shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,871
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Post by shaxper on Dec 14, 2015 5:33:07 GMT -5
Plus the way I handle my books (with my mouth) means that a high grade book won't stay that way. Do old books ever have a weird taste to go along with the weird smell? |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Dec 14, 2015 6:11:18 GMT -5
I want a comic book to hold together and really don't like to find that a coupon has been clipped from it, but apart from that I don't mind a bent cover or frayed edges. I'll even look upon a beat up copy of a comic as something like a sick puppy requiring special love, and won't hold its state against it.
I'm a great fan of G/VG comics that cost a fraction of what pristine ones do.
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Post by marvelmaniac on Dec 14, 2015 6:24:48 GMT -5
For the most part I am/was trying to fill runs of older books on a tight budget so a lot of my older early issues are all low grade (PR, FR/GD, GD).
Since I started re-grading/cataloging/photographing my books (have done 2100 since July) I did not realize the poor condition of some of these books I did purchase and was really surprised how bad they were but, you buy what you can afford and I never paid over guide.
The books I am looking for now (Pre-Hero Early JIM and ST and Early Kid Colt) are somewhat expensive and I do not want books that are falling apart like some that I purchased in the past so buying will now be limited.
Basically they will need to be GD 2.0 or better with no major tears/spine splits.
The majority of the books from the late 70's - 90's (the newest I own) are all FN 6.0 - NM 9.4.
Marvel lost me with Onslaught and I stopped buying new books with Hero's Reborn.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2015 6:40:27 GMT -5
It depends upon WHY I am buying a comic.
If I am buying a comic because it's going into a collection, then I want as good a copy as I can afford.
If I am buying a copy of a comic book because it's sentimental to me (read the story in a collection, and just love the story), then I just want the grade high enough to read.
Hardcover books? I expect them to be NM because I buy new.
Overall, I expect to get what I pay for.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2015 8:11:39 GMT -5
This is the only book I own with a one-inch tear on the cover...but I didn't mind, I make allowances for books from the golden-age. This one's from 1943. Other than that and a bit of fraying on the right side of the cover and a small pencil scribble above the title name, it still looks great.  |
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 14, 2015 8:20:05 GMT -5
Yes, that's why I always buy two copies of the book and now I have the complete run of Batman 66 and having said that - I have one copy of the book never, ever read and it's in pristine shape and the other one is meant to be read over and over again. When, I have a series of books that means a lot to me - it's pays to buy an extra copy so that one is guaranteed to be kept in good order. That's my take on this subject. Two copies? Yikes, I can barely afford one at 3.99. |
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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Dec 14, 2015 8:36:59 GMT -5
I have a collection, granted that, but that doesn't make me a collector... I buy books solely because of its creators appeal to me, therefore, any condition that allow me to enjoy it is good enough, and I'll pay the price accordingly.
Though I must say that imho, speculators are a plague, like, almost the scum of the earth. Some of the books I'm into are not that much in demand if at all, but because of this collectors/speculators CGD of whatever that is, sellers ask me for way beyond regular price because it's supposedly in a graded shape... Over here in Europe, there's not that many LCS, so we don't really get those 25c bins you guys often refer to. So when I get the chance to roam racks in northern america, those are a must for me, even 1$ ones. Yet, I've had the unfortunate experience of finding a couple of shops where the clerck would re-grade the olde comics at the cashier, the ones I found in the discount bins...
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2015 8:52:55 GMT -5
Yes, that's why I always buy two copies of the book and now I have the complete run of Batman 66 and having said that - I have one copy of the book never, ever read and it's in pristine shape and the other one is meant to be read over and over again. When, I have a series of books that means a lot to me - it's pays to buy an extra copy so that one is guaranteed to be kept in good order. That's my take on this subject. How large is your pristine collection? I get extra books when I see 'potential'  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2015 8:54:59 GMT -5
Yes, that's why I always buy two copies of the book and now I have the complete run of Batman 66 and having said that - I have one copy of the book never, ever read and it's in pristine shape and the other one is meant to be read over and over again. When, I have a series of books that means a lot to me - it's pays to buy an extra copy so that one is guaranteed to be kept in good order. That's my take on this subject. Two copies? Yikes, I can barely afford one at 3.99. I have only 3-5 favorites now and with Batman 66 and Sensation Comics leaving at the end of this month - I'm re-thinking my priorities and may not be buying print comic books. Sometimes during 2016, I will eventually stop buying print comics and stick with Comixology and using my 24 Inch Apple PC for my Comic viewing and save $32.00 a month on Comic Books. I will be heading to my Comic Book Store for Hardcovers, Special Editions, and other stuff that interest me. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2015 9:01:21 GMT -5
Yes, that's why I always buy two copies of the book and now I have the complete run of Batman 66 and having said that - I have one copy of the book never, ever read and it's in pristine shape and the other one is meant to be read over and over again. When, I have a series of books that means a lot to me - it's pays to buy an extra copy so that one is guaranteed to be kept in good order. That's my take on this subject. How large is your pristine collection? I get extra books when I see 'potential' My print collection from 2000 to Present is about 2,000+ books and I'm using the months of January to March to whittle that down to 200 to 300 books and I have another 4,000 books that I got from 1965 to 1989. I did not buy any books from 1990 to 1997 because I was working too much and did not had the time to buy books. Right now, I have around 6,500+ books and I'm trying to get it down to a more manageable number of 800 to 1,200 by the end of 2016 and use that money to buy a bigger Condo. |
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Post by Cei-U! on Dec 14, 2015 9:12:39 GMT -5
Plus the way I handle my books (with my mouth) means that a high grade book won't stay that way. Do old books ever have a weird taste to go along with the weird smell? Yup. And different publishers taste different, depending on the paper they use. I could tell the difference between a Gold Key comic and a Charlton comic blindfolded, one of my tongue's few talents I can mention in a family friendly forum. Cei-U! Craving a big stack of Dells just now!  |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,871
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Post by shaxper on Dec 14, 2015 9:18:09 GMT -5
Do old books ever have a weird taste to go along with the weird smell? Yup. And different publishers taste different, depending on the paper they use. I could tell the difference between a Gold Key comic and a Charlton comic blindfolded That's all sorts of awesome. |
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Post by DE Sinclair on Dec 14, 2015 9:36:45 GMT -5
Condition is a consideration to me when buying back issues. When I buy new comics, I expect them to be in new condition, but I don't examine the comic to be sure it's absolutely perfect. With back issues, I want to get the best condition I can afford of that particular comic, but the main thing is that it's readable. If I have a choice of two copies of the same comic, for the same price or close, I'll pick the better looking copy, but if all I can get is a Good copy for a reasonable price, I'll happily take it home. As to upgrading comics I have to one in better condition, the one I already have would have to be in terrible condition, and the better copy pretty cheap, but overall I rarely do it.
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Post by The Captain on Dec 14, 2015 10:23:54 GMT -5
My feelings are along the lines of coldwater's on the subject, in that it depends why I'm buying the book.
For my Captain America run, I'm always looking to upgrade anything that is not at least F+. Loose staples, missing Value Stamps, tears or creases on either cover; all of those put the book on my "replace" list.
As contrast, there are a few issues in other runs (Invaders, Doctor Strange, Defenders, Spider-Woman, etc.) that are a little rough, with the various maladies mentioned above. I'll replace them if I can find them for $2 or less, but I don't actively seek them; after I replace them, I give the old copy to my daughter for her collection, and she reads them until their covers fall off.
I intentionally bought a Daredevil #111 earlier this year (1st Silver Samurai) with the Value Stamp missing. The cost for a higher-grade copy with the stamp was well over $20, while the cost for the copy I bought was $4. The missing stamp does not cut into the story, and as I just wanted to the book to fill a hole in a series I like but don't "care" about like I do with my Cap run, I was perfectly fine making that decision.
Beyond that, I just picked up an Amazing Spider-Man #120 for $1. The color on the cover is faded, there is a good amount of wear on the spine and the corners and it has some spine roll, but since I am not actively seeking an entire run of ASM and just wanted to read it, the condition is fine in this case. I may not even waste a bag on it, and in the event I did, it most certainly would not be a new bag.
So, in summary, it really does depend on why I'm buying the issue.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2015 11:03:46 GMT -5
I don't mind getting HCs with a tiny bit of shelf wear on them...most of the time it's barely noticeable at all...but when I can snag a $24.95-$39.95 cover price HC for $5-$10 I grab them.
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