slpfi27

I think it is awesome you have the completed set! I would be curious to hear what you decide to do. I currently own the Spectacular Spider-Man "Nuff Said!" Complete Collection. All my books are CGC graded and 99.8% are all 9.8 or better. If you happen to break it up let me know, and if you sell the complete set, I would be curious to hear how you do. Good luck! Best Regards, Brian W

Greetings, CGC members I will throw out my two cents for someone to pick up. I recently submitted a slab that I acquired of eBay. I was so excited to get this book because it was a Copper Age CGC 9.9 Grade and was sure to improve my current collection. I was utterly disappointed, when I received the book from the seller in a bubble mailer. YES! A FREAKING BUBBLE MAILER! I knew before I even opened this mailer, that the book was going to be damaged. N' of course it was cracked in several places on the slab upon opening it. So, I have submitted it to CGC for a re-holder, and I am hoping it retains the coveted CGC 9.9 Grade, but I have my doubts, due to the condition of the slab. When it returns, I will share photos, and let you all know what happens. Best Regards, Brian W. slpfi27

I absolutely agree with that. It is always possible the Grade could drop. Good luck if you do re-sub. I would love to hear the result.

This is an interesting situation. So, if I have a CGC 9.4 Signature Series book, and submit it for CCS Press, and Grading, it will keep the Yellow-Label, but may receive a higher Grade (or Lower) It would be re-valuated post pressing and re-slabbed?

Murdo81, Wow! Simply wow! This is a great collection. I love the graphics you used on the Registry for the World to see for years to come. Great job! Keep it up Brian W.

Greetings, CGC Community It has been a fun journey putting this collection together, and so many of you helped me along the way. I am so grateful the set was noticed, and I wanted to thank everyone for making it possible. The registry is simply amazing, and there are so many wonderful collections. Congratulations to all the winners and participants. It is a true honor to be part of the collecting community, and you are the reason why the hobby is such a blast. Thank you again! Sincerely, slpfi27

It finally showed up! Two years and a few months later it returns. Thank you Lauren at DWC, for making sure to stay on this book through the Pandemic. It really slowed down the process! Glad the result was not a total disaster! Check out the "Spectacular Spider-Man "Nuff Said!" Collection! The White Whale is back where it belongs. You folks were spot on! Here is a picture for you. Before and after! Thanks everyone, Brian W slpfi27

I sent, 19 Modern Books for Press and Grading, and they arrived, 09.28.21. Status "Received at CCS" (As of 03.24.22 11:18pm PST lol) Looks like it will be a while from what everyone else has said. Look forward to seeing if any of these submissions plug the final holes in Spectacular Spider-Man #01-276 "Nuff Said!" Collection. Cross your fingers for me Good luck everyone!

Love to see this fun! Keep it up!

A little late-night strolling on the forums I find this thread. You folks are scaring me, submitted my Spectacular Spider-Man 9.8 Stan Lee's off for some addition signatures. Unfortunately, I added the quick press simply hoping they maintain the grade not looking for a bump. Sounds like I should not have added the quick press. I sure hope I do not get "struck by lightning". Spectacular Spider-Man #9, 10. Signed by Stan Lee, and Sal Buscema. Submitted them for George Perez. One of these books my Spectacular Spider-Man #1 the “Whale” signed by Stan Lee, Mike Esposito, John Romita, and Sal Buscema. I could not resist the opportunity to add the final signature from Gerry Conway. It is away now…. Pray it holds the coveted 9.8 my friends. Once complete the “Spectacular Spider-Man Nuff Said!” set is complete! Now to upgrade the final few issues to CGC 9.8. Thanks for the post…

Thank you Brittany! I am grateful for your assistance. Brian W. <slpfi27>

Okay, now we are at the point of this whole post. What do we call them? I agree with the reason to not call them Diamonds or Whitmans, and simply Direct Editions. How about as a boardie previously mentioned, "Early Direct Editions" ? I am about to submit the best of the best issues I have from my Spectacular set with the Diamond Logo in the top left. They will get classified with all the other issues I have, but I feel these are a bit special and more rare. It is ashame they do not have their own distinct reference on the Census. Thank you again for the added information.

My friends, I am truly grateful for all the comments and wonderful information. I have spent the past months finishing up my set of Spectacular Spider-Man #01 - #263 (Nuff Said!). My goal is to complete the set in the most “Spectacular” fashion possible. I suppose I found it surprising to notice CGC has never classified a difference between Direct Editions, and Newsstand Editions. I have read every post I could find regarding Diamond Issues, Whitman’s, Western, Big Diamond, Skinny Diamond, Bar-Code, No-Barcode, and clearly only the BRAVE attempted to discuss this topic. Me personally, I know a rare book when I see it. CGC Slabbed or Un-Slabbed collectors and enthusiasts will KNOW when they see something rare. I never intended to come off as a “huckster” or somebody that was solely interested in profit and financial prospect. However, like most of you I appreciate the value of my books and have made profit and lost money. This collection that I have put together is about my passion and love for Comics in general. The Census is an incredible tool, and I feel that is one of the reasons why CGC is so much more collectable than CBCS, and PGX. (my opinion.) When I see that Spectacular Spider-Man #3 has 139 CGC graded 9.8’s on the Census. I sure would love to know how many of those are Diamonds. That is how the whole thing got started. What do we call them? If CGC were to BEGIN to call them “___________” and classify as many variants moving forward. We would begin to capture them properly. If CGC were to offer a Re-Slab (as they already do) with new classified labels, they would see a HUGE spike in their re-submissions and thus generate more revenue for this already awesome company. The Census would be updated, and we would have more solid information. As collectors we would have the benefit of enhancing our Slabbed collections. It is debatable but I feel this would generate added book sales for the industry in general. People like rare things plain and simple. To say it is rare does not make it rare, proving it is rare creates perception of value, and that is what it is all about. Post an early Diamond on eBay in raw condition, its worth few bucks. Post a 9.8 Early Diamond, and I bet it sells for a lot of money. If CGC recognized them in CENUS data, we could see definitively what we already know. THEY ARE SUPER RARE, in GREAT CONDITION. The Census is a POWERFUL tool for ALL of us. I have read a MOUNTAIN of information on this subject it is clear that “Direct Market Edition” is correct as that is what they are. Or is it? The Debate continues. Marwood was right, this subject is so brutal. I have learned a lot and I really cannot stress how appreciative I am of your comments. (on ALL posts regarding the books with the Diamond Box in the Corner.) Somewhere in one of the posts RMA said something like, “it was 40 years ago.” He is right, we all have many pieces of a massive puzzle, but there is no picture to fully be assembled. Anyway folks, I submit to your greatness. Since nobody can simply call them “Direct Editions”, “Early Market Editions” or “Whitman’s” I guess the experts in the room will know what they are and that is enough. Sincerely, Brian W <slpfi27>

Lazy Boy, I appreciate your kindness! You are a shining star of the CGC message boards. I have no doubt everyone here will agree your intellect is on display and your knowledge on this subject is supreme. I know you did not intend to offend anyone. So again, thank you! As for the rest of us “know nothing” folks… Review this and tell me if I am off base on anything…. (again) FACTS: (Yes or No, and please no opinions. Let’s try and base it on fact.) 1. Not all Diamonds are Whitman’s (previous pictures prove this. So again, why call them “Whitman’s?”) 2. Some Diamonds came with UPC Codes, and some did not 3. Some were bagged with other comics, and some were not 4. The Large Diamonds stopped in 1979 (not the small Diamond) 5. The whole reason for marking the books was to prevent fraud and lost profits. This established a reason for Direct, and Newsstand. 6. The Diamonds could be re-prints; they did not share the monthly cycle as the Bar-Coded Versions. Some Diamonds could be with a blank box, or a UPC box, and so some appear to be Newsstand versions, while others appear to be bagged and boarded. So, they can’t be called Newsstand issues. Questions: 1. If Direct Market Editions were purchased in MASSIVE quantities by Whitman and other publishers, why are these books not more common than their newsstands counterparts? 2. Why wouldn’t they be more common, and easier to find? Clearly the Diamond wouldn’t even be worth marking if the quantity of these books were low print distribution or re-prints? See my point? Why bother? 3. If Diamond Box books are “Direct Market Editions” why are ALL of them destroyed? Anyone have 9.8 NM/M Candidates? Some should have survived. Not TONS but some. I haven’t found any. They look well-handled and cracked all over. This seems to indicate NEWSSTAND handling to me. Where are the pristine Diamond Spectacular Spider-Man’s out there? 4. Back to when this started…. Why not call them “Diamond Editions” (Or something different). Because, they were not ALL DIRECT, and they weren’t ALL NEWSSTAND editions? Thanks again folks! Brian W. <slpfi27> Registry set: Spectacular Spider-Man 1-263 + Annuals (NUFF SAID!)

This is an interesting comment, and I can see that point of view. Infact this is the most compelling thought I have heard on this subject. I will need to reflect on this one. However, as I think about this. If there were not many distributors to need "Direct Market Editions" then why would they need to have a reason to stop the returns in the first place? Just thinking about it. I agree though, there were certainly not that many shops as exploded in the 80's. Great comment Bellrules!