ten31books Posted June 17, 2017 Share Posted June 17, 2017 GHOST RIDER #93 Sealed Subscription Copy Longtime collector here, first-time posting on these boards. I grew up reading comics in the Copper Age and these days I'm keen on collecting and trading final issues, so when I came across this sealed subscription copy of GHOST RIDER #93 just a few weeks ago, I was somewhat stunned. I've run across old, sealed Marvel subscription bag copies before, but I've never encountered such a rare, low-print issue sealed in a 20+ year old subscription sleeve. After some digging, I turned up Ghost Rider's final circulation statement (which appears in the letters column of Ghost Rider #92), stating about 920 subs at that time, so it's reasonable to imagine that fewer than 900 subscription copies of Ghost Rider #93 made it out. How many of those are still sealed today, I wonder? Probably not many, I'm guessing. The comic itself appears to be in roughly VF condition with a few visible hairline spine stress marks courtesy of the U.S. Post Office. The backing card has no signs of damage, but there is visible "browning" along the edges of the card. I know that these types of polybags were not meant for long-term storage and the board is probably printed on the lowest grade 90s cardstock. Any comments? I'd hate to destroy a rare preserved item by opening the sleeve, but at the same time I want to do what's best for the comic! (Apologies if I am not posting to the correct forum! I thought about pitching to 'Ask CGC', but figured I'd start here. All comments are appreciated!) porcupine48 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastballspecial Posted June 18, 2017 Share Posted June 18, 2017 (edited) I love those sub books. I never see them in NM because of the abuse they got in the mail. Most of I have seen have been X-Men or ASM books. Edited June 18, 2017 by fastballspecial nepatkm and ten31books 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peakoilhater Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Here's my copy I found a few years ago for $1. I think it has become a valuable book. This one is PERFECT!!! 9.8 material all the way. I could be wrong but I believe being a last issue Marvel didn't print too many copies of this one. Love the cover though. ten31books 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ten31books Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 There are some copies of Ghost Rider #93 listed on ebay right now in the $50-$75 range, but I have never personally had success trading raw NM copies for more than $35. There were around 30,000 copies originally printed. Issue #93 was not intended to be the 'final' issue, and #94 was solicited but canceled (and then finally printed in 2007 around the time that the Ghost Rider film came out). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peakoilhater Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 How do you know there are only 30,000 copies. That's not really a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revat Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 haha no one has answered the OP's questions. Neither will I! I don't know what's best, but I would probably leave it in the bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valiantman Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Don't open it. Condition is less important than the sealed bag, when it comes to very rare items. If you remove the bag, it's just like every other copy. ten31books 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the blob Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 I agree, keep it the way it is, store it in a magazine bag with a magazine board or two if it fits. You may very well have the only one of these still in the sub bag out there (and there were probably only a few subs of the book anyway)and it is an uncommon book. 30K sounds high as the title was on its death march at that point. The book is probably not worth slabbing as an 8.0 anyway. ten31books 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeksAreMyPeeps Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Is there anything printed on the actual bag? If not, it may not make a huge difference, since I imagine it would be possible to rebag it with the right sort of machine. The card is cool though ten31books 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the blob Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 It may not be easy to re bag it identically and why bother? Maybe the uniqueness makes it worth 2-4x fmv. Need to find the right buyer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ten31books Posted June 23, 2017 Author Share Posted June 23, 2017 Thanks for the replies! I will probably keep it bagged and sell on ebay at a later date. Re: 30,000 copies Yes, that figure is a bit high. I looked it up on the Comichron Archive, and sales for Ghost Rider #93 were about 18,000 in the direct market in North America (ranking #163 on the Top 300 chart in December 1997) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philflound Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 I don't think it in the bag is going to add any value whatsoever. It's not like it's limited in any way or comes with a trading card or something not available otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Surfer Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 On 2017-6-18 at 5:26 PM, peakoilhater said: Here's my copy I found a few years ago for $1. I think it has become a valuable book. This one is PERFECT!!! 9.8 material all the way. I could be wrong but I believe being a last issue Marvel didn't print too many copies of this one. Love the cover though. I would give $100 for a copy like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peakoilhater Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 Sure, I'll sell it for $100. Just pm me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manetteska Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 On 6/23/2017 at 10:54 PM, Philflound said: I don't think it in the bag is going to add any value whatsoever. It's not like it's limited in any way or comes with a trading card or something not available otherwise. On 6/25/2017 at 10:45 PM, Silver Surfer said: I would give $100 for a copy like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valiantman Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 On 6/23/2017 at 10:54 PM, Philflound said: I don't think it in the bag is going to add any value whatsoever. It's not like it's limited in any way or comes with a trading card or something not available otherwise. It comes in a sealed bag with a subscription page. That's the "something not available otherwise". You don't know much about collectors who have money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philflound Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 1 hour ago, valiantman said: It comes in a sealed bag with a subscription page. That's the "something not available otherwise". You don't know much about collectors who have money. I know plenty about collectors as I've been one for well over 30 years, had my own store, managed my friend's 3 stores, and have been doing Ebay since 1998. I just personally don't think there is much of a market for them. But it seems there is at least one person who will buy them, or at least says so. I'd be interested if he actually gives $100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazyboy Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 1 hour ago, Philflound said: I just personally don't think there is much of a market for them. There doesn't have to be. It's definitely a niche, but you only need to find one sucker astute collector to pay the premium if you're selling. 4 hours ago, manetteska said: Um... he quoted peakoilhater's "PERFECT!!! 9.8" copy, not the OP's bagged copy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Surfer Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 1 hour ago, Lazyboy said: There doesn't have to be. It's definitely a niche, but you only need to find one sucker astute collector to pay the premium if you're selling. Um... he quoted peakoilhater's "PERFECT!!! 9.8" copy, not the OP's bagged copy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philflound Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 If it's still in the sealed polybag, there is no guarantee for a 9.8. The crease from the seal many times indents the comic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
