Why you should always be chasing a Grail10502
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 Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Since starting on this forum and reading input from you all, I've had 3 major "Epiphanies" or Conversions in thinking: 1) I really hate selling CBCS graded comics at or below CGC prices. It's making it really hard for me to put anything up for sale. 2) For most of my personal collection (and i appreciate that many strongly disagree), I prefer raw books to slabbed. I think they look better in the Mylar and I enjoy playing with them more. Also Raw books feel like they still have a journey left in them, they can still be read, cleaned, pressed, ruined, whatever, even slabbed. For slabbed books the journey is over, all that's left is to mount them on the wall like a rack of antlers. The exception for me is Golden Age and books of significant value that need restoration checks before purchasing. 3) As collectors I believe we should always be pursuing a Grail. The journey is fun, it makes you feel alive. It puts your other books into perspective and sometimes makes you put in the work to sell off some of those lesser books. It encourages you to sell off 100 raw books to raise money towards 1 Grail. Most importantly, it makes it a lot easier to pass on those small dollar purchases that will eat up your cash and sit in your boxes forever because you have no outlet for selling them at full value. Take your time with the chase, the journey is often more fun than the owning, and it's where the stories come from. For about the last 12 years I had pretty much quit collecting and was only flipping and dealing, due to cash needs. It's really exciting to be back to collecting and chasing again! |
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 Collector
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cyrano0521 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| “The search for perfection is all very well/But to look for Heaven is to live here in Hell.” Sums up my thoughts about “grail hunting” | ||
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by cyrano0521 Maybe I should add one qualifier: define your own "Grail", don't let the market define it for you. When you chase Grails that are obtainable it's much more invigorating that looking at Grails that are unobtainable. My "Grails" are much cheaper than most. I have long pursued Silver to Modern Age First appearances of Villains and minor characters that are still active in modern times. Recently I've stepped that up to include Golden Age Firsts. Often $500-$1,000...not out of reach. |
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 Collector
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etapi65 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| The grail search is fun and I always have a list of about 20 books for which I'm searching. They're my grails though. I'm not always on the look-out with $1,500 in hand for a GSX #1. You know many first appearances and keys from the characters I love best I can get for that kind of money? I like the qualifier and couldn't agree more. | ||
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 Collector
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Doc_Cop private msg quote post Address this user | |
Recent grail (for me) purchase!  |
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 I'm waiting.... (tapping fingers).Splotches is gettin old! |
Nuffsaid111 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by EbaySeller I am in the same boat and 100% agree. I never liked slabbed comics, and still don't. Really don't like black sharpie on covers too. But everything I slab, I sell. And now I sell black sharpie cover signed comics and slab them. That's what people want - that's what I'll sell. I no longer fight any battles about habits or what people like in the industry. If I stood over my Hulk 181 and vomited on the comic knowing that's what the general public wants - then that is what people will get. |
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 I hear their hourly rate is outrageous!
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sportshort private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @EbaySeller. I don't follow all of your rules but i think i agree with them and I might give it a go. | ||
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 Collector
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Stantheman private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @Doc_Cop was a grail for me too that I just got a few years ago! a 8.0 of ASM 121 !! My problem is all my current grails are out of reach now The prices are like crazy eddie: insane! |
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 Collector
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Drogio private msg quote post Address this user | |
| here’s a philosophical thought. Is there such a thing as having two or more “grails”? I would think the one thing most sought after is THE grail...everything else pursued is a distraction or obstacle to obtaining that grail (unless it in some way is part of the journey/plan to acquire the grail). Just a thought I had. Not trying to change anyone’s mind. I hope you all acquire the books you considered grails. |
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 PLOD
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theCapraAegagrus private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Doc_Cop You got a thing for 121s? Edit: Nvm that Batman #121 is about another user lol. |
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 Please continue to ignore anything I post.
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southerncross private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Doc_Cop Nice book mate  love the canary yellow.Congrats. |
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 Collector
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doog private msg quote post Address this user | |
| As soon as I have it, it is a lesser grail. In my mind anyway |
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 I had no way of knowing that 9.8 graded copies signed by Adam Hughes weren't what you were looking for.
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drchaos private msg quote post Address this user | |
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Collector
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Drogio private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I knew the Monty Python gags were inevitable in this thread... | ||
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Drogio I totally agree, over time language becomes undisciplined and we use words like Grail or even Keys (or F**k) way too casually. Maybe "Trophy" is a better word. I just like that now that I have my eyes on a couple higher dollar books (that are not all that easy to find) I'm really looking forward to going to the next convention and I'm not tempted to buy a lot of little stuff in the meantime. |
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Please continue to ignore anything I post.
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southerncross private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I had 6 Grails all completed with the last acquisition 2 years ago X-Men 94. I got into comics in 87. Few months in I walked into my first comic store. In the back issue bin was X-Men 94 in about vg for $15. I was in high school at the time and thought I'd buy my monthly books at the store as they were months ahead of the news stand and come back next week and get it. When I returned it was gone. At the time I loved the Avengers especially the story line of the Masters of Evil invading the Avengers mansion. I use to see the old Ross ads of early Marvel's and thought it would be cool to get a issue 1 Avengers. Well years later. After the new book glut i quit comics in 1992. Only to return to pick up the books I'd love to own in 2005 X-Men 94 acquired 2 years ago.  I'm a big Sub-mariner fan so I picked up FF 4 in 2005.  I had bought a raw copy of Sub-mariner 1 in about VF in 1990 and hunted for a upgrade in 2010  And I always wanted a world war two cover of Sub-mariner so picked up one in 2010  And I picked up my Avengers 1 six months before the first movie  And I enjoy the crime books and was able to pick up over ten years ago the crime book I'd love to own.  Those 6 books were my Grails. Since then I've aqquired more books that I enjoy which is just icing on the cake after my 6 Grails. I just like comics and enjoy seeing others who enjoy this hobby posting books that they aqquired. Thanks for reading hope I didn't bore you too much. |
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 Leftover Sundae Gnus
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CatmanAmerica private msg quote post Address this user | |
I've acquired at least a half dozen Grails over the years, to the point that it's a little like the Indiana Jones movie, but this wheelhouse book would certainly be among my top contenders...    In memory of Edgar Church who originally collected it.   . |
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I had no way of knowing that 9.8 graded copies signed by Adam Hughes weren't what you were looking for.
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drchaos private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Drogio Oh, you mean the twins?   |
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| Post 18 • IP flag post | ||
 Pictures? We don't need no stinking pictures.
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brysb private msg quote post Address this user | |
| As I grow older (54 now) I don't care about tracking down a grail, find it is wiser to save my money more, especially recently since I bought a new car. I mainly bargain collect now, looking for affordable high grade lots/runs of mainly late 70's/80's Marvel and DC. Sure I want A lot of key comics, but I have to be sensible and spend wisely... Prefer to buy collected editions these days and read digital comics. I like this site and enjoy seeing what everyone collects, but I'm not a big fan of slabbed comics, prefer raw. Signatures on covers bother me as well.  |
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 I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this.
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GAC private msg quote post Address this user | |
| For me, I'm downsizing my collection in search of acquiring higher grails. Selling off mid range keys in order to buy higher end keys. | ||
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 I have a problem with fattening women up.
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Bronte private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I think a slight change in phrasing best suits my mindset. Although I agree with most opinions stated. You should always be in search of goals. Of which the grails are a part of.... Just my 1 cent... |
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Please continue to ignore anything I post.
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southerncross private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by CatmanAmerica Gorgeous book. Congrats mate. And you're not wrong about church collecting that book. If memory serves me correctly. The pre hero Detectives were not bought off the news stand. They were purchased off a second hand book store for 8 cents each. Could Church be the first collector of American comic books to buy back issues for his collection ? |
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
| sorry, posted story in wrong thread | ||
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Leftover Sundae Gnus
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CatmanAmerica private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I hope folks don't mind my stretching these Grail postings out a bit. GA books are fond of being teased...   Wanted a nice copy of this puppy ever since seeing a B&W image of this classic Schomburg cover (Volume 1, page 58) in Steranko's History of Comics way back when. . |
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Please continue to ignore anything I post.
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southerncross private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @CatmanAmerica another sweet book. I remember reading a reprint years ago and the whole book is practically a big fight issue. I'm not sure but I think this book was drawn originally over a week end. Or it's the other battle issue but I think it's this one. And I have no problems you stretching out the Grail postings with your books. You have a killer collection  |
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I think you need to post that Human Torch cover in the new thread about favorite comic book weapons. Doesn't get much cooler than Subby's tank. | ||
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 I'm a #2.
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BigRedOne1944 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Every book I acquire is a "Grail" | ||
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Leftover Sundae Gnus
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CatmanAmerica private msg quote post Address this user | |
Here's a major grail that's a painting rather than the book, ...but the comic is also a grail and posted in the favorite weapons thread as well:  Alex Schomburg |
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