Captain America #100 9.9 (!) for sale on eBay | CBCS Comics

Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock 7.34K	7.34K Tedsaid private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 4
	Quote: Originally Posted by EbaySeller It's interesting to think that without a 3rd party grading service this book most likely has a FMV of $2,000-$3,000. And even then it could only be sold in person to someone local who could see it and grade it for themselves. 3rd party grading services have added an unbelievable amount of value to the worlds existing inventory of comic books. As someone who has gotten back into collecting in the last 4-5 years - after ~20 years away - the third-party grading phenomenon has been incredible. When I first saw a "slab" at HeroesCon some years ago, I had an immediate, visceral, negative reaction to the whole idea. Seal a comic in plastic? So you can't read it, look at it? What a horrible idea. But I quickly came around. Not being able to read it aside, it strongly appeals on two fronts - having the sealed protection, for as long as you'd like; and having more consistent, international standards of grading. No more wondering if this guy's or that guy's opinion is being shaped by the potential for making a sale, or misplaced optimism. Now you can get a grade from someone with no skin in the outcome. But from a macro scale, it is even more remarkable. Third-party grading has transformed the hobby ... as you say, by creating value. But also, and perhaps more importantly, by simply adding liquidity to these collectibles. This process has facilitated the movement of tremendous amounts of capital into the market. A trend that continues for as long as people continue having their comics graded. But back to your point: without third-party grades, 9.9 and 10.0 grades were not even a thing. Not to mention 9.8's or 9.6's. When I was a kid, comics could be "near mint" and no higher ... "mint doesn't really exist" was the mantra in the 1980's. Hell, "very fine / near mint" didn't exist, either ... it was one or the other. The grading and the 10-point scale has been a boon for the hobby. Not to mention the very possibility of witnessed and verified signatures. Money for signatures? That wasn't even a thing back in the 70's and 80's. "Signatures add desirability, but not value" is what every comic shop owner would tell you. So now one of the coolest part of collecting and grading comics, for me, is being able to truly chase high-grade examples of vintage books, Silver Age and Bronze Age. I LOVE finding a 9.6 or 9.8 candidate in the wild and getting it graded. But beyond that, it is just astonishingly easy to add value to these comics, any comics. Hell, that's all I do now ... find raws, get them graded, and increase their value by 50% - 500%.
	5 years ago	Post 11 • IP flag post

Quote:

Originally Posted by OGJackster
I guess I'm alone here. To me I thought a 9.9 would be damn near perfect to the human eye. It obviously looks pressed and there seems to be a couple of imperfections. We all have 9.8's that look a little better. It is BEAUTIFUL, but a 9.9? I would bet if it was regraded it wouldn't come back at that grade. But hey, congratulations to the owner!

Looking at the close-up here, I can see your point. Over the words "Magazine At" along the top edge, there appears to be one of those infamous edge hairline cracks in the color. I've had otherwise flawless, BEAUTIFUL, fresh-as-new comics with one of those, and they tend to get knocked down to a 9.0 or 9.2. Some graders don't know the difference between a true color break, caused from the comic being actually bent in some way, and one of these hairline "cracks" from the ink and color just being 50 or 60 years old.

But it could just be a trick of the light. There is another one over the "Cap" that is clearly just catching the light funny. That makes me think they are both optical illusions. You can't really know the grade unless you have the actual comic in your hand. And I doubt a color break would be allowed, regardless of the source.

Anyway, when you are talking about a 9.9 from 50 or 60 years ago, you look at it a little different, I think. Instead of "is this comic flawless except for the tiniest imperfection," the question is: "GIVEN a 50 year old comic, what would a 9.9 look like?" Or, conversely, "If you had a 9.9 and held it stored for 50 years, you would see signs of age. What does that look like? Was this comic a 9.9 before it sat, protected, for five decades?"

I know some people don't like Silver and Golden age books getting more of a break than moderns. But I disagree with that. I think the reason why is, there SHOULD be examples of 9.8's and 9.9's and 10.0's from the Golden Age and the Silver Age. A standard that is so high that we can't differentiate the truly exceptional examples is a poor standard. Sure, 9.8's from the 50's and 60's should be more rare than 9.8's from the 90's or aughts. But not impossibly so, right?

I live in RI and Rhode Islanders eat chili with beans. 105.07K	105.07K esaravo private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 3
	@Tedsaid - I saw that copy a few days ago when I was looking at another item he has for sale on eBay. It blew my mind! And the book I was looking at is more than $78,800 cheaper than that Cap #100 - but it's nice to dream, right? PS - There are 129 Watchers.
	5 years ago	Post 2 • IP flag post

If the viagra is working you should be well over a 9.8. 18.18K	18.18K xkonk private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 9
	Quote: Originally Posted by esaravo PS - There are 129 Watchers. But we only ever hear about Uatu. Uatu Uatu Uatu!
	5 years ago	Post 3 • IP flag post

I'm waiting.... (tapping fingers). Splotches is gettin old! 21.12K	21.12K Nuffsaid111 private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 1
	I dunno - sure looks like a 10.0 from my vantage point
	5 years ago	Post 4 • IP flag post

The Fifth Golden Girl 48.47K	48.47K sborock private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 26
	@Tedsaid Yep, I graded those.
	5 years ago	Post 5 • IP flag post

Collector 3.1K	3.1K Doc_Cop private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 1
	one could only drool!
	5 years ago	Post 7 • IP flag post

Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock 7.34K	7.34K Tedsaid private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 20
	There is a copy (1 of 2 in existence) of Captain America #100 for sale on eBay with a MINT 9.9 grade, white pages. It is offered for $78,895. However, shipping is only $20.95, so you'll save a little bit there. It looks like the guy who got this graded originally, back in 2001, got not one, but THREE 9.9 MINT grades: TWO copies of Captain America #100, and one copy of Incredible Hulk #181. The Hulk sold at ComicLink back in 2011, for $150,000. Wow. I guess, given the timing, these three were graded by @sborock himself. Nice!
	5 years ago	Post 1 • IP flag post

Not trying to be an ass since February 12, 2020. 11.98K	11.98K HulkSmash private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 1
	Dadgum!
	5 years ago	Post 8 • IP flag post

I showed my wife and she was so happy for me she started to cry. 22.55K	22.55K Batman66 private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 2

	5 years ago	Post 9 • IP flag post

Masculinity takes a holiday. 37.42K	37.42K EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 11
	It's interesting to think that without a 3rd party grading service this book most likely has a FMV of $2,000-$3,000. And even then it could only be sold in person to someone local who could see it and grade it for themselves. 3rd party grading services have added an unbelievable amount of value to the worlds existing inventory of comic books.
	5 years ago	Post 10 • IP flag post

Forum Crier 56.09K	56.09K OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 9
	I guess I'm alone here. To me I thought a 9.9 would be damn near perfect to the human eye. It obviously looks pressed and there seems to be a couple of imperfections. We all have 9.8's that look a little better. It is BEAUTIFUL, but a 9.9? I would bet if it was regraded it wouldn't come back at that grade. But hey, congratulations to the owner!
	5 years ago	Post 12 • IP flag post

Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock 7.34K	7.34K Tedsaid private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 0
	Quote: Originally Posted by OGJackster I guess I'm alone here. To me I thought a 9.9 would be damn near perfect to the human eye. It obviously looks pressed and there seems to be a couple of imperfections. We all have 9.8's that look a little better. It is BEAUTIFUL, but a 9.9? I would bet if it was regraded it wouldn't come back at that grade. But hey, congratulations to the owner! Looking at the close-up here, I can see your point. Over the words "Magazine At" along the top edge, there appears to be one of those infamous edge hairline cracks in the color. I've had otherwise flawless, BEAUTIFUL, fresh-as-new comics with one of those, and they tend to get knocked down to a 9.0 or 9.2. Some graders don't know the difference between a true color break, caused from the comic being actually bent in some way, and one of these hairline "cracks" from the ink and color just being 50 or 60 years old. But it could just be a trick of the light. There is another one over the "Cap" that is clearly just catching the light funny. That makes me think they are both optical illusions. You can't really know the grade unless you have the actual comic in your hand. And I doubt a color break would be allowed, regardless of the source. Anyway, when you are talking about a 9.9 from 50 or 60 years ago, you look at it a little different, I think. Instead of "is this comic flawless except for the tiniest imperfection," the question is: "GIVEN a 50 year old comic, what would a 9.9 look like?" Or, conversely, "If you had a 9.9 and held it stored for 50 years, you would see signs of age. What does that look like? Was this comic a 9.9 before it sat, protected, for five decades?" I know some people don't like Silver and Golden age books getting more of a break than moderns. But I disagree with that. I think the reason why is, there SHOULD be examples of 9.8's and 9.9's and 10.0's from the Golden Age and the Silver Age. A standard that is so high that we can't differentiate the truly exceptional examples is a poor standard. Sure, 9.8's from the 50's and 60's should be more rare than 9.8's from the 90's or aughts. But not impossibly so, right?
	5 years ago	Post 13 • IP flag post

I'd like to say I still turned out alright, but that would be a lie. 29.75K	29.75K flanders private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 0
	Anyone know why they haven't designated the one without the yellow borders around "Captain America" as a printing error?
	5 years ago	Post 16 • IP flag post

Collector 2.32K	2.32K Haljordanfan private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 3
	@OGJackster - I'm with you on this. That book is not a 9.9, but if the sticker says it, then so be it.
	5 years ago	Post 17 • IP flag post

Captain America #100 9.9 (!) for sale on eBay13274