Slab Collectors- To Read or Not to Read... That is the Question!

[Mac Man]

Okay, I had a discussion with my LCS owner about slabbing books yesterday. He remarked how he was happy to sell me a bunch of his key silvers since he knows I will be taking them home to read as opposed to slabbing them. I think that's one (of a few) reason(s) as to why I haven't gotten into collecting slabs is because I'd lose the ability to read the stories and enjoy the artwork on the inside.

 

So, the question for this poll: those of you who slab your books, do you buy some form of a reader copy (original raw copy or reprint) of your slabbed books or no? If not, how come? Not trying to start any sort of flame war over one form of collecting books as better than the other- just trying to better understand a large population in this hobby.

[AbsoluteCarnage]

Had to go with Crack on that one as you failed to put in the option that we've already read the book and are now buying it slabbed to have a pristine copy of a book that we have read in the past.

[Heresy]

Almost everything I have slabbed I either have a reader copy or reprint/TPB/omnibus and if I don't have one I am actively looking for them.

[Mac Man]

My apologies on the slightly narrow selection of choices... good thing I gave the option for crack!

[AbsoluteCarnage]

My apologies on the slightly narrow selection of choices... good thing I gave the option for crack!

 

[Mac Man]

And so you don't feel alone... I had to vote crack as well since I don't even own a slabbed book. How poetic is that?-)

[Raphael]

i prefer to have reading copies of the books i have in slabs

 

however, there are books that i would get slabbed that i have previously read, yet do not own any extra copies of

[seanfingh]

 

 

I went with sometimes. There are a lot of books that I love just for their covers; the stories inside not so much. Example: Justice Inc #1 has an amazing cover. I am going to get my copy (9.2-9.4) signed by Joe Kubert and probably get a high grade Blue slab as well. I haven't read that book since I was 5 and I don't need to read it again. Now the Aparo Spectre Adventure run, that is a different story!

[rza808]

My apologies on the slightly narrow selection of choices... good thing I gave the option for crack!

I thought crack meant you cracked the slab open to read.

[superman20]

i prefer to have reading copies of the books i have in slabs

 

however, there are books that i would get slabbed that i have previously read, yet do not own any extra copies of

 

same here. I usualy have both, slabbed and a reading copy

[AnthaiHERO]

if i have the chance i'll get a reading copy of a slab that i have. though with some key issues, i may just get the slab only.

[gaz973]

I too have reading copies or reprints of all my slabbed books.

I don't read any of my expensive high grade books anymore because I'm paranoid that I'll spill beer on it or something :eek: .

[JohnT]

I don't collect slabs, but occasionally I'll buy one just because it's a good price, and crack it open. Sometimes you can get a nice slabbed midgrade copy of something on Ebay for well under guide. And since you know it's guaranteed to be that grade it's an attractive deal. But ulitmately slabbed books just aren't something I'm interested in.

[kingofwhales]

Between Marvel essentials and marvel masterworks i`m covered for the older books i buy, and most of them are`nt slabed i just dont like handling my early spider-mans or avengers,i seal them in mylar and i grab marvel masterworks for reading the story.

Other books i`ve had graded i read first and still got 9.8`s. (thumbs u

 

 

[CAP Freak]

Crack... --->

[Ebel 1911]

I had to go with No just because the choices were limited. The comics I like to buy, rare as that is, would have reader copies being too expensive to buy just for reading. Usually I like to get keys from all ages (up to Bronze, let's not be crazy!) and Golden Age war comics for collecting. Many of the ones I'm interested in have stories reprinted in compilations (Essential Marvels, Showcase Presents, etc.) and I do buy those for reading.

 

I also just got a run of Karate Kid from the 70s for reading because I remember really liking it as a kid. Funny, kind of seems like very limited plot and writing now...

[DrWatson]

Sometimes. I have already read most of them anyway. Multiple times.

[joe_collector]

I own raw copies of virtually every BA book I collect, so the CGC copies are dupes simply for fun and to complete a set.

 

But it's not just the reading aspect, but even taking it out and viewing it. Or just looking it over through a Mylar or Mylites2 - these both beat a CGC slab by a country mile.

[gernblanston]

The slabbed copy is just for the collection, with the grade locked in, and I usually have reader copies of the same books around to open and examine the original work. I don't like the reprints/millenium editions and want to get the book as it appeared in print originally.

[kc120us]

Had to go with Crack on that one as you failed to put in the option that we've already read the book and are now buying it slabbed to have a pristine copy of a book that we have read in the past.