10 new CGC 9.8 Harbinger #1 in the past month...

[gavster]

Good thread, I've been away for a while (summers here) but still on the look out to complete my CGC 9.8 Pre-Unity run. I'm still very happy with my Harby #1 CGC 9.8.

And congratulations to the old "HYPOTHETICAL" sage on his haul.

[Elveen]

Good thread, I've been away for a while (summers here) but still on the look out to complete my CGC 9.8 Pre-Unity run. I'm still very happy with my Harby #1 CGC 9.8.

And congratulations to the old "HYPOTHETICAL" sage on his haul.

It must be amazing waking up everyday on the Garden Isle.

[slym2none]

This has to be my favourite hypothetical thread in some time.

Cheers guys.

Fixed that for ya...

...and.....

Just Thor.



-slym

[Draco]

This has to be my favourite hypothetical thread in some time.

Cheers guys.

Fixed that for ya...

...and.....

Just Thor.



-slym

Just Thor.

[MoonChild]

Too Much Math but great thread

[ckb]

I'm sorry to say I missed this thread due to some unfortunate stuff happening at home last week, but I'm catching up.

You guys covered it really well. I will add a few points:

- No mention of "upgradiing". With the huge difference in price between a 9.6 and a 9.8, it would not be surprising to see some "work" being done to 9.6's. The upgraded books would be represented in the census twice.

- With the possiblity that these books came from a single source, a large horde, it does not bother me as much as just random subs getting lots of 9.8s. It's bound to happen and these sorts of collections will be the main source of 9.8s for years to come.

I think I made a prediction years ago that 100 9.8s in the census is an eventual slow-tracking possibility. The fact that sales in the $1-2K range did not shoot the census numbers up to anywhere near 100 is the biggest testament to it being a tough book.

- I do think there's some evidence of a loosening of the 9.8 grade, but I can't quantify it and I don't think 10 H1 9.8s from a horde is a data pont to suggest it.

[playparadise]

Looks like 7 more Harby 1's where added and 2 more Solar 10's to the CGC registry as of June 24th.

[iggy101us]

Adding to the cummulative numbers . . . .

As of 4/10/2009: 24 in CGC 9.8 Universal, 2 in CGC 9.8 Signature
As of 5/14/2009: 30 in CGC 9.8 Universal, 6 in CGC 9.8 Signature
As of 6/24/2009: 37 in CGC 9.8 Universal, 6 in CGC 9.8 Signature

[StarBrand]

Between the CGC Census of 4/10/2009 and 5/14/2009, there are now:

6 new copies of Harbinger #1 in CGC 9.8 Universal (blue label)
4 new copies of Harbinger #1 in CGC 9.8 Signature Series (yellow label)

As of 4/10/2009, there were 24 in CGC 9.8 Universal, 2 in CGC 9.8 Signature.
As of 5/14/2009, there are 30 in CGC 9.8 Universal, 6 in CGC 9.8 Signature.

I would guess we'll see some of these new 10 books on the market soon.

I wonder if CGC is getting "lax" in their grading of 9.8 for this book...
that's far too many 9.8s for one month when you compare to
how tough they've been on grading Harbinger #1 in the past.

In 9 years, there were only 26 copies in CGC 9.8,
now in one month, there are 36.

In my opinion the main reason for this is comic book pressing. Here's an article I wrote about comic book pressing, but it wasn't accepted. I was told it didn't flow well, and I had to agree. I was asked if I could name names and I couldn't without breaking my word.

There's a major change that has come to the comic book collecting field, and from my experience on comic book message boards not many comic book fans and investors, percentage-wise, know much about it. It's called comic book pressing. A comic book is placed in a heat press, which adds pressure and heat to the comic simultaneously. There are certain defects common among modern books, and books of all eras for that matter, that can be completely eliminated by heat presses.
More and more dealers are starting to make tons of money pressing comics. A midgrade 50.00 dollar comic can be made into a high grade 100.00 comic in a couple minutes, not including the time in what's called a cold press, a nescessary part of the process where the comic book is placed to cool down and retain its' new condition. That same book wouldn't sell at the common 50.00 grade, but suddenly it's desirable in the 100.00 high grade and sells. A 1,500.00 book in CGC 9.4 is made into a CGC 9.6 and moves for 5,000.00.
Dealers are now pressing comics by the box fulls. Please note, not all comics can be improved in grade, but a very high percentage can be and dealers are cashing in big time now.
I am personally aware of a multitude of modern books that have been brought from CGC 9.6 to CGC 9.8. This will all eventually become common knowledge.
There are dealers making tons of money right now with presses who don't want the word to get out. They have a huge advantage over other dealers that are not pressing at the moment. The people who are doing it don't want to discuss it. They don't want competition, plus their reputation could take a hit.

[Draco]

Between the CGC Census of 4/10/2009 and 5/14/2009, there are now:

6 new copies of Harbinger #1 in CGC 9.8 Universal (blue label)
4 new copies of Harbinger #1 in CGC 9.8 Signature Series (yellow label)

As of 4/10/2009, there were 24 in CGC 9.8 Universal, 2 in CGC 9.8 Signature.
As of 5/14/2009, there are 30 in CGC 9.8 Universal, 6 in CGC 9.8 Signature.

I would guess we'll see some of these new 10 books on the market soon.

I wonder if CGC is getting "lax" in their grading of 9.8 for this book...
that's far too many 9.8s for one month when you compare to
how tough they've been on grading Harbinger #1 in the past.

In 9 years, there were only 26 copies in CGC 9.8,
now in one month, there are 36.

In my opinion the main reason for this is comic book pressing. Here's an article I wrote about comic book pressing, but it wasn't accepted. I was told it didn't flow well, and I had to agree. I was asked if I could name names and I couldn't without breaking my word.

There's a major change that has come to the comic book collecting field, and from my experience on comic book message boards not many comic book fans and investors, percentage-wise, know much about it. It's called comic book pressing. A comic book is placed in a heat press, which adds pressure and heat to the comic simultaneously. There are certain defects common among modern books that can be completely eliminated by heat presses.
More and more dealers are starting to make tons of money pressing comics. A midgrade 50.00 dollar comic can be made into a high grade 100.00 comic in a couple minutes, not including the time in what's called a cold press, a nescessary part of the process where the comic book is placed to cool down and retain its' new condition. That same book wouldn't sell at the common 50.00 grade, but suddenly it's desirable in the 100.00 high grade and sells. A 1,500.00 book in CGC 9.4 is made into a CGC 9.6 and moves for 5,000.00.
Dealers are now pressing comics by the box fulls. Please note, not all comics can be improved in grade, but a very high percentage can be and dealers are cashing in big time now.
I am personally aware of a multitude of modern books that have been brought from CGC 9.6 to CGC 9.8. This will all eventually become common knowledge.
There are dealers making tons of money right now with presses who don't want the word to get out. They have a huge advantage over other dealers that are not pressing at the moment. The people who are doing it don't want to discuss it. They don't want competition, plus their reputation could take a hit.

I shall look forward to reading some more on this.

[StarBrand]

I'm not sure I have much to add to that article, other than I'm certain of the accuracy of the content.
If anyone asks me for specific dealers involved, I can't go there. I will say the dealers who are doing this now have a huge advantage over those who aren't, and I do mean HUGE. I couldn't blame any dealer for starting to press just for the sake of their very survival.

[slym2none]

The CGC boards are "rampant" with pressing threads.

I still haven't made up my mind about it, other than if someone is trying to sell me a book that's been pressed, I would want them to tell me.

It will forever make me wonder, every time I buy an old X-Men to fill my run, if that book has been pressed or not.





-slym

[StarBrand]

The CGC boards are "rampant" with pressing threads.

I still haven't made up my mind about it, other than if someone is trying to sell me a book that's been pressed, I would want them to tell me.

It will forever make me wonder, every time I buy an old X-Men to fill my run, if that book has been pressed or not.





-slym

I've seen those threads on the CGC boards. I should've clarified. I wasn't talking of the CGC boards or this board, but several conversations I've had on other boards about pressing. A lot of collectors and investors aren't aware of what's going on. It really sucks that this has come along, but there's nothing we can do about it.

[slym2none]

The CGC boards are "rampant" with pressing threads.

I still haven't made up my mind about it, other than if someone is trying to sell me a book that's been pressed, I would want them to tell me.

It will forever make me wonder, every time I buy an old X-Men to fill my run, if that book has been pressed or not.





-slym

I've seen those threads on the CGC boards. I should've clarified. I wasn't talking of the CGC boards or this board, but several conversations I've had on other boards about pressing. A lot of collectors and investors aren't aware of what's going on. It really sucks that this has come along, but there's nothing we can do about it.

I never meant to lead anyone into thinking I was equating your post with the CGC boards - all apologies to anyone who may have seen it that way.





-slym

[StarBrand]

The CGC boards are "rampant" with pressing threads.

I still haven't made up my mind about it, other than if someone is trying to sell me a book that's been pressed, I would want them to tell me.

It will forever make me wonder, every time I buy an old X-Men to fill my run, if that book has been pressed or not.





-slym

No, that's okay. I did a lousy writing job on that. I didn't really feel like writing it, but I wanted to give a heads up to collectors if they weren't aware of what's going on.

I've seen those threads on the CGC boards. I should've clarified. I wasn't talking of the CGC boards or this board, but several conversations I've had on other boards about pressing. A lot of collectors and investors aren't aware of what's going on. It really sucks that this has come along, but there's nothing we can do about it.

I never meant to lead anyone into thinking I was equating your post with the CGC boards - all apologies to anyone who may have seen it that way.





-slym

[Draco]

Well like most things, it wont be in the UK for at least another five years then.

[ckb]

If you quote your own post, does it make you an *SQUEE*???

No mention of "upgradiing". With the huge difference in price between a 9.6 and a 9.8, it would not be surprising to see some "work" being done to 9.6's. The upgraded books would be represented in the census twice.

Let me partially disagree with one thing in Starbrand's post: saying that a large percentage of books can be pressed to a higher grade. I'm not sure that always holds. Anything in the higher grades with a color break and you are pretty much done. Bindery tears, too. On the other hand, there are certain dealers who look very closely at slabs trying to find upgrade candidates.

[JustCallMeAric]

Who cares about pressing?

If you like the book what does it matter how it got in that condition?

[magnusr]

Who cares about pressing?

If you like the book what does it matter how it got in that condition?

Do we know if it affects the long-term fragility of the book? Either way I prefer to deal with dealers who believe in full disclosure.

/Magnus

[greg]

I'm not sure whether the increase in CGC 9.8s is due to pressing or
simplydue to CGC getting "lax" in their grading...

Whatever the case, 9.8s are twice as "easy" to get for Harbinger #1
than they were a couple years ago, judging from the census.

As far as pressing goes, it is definitely happening for high dollar (older) books,
and one of the main providers of the service is Matt Nelson.

Here are the details from his website:
http://www.classicsincorporated.com/ser ... essing.htm

[slym2none]

Who cares about pressing?

If you like the book what does it matter how it got in that condition?

Yeah, who cares, right? Because, y'know, heat and high pressure couldn't POSSIBLY have any sort of deleterious effects on the paper.

I'd say that is pretty damn significant if I am gonna plop down a good chunk of cash on a comic book.....





-slym

[SnotDrip]

Did'nt greg try pressing out once and it came back pink polka dots

[xodacia81]

Well like most things, it wont be in the UK for at least another five years then.

What do you mean most things and 5 years? You people still don't have proper dentists

[StarBrand]

If you quote your own post, does it make you an *SQUEE*???

No mention of "upgradiing". With the huge difference in price between a 9.6 and a 9.8, it would not be surprising to see some "work" being done to 9.6's. The upgraded books would be represented in the census twice.

Let me partially disagree with one thing in Starbrand's post: saying that a large percentage of books can be pressed to a higher grade. I'm not sure that always holds. Anything in the higher grades with a color break and you are pretty much done. Bindery tears, too. On the other hand, there are certain dealers who look very closely at slabs trying to find upgrade candidates.

You make a good point. I should've said 'a seemingly high percentage.' Many books can't be helped by pressing and I don't know the percentage. It seems like a lot can be improved with a press, if one has enough patience to look through a lot of books and knows what to look for.
Thanks for pointing out that flaw in my post!

[iggy101us]

Anyone knows when the next update will be? Census has not been updated since 6/24.