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fredchamberlain Posts: 2
4/22/2020
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I've found some older info on this, but thought I'd ask it again, to get feedback and because I thought it may be of interest to some here.
Well over a decade ago, I bought a few runs of comics from a third party seller, who was moving them for a prominent, longtime Marvel creator. I ended up with some great stuff. The biggest thrill out of all of it was my ability to fill in many gaps in my Amazing Spider-Man run. I ended up with many doubles, due to my having collected the title from the mid 70's and onward.
There was a period of time, just shy of two years, in the early 1980's, that the books being given to staff were stamped with a "Not to Be Sold" , "Complimentary Copy" boldly on the covers.
I put these to the side, since I had clean copies already.
My question is, in your opinion, how does this effect value of the books?
edited by fredchamberlain on 4/22/2020
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Ronbatman Administrator Posts: 2530
4/22/2020
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Some artists and writers had books like you mention. Sometimes they were called file copies. If you know the artist or can prove the story somehow, then you have book that people might pay a premium to get.
If you cannot substantiate the story, it's just a story. Think about it like this, how easy would it be to counterfeit this stamped book? Super easy. Anyone could buy a stamp and make a limitless supply of these books.
Understand that I'm not doubting you or accusing you, I'm thinking about it logically as a collector would. It's a cool thing to have.
Ron
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fredchamberlain Posts: 2
4/22/2020
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I know where I bought them and the authenticity. Not really asking about if they are more valuable, but are they less valauble, due to the stamps?
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collectibleshop Posts: 3088
4/22/2020
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The standard for the last 100 years has been that any such kind of 'hand-stamped' stamp on a cover makes the book less valuable to MOST collectors. Even if you have receipts that itemize those books and it can be proven they belonged to a Marvel creator (who? that may make a diff), there's still how many other copies with those stamps handed out by other Marvel people? So unless they're also stamped as being so-and-so's personal file copies, they're just common as dirt defaced comics. Pretty much no one likes stamped comics, and even tho allowed in higher grades, they nearly always sell for less than clean copies, same as any other collectible, unless the ONLY versions were promo copies (some toys are like that). Free Comic Book Day comics have it printed on them, and since they're usually unique to that issue (I think), they're not devalued for the 'not for resale' note.
And the 'bolder' the stamp, the less the value.
edited by collectibleshop on 4/22/2020
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