Amazing Spider-Man Collecting Thread! 37 37

[DST]

5 minutes ago, piper said:

I got excited for a moment thinking you had completed your run! 

Haha, unfortunately still searching for that elusive ASM7.  No luck with my WTB thread.  I've also tried pressing a CBCS 4.5 WP and crossing it over that didn't work out.  Also tried buying a 5.5 (to send in for a downgrade) but the owner wouldn't sell.  Hopefully one of these days SOON a copy will pop up

[Jasonmorris1000000]

[Jasonmorris1000000]

14 minutes ago, DST said:

Haha, unfortunately still searching for that elusive ASM7.  No luck with my WTB thread.  I've also tried pressing a CBCS 4.5 WP and crossing it over that didn't work out.  Also tried buying a 5.5 (to send in for a downgrade) but the owner wouldn't sell.  Hopefully one of these days SOON a copy will pop up

Ahhhh.  So that’s why some of your 5.0’s look like they are in better shape than typical comics in that grade.  Did CGC give you a hard time when you asked them to downgrade a comic?

[DST]

14 minutes ago, Jasonmorris1000000 said:

Ahhhh.  So that’s why some of your 5.0’s look like they are in better shape than typical comics in that grade.  Did CGC give you a hard time when you asked them to downgrade a comic?

I didn't get a chance because the owner wouldn't sell the book.  I've inquired in the past and in general they said they wouldn't, but if I sent them a specific copy to look at and asked what it would take to downgrade from a 5.5 to a 5.0 maybe they'll give me an answer

Edited March 17, 2021 by DST

[Math Teacher]

41 minutes ago, MGsimba77 said:

....you mean you would actually send in a 5.5 for a downgrade???...really? Even if it's a white pager and wouldn't be sure it stays a WP? That's some heavy OCD man!

I'm on DST's side on this. I had a chance to buy a Showcase #35 CGC 7.5 for less money than I spent on the same book CGC 7.0. I now have Showcase #34 - #36 plus Atom #1 in CGC 7.0. Yes, it doesn't make sense, but, for some of us, it's important to find order among the chaos. I have BatB #34 in CGC 7.0. I am now looking for BatB #35 - #36 in CGC 7.0. I have seen grades above and below 7.0, but I plan on following through on CGC 7.0 only. I have Hawkman #1 in CGC 7.5, so I may have to downgrade that book at some point in the future.

[piper]

3 minutes ago, Math Teacher said:

I'm on DST's side on this. I had a chance to buy a Showcase #35 CGC 7.5 for less money than I spent on the same book CGC 7.0. I now have Showcase #34 - #36 plus Atom #1 in CGC 7.0. Yes, it doesn't make sense, but, for some of us, it's important to find order among the chaos. I have BatB #34 in CGC 7.0. I am now looking for BatB #35 - #36 in CGC 7.0. I have seen grades above and below 7.0, but I plan on following through on CGC 7.0 only. I have Hawkman #1 in CGC 7.5, so I may have to downgrade that book at some point in the future.

Your eyes might bulge from the chaotic grades and page qualities for my ASM 1-50 run then. I chose books based on what I could afford at the time and what was readily available.

[Math Teacher]

Just now, piper said:

Your eyes might bulge from the chaotic grades and page qualities for my ASM 1-50 run then. I chose books based on what I could afford at the time and what was readily available.

@piperI have only managed to do this with two sets of books. The first four Atom issues in CGC 7.0, and FF #48 - #50 in CGC 6.5. If you look at my displays of ASM #1 - #11 or FF #1 - #10, you will see that they look mostly like what you have.

[MGsimba77]

6 minutes ago, Math Teacher said:

I'm on DST's side on this. I had a chance to buy a Showcase #35 CGC 7.5 for less money than I spent on the same book CGC 7.0. I now have Showcase #34 - #36 plus Atom #1 in CGC 7.0. Yes, it doesn't make sense, but, for some of us, it's important to find order among the chaos. I have BatB #34 in CGC 7.0. I am now looking for BatB #35 - #36 in CGC 7.0. I have seen grades above and below 7.0, but I plan on following through on CGC 7.0 only. I have Hawkman #1 in CGC 7.5, so I may have to downgrade that book at some point in the future.

Oh yeah I agree! I totally get it as I'm much the same way. There are circumstances where I can envision myself paying more for a certain book that's chronically miswraped if it was a lower grade but a great looking copy. 

I just found the desire for cgc to downgrade a bit unique. I don't think I ever heard of that. But anyway I can certainly relate to being bothered by details. It comes with the territory. 

[DST]

6 hours ago, MGsimba77 said:

Oh yeah I agree! I totally get it as I'm much the same way. There are circumstances where I can envision myself paying more for a certain book that's chronically miswraped if it was a lower grade but a great looking copy. 

I just found the desire for cgc to downgrade a bit unique. I don't think I ever heard of that. But anyway I can certainly relate to being bothered by details. It comes with the territory. 

When I’ve been searching for a book for over a year and have never actually seen the book I’m looking for in the grade with the page quality I’m looking for, yeah... I’m willing to take some outside the box chances.  Nothing to lose; if it doesn’t work out I just resell it.  And another thing, wanting a downgrade has nothing to do with OCD.  Collecting strictly white pages does for sure, but the linear 5.0 run I’m putting together is just a fun project it wasn’t born out of OCD.  When I’ve already come this far, maybe this picture will help you understand why I’d want to downgrade a 5.5 when I only need 1 more book to complete a full 1-20 run (plus AF15 and annual 1) in the same grade and page quality.

 

On another note, probably not the best idea to openly criticize the way someone chooses to collect.  Next time I’d keep those thoughts to yourself.  Or if you’re so baffled by the concept, PM me instead.  There’s plenty of remarks I could make about your books, even in high grade, but I instead choose to respect that people collect for different reasons and I appreciate when other people are proud of their books and want to show them off and that’s what a forum space like this is all about (or at least should be).

Edited March 18, 2021 by DST

[Jasonmorris1000000]

14 minutes ago, DST said:

When I’ve been searching for a book for over a year and have never actually seen the book I’m looking for in the grade with the page quality I’m looking for, yeah... I’m willing to take some outside the box chances.  Nothing to lose; if it doesn’t work out I just resell it.  And another thing, wanting a downgrade has nothing to do with OCD.  Collecting strictly white pages does for sure, but the linear 5.0 run I’m putting together is just a fun project it wasn’t born out of OCD.  When I’ve already come this far, maybe this picture will help you understand why I’d want to downgrade a 5.5 when I only need 1 more book to complete a full 1-20 run (plus AF15 and annual 1) in the same grade and page quality.

 

On another note, probably not the best idea to criticize the way someone chooses to collect.  Next time I’d keep those thoughts to yourself.  Or if you’re so baffled by the concept, PM me instead.  There’s plenty of remarks I could make about your books, even in high grade, but I instead choose to just appreciate that other people are proud of their books and want to show them off and that’s what a forum space like this is all about.

Sorry.  I wasn’t judging.  I think your collection is awesome 

[alexgross.com]

11 minutes ago, DST said:

When I’ve been searching for a book for over a year and have never actually seen the book I’m looking for in the grade with the page quality I’m looking for, yeah... I’m willing to take some outside the box chances.  Nothing to lose; if it doesn’t work out I just resell it.  And another thing, wanting a downgrade has nothing to do with OCD.  Collecting strictly white pages does for sure, but the linear 5.0 run I’m putting together is just a fun project it wasn’t born out of OCD.  Maybe this picture will help you understand why I’d want to downgrade a 5.5 when I only need 1 more book to complete a full 1-20 run (plus AF15 and annual 1) in the same grade and page quality.

 

On another note, probably not the best idea to criticize the way someone chooses to collect.  Next time I’d keep those thoughts to yourself.  Or if you’re so baffled by the concept, PM me instead.  There’s plenty of remarks I could make about your books even in high grade, but I instead choose to just appreciate that other people are proud of their books and want to show them off and that’s what a forum space like this is all about.

it really is an impressive feat what you've done here dave. i look forward to the day you finally complete this project! who knew asm7 was so tough in mid-grade with the white pages!?

[DST]

Just now, Jasonmorris1000000 said:

Sorry.  I wasn’t judging.  I think your collection is awesome 

My comment wasn’t directed at you.

[piper]

4 minutes ago, www.alexgross.com said:

it really is an impressive feat what you've done here dave. i look forward to the day you finally complete this project! who knew asm7 was so tough in mid-grade with the white pages!?

My ASM 7 in 5.0 is off white to white pages. I suppose it would be unlikely to get a bump to white pages...

[Math Teacher]

1 hour ago, DST said:

When I’ve been searching for a book for over a year and have never actually seen the book I’m looking for in the grade with the page quality I’m looking for, yeah... I’m willing to take some outside the box chances.  Nothing to lose; if it doesn’t work out I just resell it.  And another thing, wanting a downgrade has nothing to do with OCD.  Collecting strictly white pages does for sure, but the linear 5.0 run I’m putting together is just a fun project it wasn’t born out of OCD.  When I’ve already come this far, maybe this picture will help you understand why I’d want to downgrade a 5.5 when I only need 1 more book to complete a full 1-20 run (plus AF15 and annual 1) in the same grade and page quality.

Just out of curiosity, how did this project start? Was this grade and PQ in your plan from the get-go, or did you suddenly notice that you had 4 - 5 books in this grade and PQ, and then decide that you wanted ASM #1 - #20 to be alike?

[DST]

4 hours ago, Math Teacher said:

Just out of curiosity, how did this project start? Was this grade and PQ in your plan from the get-go, or did you suddenly notice that you had 4 - 5 books in this grade and PQ, and then decide that you wanted ASM #1 - #20 to be alike?

Here is my long-winded answer if you’ll indulge me:

 I started collecting when I was 7 years old just before the summer of 1988 when ASM300 first came out.  Over the next 13 years I put any allowance, odd job savings and gift money into comics.  I built up a pretty decent collection for my age (especially thanks to yahoo auctions in the late 90s and early 00s) that amounted to a complete 4-400 ASM run as well as other misc Silver and Bronze Age keys.  In 2002 in my junior year of college I stopped collecting.  After a 13 year break from the hobby in 2015 I sold off my raw collection through eBay and my local LCS to buy an engagement ring (which my now wife of 4 years still happily wears).  I had a decent amount of money left over, and being around the hobby again even just to sell, rekindled my passion to collect.  The hobby had changed a lot with the rise of grading companies and so had my interest.  No longer looking to read all the stories I did as a kid, I was now drawn to the display aspect of books.  So in 2017 I started on my second chapter of collecting, this time exclusively slabs, which I found to be really cool.  To justify spending the big money these books were commanding, I wanted to collect books with the highest eye appeal and preservation possible.  So I sought books with great centering, straight wraps, bright colors, and also the highest designated interior page quality I could find.  I found that collecting books with a lower page quality left me with a deep level of dissatisfaction.  I still appreciated books with all different pages qualities but I only felt satisfied when I bought white page books.  I realized this feeling pretty earlier on so my OCD took over and I switched focus to collect exclusively white page books.  That’s pretty much where my OCD begins and ends.

With this 5.0 project, I have no attachment or deep rooted obsession with books in this grade.  Sure I’d love to be able to afford all high grade books, but mid grade books were simply more attainable and I could collect a lot more of them a lot faster at this price point and keep my collecting momentum and motivation going.  My keeper copy of ASM 1 was originally graded 4.5 and I had it pressed and it came back a 5.0.  Coincidentally it matched a couple of other 5.0 books I had in the 1-20 run (namely 4 and 14 at the time).  So to short answer your question now (too late ), I started this project because I had a handful of books in the same grade.  At this point I was fortunate enough to procure an AF15 4.0 WP, but it wasn’t  until I had an opportunity to upgrade to a 5.0 WP that this project really gained steam.  As you all know white page AF15s are few and far between, so it was a pure coincidence that I was able to upgrade to a 5.0 that matched my ASM1 and a couple of other key ASMs.  Some of the most unique and impressive collections I’ve seen have been built linearly in the same grade.  I appreciated the level of commitment and time it must’ve taken to find all these books in the same grade.  So I got the cool idea to try to collect all of the early ASM keys between issues 1-20 all in the same grade and take it a step further in the same page quality since that was something I was already doing thanks to my OCD.  I started going after the original Sinister Six first appearance issues first and then filled in the rest.  In November 2019 I achieved my goal and had collected issues AF15, annual 1, ASM 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 20 all in grade 5.0 with white pages.  I thought I was done at that point but after a couple of months my focus changed after getting priced out of bigger keys in other titles,.  I still enjoyed collecting and really enjoyed putting together those ASM keys so I decided to make it my collecting mission to fill in the gaps and finish off a complete run.  Now that I’m down to one book, and it’s been so hard to find, I’m pretty much willing to do whatever and pay whatever it takes to finish this project off.  From my perspective, and I could be wrong, but I don’t think there are too many collections out there like mine where people went the extra mile to try to match their books in not only the same grade but the same page quality as well.  I think it’s quite an accomplishment and one I’m quite proud of being on the cusp of completing.

Anyway, thanks to you all for letting me ramble

Edited March 18, 2021 by DST

[Frisco Larson]

First appearance of The Sandman! Word on the street is that, "Nothing can stop him!"

Edited March 18, 2021 by Frisco Larson

[Jasonmorris1000000]

28 minutes ago, Frisco Larson said:

First appearance of The Sandman! Word on the street is that, "Nothing can stop him!"

 

Except for a vacuum cleaner

[Frisco Larson]

1 hour ago, Jasonmorris1000000 said:

Except for a vacuum cleaner

A "Kirby" vacuum cleaner 

[mosconi]

15 hours ago, DST said:

When I’ve been searching for a book for over a year and have never actually seen the book I’m looking for in the grade with the page quality I’m looking for, yeah... I’m willing to take some outside the box chances.  Nothing to lose; if it doesn’t work out I just resell it.  And another thing, wanting a downgrade has nothing to do with OCD.  Collecting strictly white pages does for sure, but the linear 5.0 run I’m putting together is just a fun project it wasn’t born out of OCD.  When I’ve already come this far, maybe this picture will help you understand why I’d want to downgrade a 5.5 when I only need 1 more book to complete a full 1-20 run (plus AF15 and annual 1) in the same grade and page quality.

 

On another note, probably not the best idea to openly criticize the way someone chooses to collect.  Next time I’d keep those thoughts to yourself.  Or if you’re so baffled by the concept, PM me instead.  There’s plenty of remarks I could make about your books, even in high grade, but I instead choose to respect that people collect for different reasons and I appreciate when other people are proud of their books and want to show them off and that’s what a forum space like this is all about (or at least should be).

That's quite an incredible accomplishment so far Dave!  Not only all in the same grade and PQ but also all in the same newer CGC cases!  Coming from a fellow white page collector, I know the amount of effort and frustration involved searching and acquiring some of these Spidey books in specific grades.  I'm still looking for certain issues to complete my run and the fun of the hunt and challenge makes it all worthwhile for me...

[mosconi]

4 hours ago, Frisco Larson said:

A "Kirby" vacuum cleaner 

It looks like that Kirby vacuum cleaner didn't hold him for long