CBH Customer scores a copy of Hulk 102 for a buck!
Valued at $450 in “Near Mint”, 9.2 grade, Hulk 102 is actually a #1. Previously, it was titled Tales To Astonish, where the Hulk and Giant Man (formerly, the Ant Man) shared billing. This young comics fan scored himself a copy of this key issue when he put a mere 4 quarters in the Gacha Machine in the store. We believe that should he decide to send it into CGC for grading, it will come back as the lowest grade copy they have ever seen! Congratulations! BTW, the Gacha machine’s top right bin has 50 capsules, each with a numbered poker chip. When you put in your dollar and turn the handle, one of the capsules drops into the slot. Bring it to the counter and you have won the comic(s) with the same number. These are on display in a bin directly across from the checkout counter. The other bins contain either Marvel Big Heads, Green Lantern rings, or cool toys.
It has been a while since I reported on my “picking” activities, so I thought I’d throw in some fairly recent results.
I traveled 93 miles to Pine Grove, PA a few weeks ago because the auction site advertised some comics. Having never visited this area before, I had to rely on Mapquest, which had me going through some very scenic areas. I turned at the lone stop light in Pine Grove and found the auction house on the outskirts of town. The auction site had a few pictures of groups of silver age comics and fortunately gave a time of 8:00 PM for when they would sell the comics. The auction had actually started around 5:00 PM. The pictures made it hard to read the issue numbers, but I spied what I knew was a Green Lantern #1 – the 1960 issue! I know that cover! And that’s why I went.
Arriving around 7:30 that evening, I could see that the auction actually consisted of items in several buildings plus they were selling plants outside. Asking some locals about how they operated, I was told that the auctions usually go on until early morning! All of a sudden, that 8:00 PM time looked a little fuzzy. One auctioneer came in the building where I found the comics and announced that he would be back in to start shortly. Eh, it was about 9:00 when he came back, but at least he started with the comics! Turns out, they provided a list which stated that they had not only a Green Lantern #1, but a #23 and a Justice League of America #1 and #29, in addition to the other, mostly DC, ten-centers. That #23 was Showcase #23 and the JLA #29 was actually Brave & Bold #29! Darn, wish they were #22 & #28, respectively!. Here’s the rub – NONE of the comics were in bags! They were just sitting out on a table and the curiosity seekers were allowed to handle them – except for the previously mentioned “Big Four” – these were behind glass in a showcase so no one could actually inspect them!? Evidently, somewhere from the time when they took the pictures and the auction, someone alerted them to the potential value of these four issues.They were first up and the woman handing them up to the auctioneer just casually held each by a corner as I saw the book bend during the transfer – aaargh! There were about 6 of us in the crowd who came specifically for the comics.The JLA # 1 was auctioned first and you could hear the collective gasps from the crowd when the “funny book” went for so much money. Next up was the Green Lantern #1, which yours truly won and the gentleman beside me couldn’t believe that I paid as much as I did for it. He had lots of questions, asking if I really knew what it was worth. I tried explaining condition and that if it was in better condition, it could be worth over $10,000 (Overstreet lists a NM copy at $11,000). He said he was “just a farmer” and was amazed. Spending more than I really wanted to, I passed on the Showcase 23 and B&B 29 and hoped to score a group of the rest for a reasonable price. The remaining 100+ books were auctioned off “buyer’s choice” and continued until finally the last group of 20 or so were sold as a lot. I didn’t get any more as the other bidders must have wanted to come home with something, I guess. So… it’s about 11:30, I’m ready to head back and I can hear the heavy rain hitting the metal roof above us. Here I am with a $900 piece of paper in my hand, no coat, and my car is parked somewhere down the road in East Gybip!. Scouring the room, I see some pitch forks that haven’t been sold yet, but they have plastic covering the tines. I’m not making this up – the pitch forks were protected – not the comics! So, I took the plastic off them and wrapped my prize before heading out into the torrential rain. It sits in the showcase now. It’s decent copy and priced at only $895.
I set up at the South Jersey Comic & Toy Show this past Sunday. It was a good show with a great selection for the collector – something for everyone. Al Stoltz was there from Basement Comics and had an incredible display with many key issues as well as some extremely scarce undergrounds he just came upon and ultra high grade copies of silver age issues. He was quite interested in the GL #1 that I brought along, but ended up buying the old Dell Comics stand that I bought at an auction a short time ago. I made a few bucks on it. A few other dealers were eye-balling the GL #1, but I just got it and know it’s in demand right now. So, it came back home. If you have any interest, check it out before the new guide shows up in July.
Maybe it’s because I’m somewhat superstitious and believe in karma or maybe it’s just because my Mama brought me up right, but I have paid people more than they have asked for collections many times and have even given a seller extra cash after I have had a chance to go through a large collection and discovered unexpected keys. I guess that’s why I ain’t rich – probably don’t have the qualities to make it on Wall Street. Anyway, last Thursday, I was told that there was an ad in The Elkton paper whereby the seller said that he had comics from the 40′s and 50′s and wanted $100 for them. If there was any sizable amount, I knew I would be offering more than just one hundred. I called and called, and got a bust signal. Finally, I got through and an obviously elderly lady (even elderly by my perspective) answered. She had sold them an hour earlier. I asked if they were really that old and she said that they were – lots of Batman – and sounded quite down. She felt that she had been taken. Another story, told to me by a good friend: He saw, once again, an elderly person, selling comics for a dollar each at a yard sale. The person at the table was grabbing all of the golden age comics, even a Superman # 14, for a buck. He didn’t intervene, but felt guilty not doing so, as I would.
A question, Dear Readers: Should one intervene when you think that something is being sold for WAY less than its value or should you consider it “fate” and go on your way? I could see where speaking up could result in a confrontation with the potential buyer. Then again, if you are willing to pay more, and want to, why shouldn’t you say so? I’m conflicted. I have been set up at comic conventions when a customer with a comic or collection for sale walks up to the dealer next to me and accepts an offer WAY less than I would make. In this case, I would never speak up and just accept it as luck of the draw. You pay for the table with the privilege of buying collections offered your way. Then again, setting up at a flea market or yard sale, you set the price. Your thoughts…
I think you are a very kind and generous person for offering more for things that you know are worth more than what the people are asking, but that being said, some people (like me) are not fortunate enough, monetarily speaking, to do that. If I went to a yard sale and saw a comic for WAY less than what it is worth, I would chalk that up as a win for me. I think it would be the sellers RESPONSIBILITY to research the item BEFORE putting a price tag on it. You watch American Pickers right? That is how people wheel and deal and make scores on items. If everyone offered what they thought an item was worth, no one would get any ‘deals’ on anything and therefore nobody would be excited about auctions. Do you offer more for a vehicle than what it was stickered for?!
Superdan
First of all,a huge congrats to the young dude who won Hulk #102! I love when things like this happens for fans of all ages. Secondly,regarding whether or not to intervene when items are being sold for less than they’re worth,it depends on the situation. If I see an item for sale,that has not been sold yet and a lowball offer has been made, I have been known to say ether “Come on,you can do better than that!” or “I’ll give you more than that and I’m from Oxford!” Usually,this has not caused a problem, as I tend to buy locally and most of local comic book fandom is used to my irreverent shennanagans by now. Again, it depends on the situation. My constant advice during this lackluster economy has been: “Unless you really need the money,don’t sell any of your treasures!”