Courtesy of Heritage Galleries & Auctioneers, Dallas, Texas.

A Brief History of Comics

Comics historians have split the
history of comics into several different ages. The first, the Victorian
Age, spans almost the entirety of early American history. The
earliest-known American cartoon, published in 1646, belongs in this
category, as do the illustrative works of Benjamin Franklin. Victorian
Age material is characterized by illustrations without word balloons
and, typically, without sequential storytelling.

In the late
19th century, what we think of as the modern comic strip was born with
the publication of Richard Outcault’s The Yellow Kid (1895), and the
Platinum Age began. In the Platinum Age, word balloons and sequential
stories become the norm, as do continuing characters. This period is
marked by a plethora of comic strip reprint albums, which developed
into what we’ve come to know as the modern comic book.

In 1938,
another major step forward occurred, with the publication of Action
Comics #1, which not only featured the first collection of all-new
material in a comic book, but also boasted the first appearance of
Superman. The Golden Age was a magical time for comic books, as
superheroes from many different companies fought the Axis during World
War II, but, like all good things, it came to an end about 1949, as
most of the superhero titles fell victim to changing public tastes and
cancellation.

Out of the ashes of the Golden Age, the Atomic Age
was born. Less interested in men in tights, now readers eagerly
devoured crime and horror comics, particularly the gory favorites
published by EC Comics. Indeed, these comics were so over the top that
they gained the attention of Senator Estes Kefauver, who examined the
so-called link between…

date:2005-11-02T20:14:06.000Z

by :hrcg.com

When to Use Media Mail

USPS Media Mail is a less expensive way to ship bulk bound books, computer diskettes, CD roms, VHS & DVDs & CDs; bound magazines (that do not include advertisements, no matter how old or antique), bound manuscripts & digital video cassettes. Bulk is the essential word.

If sending one other thing besides the packing slip with the media in the same package, the USPS can consider this mail fraud or attempting to circumvent federal shipping fees. Even something like a Birthday card included with the DVD’s or bound books is a violation of federal USPS law. The card has to be mailed separate & stamped because it is not Media Mail. Same thing goes for a holiday card with a gift.

USPS routinely inspects packages that are sent via Media Mail because it is less expensive & shippers abuse it or misunderstand what the USPS federal law means by Media Mail. Plain & simple, it means Media materials only. An unbound manuscript, for instance, doesn’t count as Media any more than a stack of printed out computer papers stapled together does.

If y/our package is inspected by the USPS, which is quite often done since 9/11 & it isn’t ALL Media material, don’t count upon it arriving–it will be returned to the sender for postage $ needed. Let’s say we try to ship gold, or shoes along with books, we could be looking at charges for violating federal postal laws. Ouch!

Also, Sellers–Whenever a buyer pays you for insurance & you don’t buy it, that’s federal postal fraud! If the package gets lost, Seller, you are nailed. Buyers, do not risk shipping anything without insuring it; if the item is extremely rare, request tha…

date:2006-07-09T05:42:26.000Z

by :bette.davis1908-1989

Classics Illustrated is one of the most challenging and addictive comic
book titles to collect.  But it is also mystifying to many novice
collectors and non-collectors.  This review is meant to bring the
uninitiated up to speed on Classics Illustrated collecting terminology.

The first thing that should be understood is that most Classics
Illustrated titles were continuously in print from the first time they
hit the newsstand until 1971.  The 2nd issue (Ivanhoe), for
example, had 25 different printings over a period of 30 years.

Collectors refer to classics not just by issue number (1-169), but also HRN or HIGHEST REORDER NUMBER. 
Every printing of every issue of Classics Illustrated printed from
April 1943 has an advertisement for all the Classics Illustrated titles
one could order. (Usually this is on the back cover but sometimes it is
on one of the inside covers.)  The most recent title (highest
issue number) on that list is the HRN or Highest Reorder Number. 
When referring to Classics Illustrated comics, collectors will give the
issue number first and then the HRN in parentheses.

For instance, let’s say you have issue # 16, Gulliver’s Travels. 
Now look on the back cover and you’ll see the highest issue on the
reorder list is # 155 (Lion of the North).  A collector would
refer to that as:

Classics Illustrated # 16 (HRN 155)

or simply

Classics Illustrated 16 (155).

Another point to be understood is that THE SERIES WAS CONSTANTLY CHANGING, and THE REPRINTS TENDED TO EVOLVE …

date:2005-12-03T04:17:24.000Z

by :king-collect

One of the worst surprises that can happen to a comic collector is to spend a large sum on a first appearance of Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #39 or Ant Man in Tales to Astonish #27 or an early issue of Batman, Superman, or Amazing Spider-man and end up finding out that the comic has been restored. In the current market, a restored comic from the Silver Age with a purple CGC label is regularly worth 50% less than an unrestored comic in the same condition and often collectors do not find out until spending more money sending in their comic to a professional grading service like CGC or PGX. There are many tell tale indicators as to whether a comic has been restored. This guide is intended to give a basic understanding of some of the more common restoration processes and is only meant to be helpful professional advice and experience. If after checking these items, you think you still might have a restored comic, sending the comic to a grading service is a sure way to find out and, especially if you are selling a comic, bringing your comic to a professional might answer your question. Here are some primary areas where restoration is used:

Staple Replacement and Spine Roll Removal

Since both of these involve removing the staples I am describing them together. Staples are often removed when rust is starting to set in and affect the paper in the rest of the comic. To determine if the staples have been removed first examine the cover and look at the paper on the spine beneath the staple. Does the paper indent under the staple match the location of the staples themselves? Are there darker stains matching where the staples are now? Open the book, do the indents still align with the staples for the first few leaves (also called a wrap: i.e. whole sheet, the first and last two pages of the comic is one leaf/wrap) of paper? If the paper indent or the discoloration, (caused by the oxidation of the stap…

date:2006-08-05T03:17:02.000Z

by :thecomicgarage!!

This guide is intended to assist those in purchasing CGC graded comics versus ungraded comics. First of all I would like to share with ebayers my level of experience with CGC.  I have submitted somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 Modern Comics and 50 Silver age comics to CGC. Over my last 200 submissions of Modern books, I have been able to identify 9.8 books at a rate of around 90%.

 I have made a commitment to learning how to grade and over five years ago purchased the Overstreet GRADING Guide (not Price Guide) and its newest edition. When reviewing comics for grades, I try to focus on objective defects in the book. Whenever I hear the a term like “tremendous eye appeal” I interpret this as a marketing tactic. 

While I find CGC’s grading to be substantially accurate, I have seen signficant variations in their grading and in one case re-submitted a Silver Age book that was graded 8.5 after some slight pressing work that should have improved it and after resubmission, it was graded a 7.0??  If you have any questions about a book, obtain the CGC serial number and give them a call at 1-877-662-6642, give them the serial number and ask to review the grader’s notes.

MODERNS

Most Modern books, unless they are RRPs, variants or limited runs, aren’t worth much unless they achieve a grade of 9.8 from CGC. As to getting grades on Modern books of CGC 9.8, the average book on the comic store shelf, untouched and unread will probably grade out at 9.4.  The average layperson would be amazed at the quality required to obtain a 9.8 grade from CGC.  In the long run, I think it would be most efficient for the average collector to buy CGC graded books if your goal is to obtain certain books or runs in 9.8.  When selecting books for submission I u…

date:2006-01-25T20:53:43.000Z

by :member_90121