a buddy out in CA who has been looking for the big 4 in VF or better unrestored for 15 years without success, with the caveat that he wants to pay somewhere near guide for them. I just don't think it will happen, unless he gets extremely lucky.

 

Even over guide, those books just don't pop up in high grade too often.

 

A quick search of Heritage yields the following highest grades sold:

 

29 - 5.0

31 - 5.5

33 - 9.0(allentown) (sold for 43K five years ago!) (since 2005 only a 5.5 has sold)

35 - 5.5

 

GPA doesn't reveal anything further.

 

Even pedigrees may not help you. The Twilight 33 is restored, as is the Larson 35.

 

Lastly the census on CGC shows the following at 8.0 or above blue:

 

29 - 2

31 - 1

33 - 2

35 - 1

 

So his quest is mostly folly I'm afraid.

 

Hey Ciorac, thanks for the comment. Tell your friend that it is near impossible to find the big 4 books in VF unrestored condition. Most of the big 4 books I've seen have in in the VG range unrestored. I believe that the higher graded ones are in private collections and will most likely stay there.

 

I've been telling him that since 1992!

 

Haha poor guy. Besides, he would have to pay a premium in VF unrestored condition. Maybe 2X-3X guide.

[Dark Knight]

Here is my breakdown on unrestored Tec #33 prices on what I would pay:

 

3.0 = $5800-6200

3.5 = $6800-7000

4.0 = $7500-$8000

4.5 = $9000-9700

5.0 = $10200-10700

5.5 = $11200-11600

6.0 = $12200-12700

6.5 = $13300-13800

7.0 = $15000-16000

7.5 = $19500-22000

8.0 = $29000-31000

8.5 = $35000-40000

9.0 = $50000-70000

9.2 = $80000...

 

I'll stop there..

hello all...

not bad pricing, but maybe a little low...a blue 4.5 sold on clink last year for $11,500, and I bought one for just under 10K...metro has one now at $11K...I know metro just sold a 5.5 for over $13K?....

again, part of it is the seemingly availability of the book, but that is because 31 and 35 are getting "keyed' in on right now...33 will have its turn, and these will look like bargain prices

rick

 

Hey Rick.. I'm guessing that Metro sold their raw 5.5 for over $13k, but comparing it to 2002 when Batman_fan sold his blue label 5.5 for $13k shows that the market for 33's are leveled off for now. 2002 may have been a good year for this book, but since then, it's been right around book value or close to it. I also wanted to clarify that the C-link 4.5 sold for $11,500, but the seller wanted $10k because of the 10% commission C-link has. I'm sure the seller knew what he was doing and knew how much he wanted out of the book. The buyer who paid $11500 probably need that book to complete his collection and paid a premium for it. Just by how much the book "actually" sold for to the seller without the commission closely fits my estimates for the prices for each grade IMO.

[1koko]

I bought the Tec #33 from Metro.

 

Definetly paid over $13k.

 

Can't be happier with purchase, Expected to arrive in next couple of days.

[Dark Knight]

I bought the Tec #33 from Metro.

 

Definetly paid over $13k.

 

Can't be happier with purchase, Expected to arrive in next couple of days.

 

 

I saw the scan of the book from Metro and it's in terrific shape. Very nice pick up 1koko

[lou_fine]

I have a buddy out in CA who has been looking for the big 4 in VF or better unrestored for 15 years without success, with the caveat that he wants to pay somewhere near guide for them. I just don't think it will happen, unless he gets extremely lucky.

 

Even over guide, those books just don't pop up in high grade too often.

 

A quick search of Heritage yields the following highest grades sold:

 

29 - 5.0

31 - 5.5

33 - 9.0(allentown) (sold for 43K five years ago!) (since 2005 only a 5.5 has sold)

35 - 5.5

 

GPA doesn't reveal anything further.

 

Even pedigrees may not help you. The Twilight 33 is restored, as is the Larson 35.

 

Okay, you guys......don't get too excited about the apparent low price for the Allentown 9.0 copy which only sold for around 1.2 guide or something like that.

 

The reason for this low price is that the book had a minor amount of colour touch and glue on the cover even though it was still residing inside a blue label slab. If this was a pure unrestored book, it most definitely would have gone for a lot more money.

[Dark Knight]

I have a buddy out in CA who has been looking for the big 4 in VF or better unrestored for 15 years without success, with the caveat that he wants to pay somewhere near guide for them. I just don't think it will happen, unless he gets extremely lucky.

 

Even over guide, those books just don't pop up in high grade too often.

 

A quick search of Heritage yields the following highest grades sold:

 

29 - 5.0

31 - 5.5

33 - 9.0(allentown) (sold for 43K five years ago!) (since 2005 only a 5.5 has sold)

35 - 5.5

 

GPA doesn't reveal anything further.

 

Even pedigrees may not help you. The Twilight 33 is restored, as is the Larson 35.

 

Okay, you guys......don't get too excited about the apparent low price for the Allentown 9.0 copy which only sold for around 1.2 guide or something like that.

 

The reason for this low price is that the book had a minor amount of colour touch and glue on the cover even though it was still residing inside a blue label slab. If this was a pure unrestored book, it most definitely would have gone for a lot more money.

 

That's definitely a good point also Lou_fine. Certainly with minor ct and glue on cover can bring the value of a book down compared to when it's 100% unrestored. I'm still confused on how that book got into a blue label. I've seen some minor ct or minor glue on spine and received a purple label. Especially with the ct, that should have been restored IMO. Glue, well sometimes it can be restored and sometimes not depending on how it was used. But compared to Tec 31 and 35, this book will not demand as high of a price in today's market.

[bluechip]

Thanks for all of the input from everyone.

 

Just to be clear, I probably should not have said "invest in". I would be buying this book as a pure comic book fan. I have always loved these early 'Tecs and have finally reached a point in life where I could seriosly consider buying some. The fact is though, for me to spend that much I would like to feel secure in the fact that I could probably at least break even if needed.

 

thank you for your clarification........My previous comments were strictly based on the "invest" word..........a pure comic book fan has a completely different agenda then an investor looking for a certain return, similar to picking stocks in the stock market........if you are a comic book fan, buy the restored! It's a bazillion times less expensive then the same grade unrestored, and you can actually read and enjoy it because you are not trying to be so careful with it so as not to cause a .0000000005 drop in its techinical grade due to exhaling on it when you are breathing.

 

If you sell in the future, you will most certainly get your $$ back, and most likely some extra also, depending on how long you keep it. Since you are focusing on a key pre-Robin Tec ( high demand - very liquid ), there will ALWAYS be a market for it virtually regardless of resto or condition.

 

One of my favorite sayings is " it's not timing ths market, it's time in the market that matters"

You could buy low grade extensively restored books like Tec 33 in 2007, and if you sell them in 2017 you may be amazed at how well you could do....and you had years of enjoyable reading in the mean time!

 

since you are buying as a comic book fan, restored books are great

 

Showcase, I love it when I can agree with you completely. This echoes my view, which is essentially that ALL of the significant golden age books are good to have, and a good investment. If people say a high grade unrestored is a better investment I would likely agree -- provided they are not buying at 15 times guide and expecting to sell it as 30 times guide within the year. But, just as giant mansions can appreciate more than a starter home, they cost you more to begin with. and the same is true for higher grade unrestored books.

 

But it doesn't mean the starter home -- or the low grade key comic -- is a bad investment. If you're selling a mansion, say it's a great investment, but you don't need to try to convince people that if they buy a starter home they should expect to live there but expect to lose money or be lucky to break even.

 

They can both be perfectly good investments -- just on a different scale.

 

That's all.

[lou_fine]

Okay, this is my take on the valuations for the 4 'Tec books that we are talking about here. The current OS valuations at top of guide are as follows:

 

'Tec 29 - $55,000

'Tec 31 - $55,000

'Tec 33 - $70,000

'Tec 35 - $19,000

 

I have felt for the past several years that both 'Tec 29 and especially 'Tec 31 should be valued much closer or possibly the same as 'Tec 33. The cover for 'Tec 33 is certainly not as appealing as the other 2 books.

 

Now, the price for 'Tec 35 is an absolute joke, but at the same time I also don't think it yet truly belongs in the $70,000 range at this point in time. Just doesn't have the proven and established track record of the other 3 books yet.

[1koko]

couldn't agree more