jBiggie Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 I posted a similar thread on CBCS and got some great feedback and answers, so hopefully I can get some more help here. I am very distantly related to Steve Ditko through marriage, and many years ago at a Christmas party, he signed a bunch of comics for me. I submitted them to CBCS, and they refused to authenticate them. I believe their reasons were BS, but they basically told me that no one could have so many books signed by Ditko. Moreover, in order to certify them, they wanted me to write Ditko and have him verify their authenticity. Unfortunately he passed away, and I am unsure of the status of the last letter I wrote him, requesting he contact cbcs. I do however, have the following: 1. The last letter and stationary Ditko wrote to me ( I had other letters from my childhood, but my dumb didn't save them) 2. Family photos of Ditko that have never been publicly released 3. An email from Ditko's long time friend and editor for the past 40 years, Robin Snyder, confirming the signatures authenticity, and the veracity of my story. Ditko would sign comics, especially for family when he returned home to Johnstown PA 4. I also have a ancestry.com printout showing our distant connection I was a huge collector when I was a kid. Recently, I got back into the hobby. I have consulted with various "industry experts", and shared my story with many on google plus communities. All are in agreement that the value is unknown, and I should contact an auctioneer to establish if there is any interest in them. I would like to get the comics certified and preserved first. I want to keep most if not all in the family to pass down, but I would be willing to part with a few. So my question to the community is, how would you proceed from here if you were me???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedicAR Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 You're clearly in over your head, send them to me and I'll see what I can do for you. Seriously, though, I guarantee that there is interest in these. I am certainly interested in one, possibly more if there are different books signed. Unfortunately, value is tough to determine. I've picked up a couple through the years. One for about $65 and another for closer to $150 (my memory is shaky due to TBI, no joke) and I was happy to spend it each time. I wish I had more info for you but his signature is so rare, there is no real guide to use for pricing. Just looking at eBay, prices range from $200 and $350, up to $611. There is a letter listed for $450 and an album cover for $100,000. I have doubts that either will sell, but they are out there. I wrote Mr. Ditko several times through the years and he always responded. I have missed seeing letters arrive with only "S.D." or "Ditko" above his New York address. He was a huge mystery to me, but I always enjoyed his art and his responses to my letters, including one about the difference between holding oneself to high standards and just being stubborn. I figured if anyone would have insight to that subject, he was the man! It wasn't a veiled attempt to get him to explain his philosophy, but rather I was seeking advice. Friends and family insisted that I was being stubborn on a particular subject but I saw it differently. My first letter was a request for a signature on my Marvel Masterworks Spider-Man volume and he politely refused, explaining that he didn't have the time for such a thing in a full page, handwritten letter that he signed. That would have been roughly the time that he signed these for you, sometime around 1992 or 1993, as Defiant was launching. Whatever you decide, I wish you luck. Keep me in mind when it comes time to sell! philsbackpack 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBRobin Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 On 2/8/2019 at 10:23 AM, jBiggie said: I wrote him, requesting he contact cbcs. Know how much he disliked signing things, that seems like a real pain in the on his part to have to call CBCS to authenticate someone's books. If you plan on keeping most of them in the family and only need to authenticate a few, then I would just put them on ebay and explain the connection. People buy fake stan lee sigs on ebay all the time. They'll certainly buy your ditko sigs without third party authentication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_highgrade Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 PM sent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comicginger1789 Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Awesome story! I guess the big thing is determining why you want them verified in the first place. If you have as much proof as you say (and can show or share with someone who asks), then I see no reason to worry about a fan doubting the authenticity of the signatures. In terms of getting an expert to verify, well, to me that sounds like the intent is on selling some of these comics, which is awesome too because there are many collectors who would LOVE to own something signed by a legend like Mr. Ditko. If selling, I would just be honest and provide all that you can. In terms of value, that can be tricky. Since you have this story, that may be unique and exactly what a collector wants to know when acquiring a book like this. So in terms of prices, I think you could ask in the $400-600 range easily and get some takers. The books you have signed are neat but for me personally, I would want an actual comic he worked on rather than a reprint. That is just a personal preference. If you have an issue he did artwork on from the 70's or older, that could command some serious value. As for preserving, well that may be difficult if you want someone to recognize them as legitimate signatures. CGC won't authenticate the signatures. If I recall, they will either grade with a blue label and take into effect the signature as a detractor to the comic OR a qualified green label where they do not take into effect the signature and they will notate that there is a signature on the cover (but it will not say "signed by Steve Ditko" on the label). This may up the value slightly, depending on the collector and the comic submitted. Personally, while I love the look of a slabbed book, I would prefer a Ditko signature raw. Hope this helps somewhat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardiacKid1 Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 The thought that I had after reading this post? Man, it would have been great to add Stan’s sig to these books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jBiggie Posted February 15, 2019 Author Share Posted February 15, 2019 Honestly, I wanted them verified and slabbed for preservation. Also, I cant tell you how many times I have been called a liar for claiming to have these books. When CBCS refused to certify them, it set me on a mission. I saw Ditko sign them in front of me when I was a kid. Now that I am an adult, and understand him more, I think he signed them for me, because his uncle (my great uncle) asked him to. I think the signatures were a sign of respect and a little nod to my fandom. The other books that he signed for me are Valiants and a couple of older Blue Beetle books I picked up. I would honestly sell most of them if it was life changing money, but at $500 a book, it is not enough to part ways with them. If I do sell, I certainly would like to see them go to people who really respect and admire Ditko for his contribution to the hobby, and American Pop Culture. Thanks for the comments and the PMs guys. I will keep you all in mind if I can get a concrete answer on price/certification. austinhg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GomerPyleUSMC Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 On 2/12/2019 at 6:19 PM, CardiacKid1 said: The thought that I had after reading this post? Man, it would have been great to add Stan’s sig to these books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
