A Fun Holy Grail Collecting Story

DennisCuzinski

Here is one of those cool collecting stories about my LCS owner Dave. Do you have any diamonds in the collecting rough tales?

http://www.rpsteeves.com/2012/09/a-true-comics-holy-grail.html

phansford

"It's not quite locating Action #1, Dectective #27 or Amazing Fantasy #15, but it's right up there. "

You do realize that Showcase #4 is the second only to Amazing Fantasy #15 as the most sought after Silver Age Book. It IS like locating Action #1, Dectective #27 or Amazing Fantasy #15. Showcase #4 pre-dates FF #1 by nearly 5 years.

A VG copy of an early DC Silver Age comic is REALLY hard to fine, let alone the Key Issue of all SIlver Age Key Issues. Midtown has a copy in VG for $3,100 (on sale)

I'm not trying to be harsh..... but having been a Silver Age collector for when I was collecting (1975-2009)...... this is about as holy grail as it gets. :)

DennisCuzinski

That's what I said! I listed the three books that would have been more relevant to me. This would be 4th on my personal list. It was pretty darn exciting just to be in its presence. Glad you see it the way I did! :D

matchkitJOHN

I was getting that book mixed up with the Flash comic that brought Jay Garrick and Silver Age Flash together. Don't remember issue number but you guys know the cover I am sure.

I have never had anything like that but I do get happy when I go to a con and find a reader copy of some Kirby-Lee area Fantastic Four's for like a few bucks. Nice to have something like that in my hand and I can read with all the vintage ads. I got a Dr. Doom from Fearless Readers for $5. It was FF 84.

dubbat138

matchkitJOHN said:

I was getting that book mixed up with the Flash comic that brought Jay Garrick and Silver Age Flash together. Don't remember issue number but you guys know the cover I am sure.

I have never had anything like that but I do get happy when I go to a con and find a reader copy of some Kirby-Lee area Fantastic Four's for like a few bucks. Nice to have something like that in my hand and I can read with all the vintage ads. I got a Dr. Doom from Fearless Readers for $5. It was FF 84.

I love finding reader copies of pretty much any comic from the 60s till mid 70s. The ads are so much fun to look at. Plus you never know when you will discover an artist you have never heard of.

phansford

DennisCuzinski said:

Do you have any diamonds in the collecting rough tales?

Back to your original question. :\">

Story #1 - Early Marvels
The best "find" was actually a gift. My aunt and uncle were moving and cleaning out my cousin's room. He's about 11 years older than I am. They found three comic books in his closet that they thought I would like and they gave them to me.

Avengers #1, Strange Tales Annual #2 (third appearance of Spider-man), and Incredible Hulk #3.

When I sold the collection, my oldest son wanted to keep Hulk #3. Its in his book of comic books. The other two were sold. I gave the money I got for the two books to my cousin. He was just blown away and told me to keep the money. But I insisted. I always felt that I was just a steward of those books. He put the money to good use and flown to visit a close friend who was dying of cancer.

Story #2 - Coverless Amazing Fantasy #15
When I was a senior in High School (1978/1979), my local comic dealer had a coverless copy of AF #15 and a coverless copy of FF#1. He was asking $25 for each. I bought AF #15. As an interior, it was in VG/Fine with some slight browning at the edges. Otherwise, it had sharp corners and was flat with no bent pages. (I wish I had purchased FF#1 also).

I always thought I'd find a cover or a partial book and Frankenstein a copy. I just never put forth the effort. Amazingly enough, I sold my coverless copy of AF #15 for $500. My wife was in total disbelief that anyone would pay that much for a coverless comic book. I always joke with her that I got a 2,000% return on my investment. Much better than my SEP-IRA Just think about my cousin's return on his 37¢ investment :))

WetRats

One time, while looking for the Holy Grail, I found myself in a castle inhabited only by eight score young blondes and brunettes, all between sixteen and nineteen and a half, spending their lonely lives bathing, dressing, undressing, making exciting underwear. Just as I agreed to vigorously castigate them all for their various sins, real and imagined, Sir Launcelot burst in and attempted to save me from temptation.






We buried him in the bailey, next to the pig trough.

RedRight88

WetRats said:

One time, while looking for the Holy Grail, I found myself in a castle inhabited only by eight score young blondes and brunettes, all between sixteen and nineteen and a half, spending their lonely lives bathing, dressing, undressing, making exciting underwear. Just as I agreed to vigorously castigate them all for their various sins, real and imagined, Sir Launcelot burst in and attempted to save me from temptation.

We buried him in the bailey, next to the pig trough.

You should have used the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.

Just remember: Three shall be the number counted, and the number counted shall be three. Thou shalt not count to four, nor shalt thou count only to two, unless then proceeding directly to three...Five is right out!