I Turned a $2,000 Comic Into $8,000 With a Clean and a Press
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- Опубликовано: 12 окт 2024
- In this video, I reveal how I bought a beautiful copy of Amazing Spider-Man #129 that had been abused by someone who had done a poor clean and press job on it. I clean up the mistakes and you won't believe the grade I get.
Edit: 2/20/24
There is a common defect on the book that I talk about that apparently does not affect the grade much, if at all. I have received a couple of comments from folks who believe the book does not deserve the grade it received and think I should have returned it to CGC for a regrading.
However, I do not feel the book is undeserving of the grade it received. Save for the one common defect, the book looks better than many 9.8s I have gotten in the past. However, to avoid spoilers in case you have not seen the video, please watch and decide for yourself.
Lastly, I have sold the book and the buyer was shown numerous detailed photos that included all of the defects. He was also given a 60-day, no questions asked, money-back guarantee. If he does not like the book, he can return it for a full refund. In my conversations with him, it was obvious that he is a knowledgeable collector and would almost certainly reach out to me if he didn't think the book was graded correctly.
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The products that I use for collecting comics: improvecollect...
I sometimes sell the books featured on this channel! Here is the link to my shortboxed inventory:
shortboxed.com...
Find me on Instagram @ImproveCollecting
Check out my comic ballpark grading tool here: • Free Comic Book Gradin...
Link to my grading tool video: • Free Comic Book Gradin...
Here is the Amazon link to KaptainMyke's books, which I used to learn how to clean and press comics:
Pressing Basics: amzn.to/3pvdcPy
Stain Removal/Whitening: amzn.to/3UiCPRL
Happy collecting!
Hello. I write to inform you of a serious issue that has come up. "No pun intended." Since the release of this particular video, your reputation as a comic book seller has come into question. Be it in the comic book chat rooms, it has come into question none the less. I respectfully urge you to formulate some type of response to these allegations. My advice is unsolicited yes, but you are a seller, and I am a buyer. There are many buyers out there waiting to hear from you regarding this pertinent matter. Good day sir.
Hi, I don't read chat rooms. What exactly is the allegation? I offer full transparency. I clean and press books and document the journey here on RUclips. Thanks for your help. I'll pin this comment so everyone can see it.
Edit: I'm going to be out of town for about a week. I'll answer any response you give then.
I think I may have gleaned it from two other comments. Does it have to do with the top staple issue? If so, here are several other books now for sale on eBay that appear to have the same common defect:
www.ebay.com/itm/335058593658
www.ebay.com/itm/364617208266
www.ebay.com/itm/404785126518
www.ebay.com/itm/404785126518
www.ebay.com/itm/134724571198
www.ebay.com/itm/184766858578
I now have seen numerous other copies. In fact, it might be more rare to find a copy that doesn't have the issue.
The rest of the book is extremely nice, I mean 9.8 nice. I think maybe the staple kept it from getting 9.8? I think I recently heard Matt Nelson say severe bindery issues can take a book down a grade or two.
@@ImproveCollectingComics Good day again. I thank you for the reply. First, I appreciate the fact you do not read chat rooms, but you are a RUclips content creator, with a comments section in your videos. So, these chat rooms are a reality. 2nd, a certain element of the comic book community has viewed and reacted to your video. They are claiming that you performed a crack & resubmit of a CGC 8.5 graded ASM #129 with a tear. In your video, you said that because of a tear in the ASM 129, it cannot come back graded higher than a 9.0. After your 129 came back a 9.6, you sold it, and celebrated. That is the issue here. the community, BUYERS in particular, are accusing you of selling a vastly/greatly over-graded ASM #129. We the comic book RUclips community, (who you a re a part of) would like to see you issue a reply to the allegations. Again, we were hoping. Good day.
@@ImproveCollectingComics Good day again. I thank you for the reply. First, I appreciate the fact you do not read chat rooms, but you are a RUclips content creator, with a comments section in your videos. So, these chat rooms are a reality. 2nd, a certain element of the comic book community has viewed and reacted to your video. They are claiming that you performed a crack & resubmit of a CGC 8.5 graded ASM #129 with a tear. In your video, you said that because of a tear in the ASM 129, it cannot come back graded higher than a 9.0. After your 129 came back a 9.6, you sold it, and celebrated. That is the issue here. the community, BUYERS in particular, are accusing you of selling a vastly/greatly over-graded ASM #129. We the comic book RUclips community, (who you a re a part of) would like to see you issue a reply to the allegations. Again, we were hoping. Good day.
Sounds like you think CGC is haphazard in regards to their grading of some books. I often see nice books in CGC slabs that appear too harshly graded. Some youtubers keep cracking open some of their lowly graded books 3-4 times until CGC gives them what they think deserves a 9.6-9.8. CGC is not so great at what they do. RUclipsrs are complaining that CGC is starting grade comics a lot of lower on poorer graded books as time goes on, compared to a decade ago.@@baggedhoarded5711
Such a joy to witness your joy. Well done...thanks for sharing.
I like your enthusiasm. Like hanging out with a friend.
Nicely done. Bravo!
I would keep that one. Congrats.
Way to go Jim! Congrats and well done!
Fantastic book! What a great out come!
Simply amazing. Wow...what a Grade Bump. I will be using your sloth method for sure. I tried my first and second clean and for both comics I snagged the bottom corners, causing color breaking creases. Glad they were donated dollar bin filler books. You are still by far a great inspiration. Keep up the solid great content.❤
Being a sloth is definitely the way to go
Congratulations Brother!!😎👍♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️✨️✨️💯💯💯💯💯
Thanks 👍
KEEP. IT.
Awesome. I still think my 3.5 looks pretty good but 9.6 is a different tax bracket for sure.
WOW! Congrats on the sale!!!
The Legend continues.....
Would have been nice to see a pre-submission video showing current condition evaluation, what was done to the book, and then this video.
I had a bunch of that recorded and lost it when my phone went kaput :(
Like how you approach things.
That’s an awesome result. Great job.
And that’s how you can enjoy your clean and press Hobby right there. Excellent work.
Another amazing job! I love watching your videos, keep up the content!
Super cool! Congrats!
Wow. Congrats man. That’s awesome! Great job!!
WOW! Congrats.
Jim I was so excited for you to get that grade bump and I had a big smile on my face when you just shrugged. I know you were flabbergasted.
I also have an 8.0 ASM 129 that I’ve been thinking about cracking and pressing but the thought of it scares me.
It is definitely not for the faint of heart...
Awesome grade bump , hard work pays off
*_I guessed a 9.4._*
*_Wow, GJ man!_*
Dude - DUDE!! Nice job!!! That is amazing - congrats!!!
Thank you so much 😀
That is awesome! Congrats
O I'm thinking u might get a lot more customers I could be one of of them some day. Congratulations on the bump up.
Bought it when it came out my favourite cover.
Nice! Man, I wish I could have been around when that book showed up on the stands
That is awesome!! Congrats!
Insane Jim!!!! 🎉
Great work, as always!
Thats amazing !! I'm excited for you! Can't wait til the next big book comes by your way.
Love your content man... great to see how nervous you were before showing the grade and then BAM!!! Congrats dude!
Appreciate it!
So cool. Your an artist in a sense with your cleaning skills. Love the reactions, keep them coming.
Oh. And I happen to have a comic guide for a company called Moondance from 1981(it has a cool cover by Windsor-Smith). Spider-Man #129 was only $2.50. Damn.
$2.50! wow...
Last summer I managed to get an ASM #129 graded at an 8.5, and the plan was to crack, clean and press and send it off for grading while a friend is mine documented the whole process.
When I got the book, and compared the grader notes, I honestly couldn't find any pressable defects, so it was an easy decision to leave it alone and not tempt fate
Absolutely awesome!!!
Thanks!!
Amazing work! congrats. That's my all time fav character in comics. Awesome score 😀
One of my favorite/most heartbreaking parts of the 1990 Marvel Universe Series 1 set is the MVC (or Most Valuable Comics) subset. On the back of 13 cards they should the overstreet price guide value of certain comics in Near Mint condition in 1989/90. They have a card for ASM #129 and they have the value at $185! As gross as that is, they valued Amazing Fantasy 15 around $3000 in NM condition. Anyone figure out how to make that time machine yet??? lol. Great video as always!
Incredible. Very inspiring. Congrats!
Thanks so much!
Amazing! Congratulations!
congrats!!!
Awesome book/grade bump! I've actually picked up a few doubles for certain books and told myself that I will learn your methods and clean/press these books one day. Be well! Have a great Sunday/week! 👍🏼👍🏼
I'd go for it! Very rewarding stuff...
Nice work 🎉
Great Job and Congrats!!!
Congratulations you hit the jackpot
Wow! Great job Jim. You should probably hang on to that one.
Awesome work & thank you for sharing!
Thank you! Cheers!
Nice work. Your videos are awesome.
Thank you so much 😀
I was ready two cry with you, that's awesome!
This should go into your PC! You'll regret not keeping it in the future. I cleaned and pressed a Ghost Rider 1 and it came back a 9.6 and I still kick myself for selling it and it is not even as much of a grail as that book is.
Amazing!!
Happy for you! It is one of the best-looking covers in comics.
After you revealed the grade, I was hoping that the camera was shaking after you walked off camera as if the stand was shaking I was afraid the slab would fall. Nice grade!
It looks unstable, but I think it's leaned back pretty securely there. My heavy feet just shake the floor and the camera.. the slab isn't actually moving that much, if at all. I'll reality check it next time I unbox just to be sure though, thanks!
All that care and you nearly knocked it off the stand to unveil the grade. Wow.
LOL yeah it looked that way
Wow you continue to impress us with your skills! I personally would sell it too. Too much money tied up in one book and of course… you need to buy more books 😂
Amazing work. I need to send you some of my keys for pressing. 👍🏼
Thanks!
Congrats man! Excellent result. Really wish you lived next door to me. I'd let you work on my ASM 129 for free😜. Though mine has a price sticker on it. Never been brave enough to try and remove it.
Wow, 5 grades, that is insane
Should keep it until you get a 9.8. Value on that one will go up again.
Love to see it! Would be interested in seeing the whole process of you cleaning some of these books, so interesting!
Oh Jim! I'm speechless. Congrats man! This is an epic upload. I have never owned a copy of that one. Probably never will. I only spent close to that much one time on a comic, and since then it has doubled in value. My wife would probably kill me, but one day if I ever decide to sell it, then she'd understand. I am so happy for you. I laughed and almost shed tears of joy when you revealed the grade and had to step off camera. You were floored. So was I. I guess I kind of expected a 9.2 or 9.4 with a very outside chance at a 9.8, but the 9.6 was awesome!
If it were 9.8 I'd have died on camera, so close call there!
I have ASM 129 signed by Stan Lee and got it graded CGC Signature Series at 9.0.
@stevengomez6595 That's awesome man!
DO NOT SELL THAT BOOK.. THAT BOOK REPRESENTS YOUR LOVE AND DEDICATION FOR COMICS.. ITS NOT ABOUT THE MONEY.. YOU WILL REGRET SELLING IT.. YOU SAID IT WAS YOUR BEST WORK.. YOU DESERVE TO KEEP IT AND SHOW IT OFF.. GREAT JOB AAAAA++++
HE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY SELL IT!!! THAT BOOK IS A CONSIDERABLE BUMP AND WORTH A TON MORE NOW. THAT REASON ALONE MEANS HE SHOULD SELL IT FOR THE MASSIVE PROFIT HE'LL GAIN. IT CAN STILL REPRESENT HIS "LOVE AND DEDICATION" FOR COMICS, OR LACK THEREOF.
Absolutely incredible! I bought one and got it graded a 7.5 before I knew about cleaning and pressing. Got it pressed and deep cleaned and it came back a 9.0. Definitely the crown jewel of my collection. Great work and great video!
Awesome, congrats on the book!
Dang bro, big congratulations on that serious grade bump! Your time and efforts are “paying off” in various ways! 🤜🏾🤛🏻😀
Thanks!
I clicked on the video in hopes of seeing the actual restoration process. Are the techniques proprietary?
They just are a work in progress, so I'd hate to show something that quickly becomes obsolete. I hope to get it to a point where I feel like I "figured it out" soon!
Congratulations that is excellent
That is awesome bro. I know it’s a lot of money but I think it should stay in your PC. Congrats 🤘
I would love to keep it.. but I am moving more toward a copper age collection specialist type thing
@@ImproveCollectingComics I can completely understand that. Again, fantastic job. It has to feel good with a book of that caliber. I enjoy your content greatly, especially your how to videos on CPR and have just recently bought my own press. Haven’t started yet as I’m still gathering supplies watching videos and studying Kaptainmykes books. 🤘
I dont recall how much back in 84 it was but dont think it was very much at all but still did not have much money then and my thought process on collecting was off meaning I liked to buy 15 comics for $10 compared to buying just 1 $10 comic. While I picked up many awesome books I did skip on silver age books that I could have had that now go for 4-5 figures with grades starting at 7.5cgc. The regrets being TMNT1/1 (nm) and ASM14(vf-nm). And there would have been others but too many to name within early ASM & FF. Such is life.
I missed the TMNT as well... I started buying at #4. The guy had a NM #1 in his shop for $150... it was either that or a toy train for Xmas. I bought the train
@@ImproveCollectingComics My chance at the TMNT 1/1p was about $45 at a nearby city comic shop (did not have a car back then 1986 so it took a while for someone to take me there) and while I wanted it, I ended up buying a stack of about 40 bronze age ASM for about $.5-$3 a copy (no discipline then :)). I remember in early 2000, I started completing my Iron Man run, never got #1, and this same shop had raw IM #55 in probably 9.0 condition for like $25ish so snatched it up quickly. Sadly, I had to sell that and several other keys during the pandemic to cover my bills for the year.
Yeah keep the big stuff! Awesome book. Hopefully, the market will see increases in books like this very soon.
Blowout results. Loose Larry with the win, although that staple thing looks like next to nothing, as the fault of focus here. Kudos.
I was doing trade credit work in a NJ comic book story in 1989 and Amazing Spider-Man #129 was doing $30-$60. Even with Joe Koch finding a warehouse large bundle that he started blowing out for cheap at the time. I still have my 1988 Overstreet #18 and a NM was $22 at the time.
$30-$60!!!
@@ImproveCollectingComics And my comic book store boss at the time gave me one of the ASM #129s he purchased in a bundle that I still own today along with my CGC 9.2 that was never pressed. Now you have me thinking...
YEAH!!!
Let’s go, Jim!!!
The joy you feel in this video goes right to the viewer.
I love it!
I would like to see the before images/video of this issue when you cracked it. But I guess it doesn’t exist or you would have included it.
Keep rolling Jim!
I tried to find them actually.. I think they are on my dead phone :(
Congrats - well deserved!
Congrats! I've been waiting for you to start buying bigger books and making some money. Well-deserved!!!
It's been our pleasure to watch your growth and "Improve" the collecting of comics. Always inspiring content to get me off my ass and get pressing.
I appreciate you watching! I need to get off my butt now and go clean a few books, now you inspired me. :)
So awesome man! I have a silver surfer 4 in a 7.5 with white pages...can I send it to you to clean it and press so I can snag a 9.6! haha
That’s awesome! Great job. Do you do layaway? Thank for your content. Believe.
You slippin that 20 in with the comic goes along way eh
It was a 100 this time!
That’s a keeper! Don’t sell it. Sell a bunch of your Copper era books instead. This book will always be in demand.
Too late.
Sell it! The reason why is that’s a huge capital to do even better books. It not going to improve your collecting sitting at home.
Congrats and that amazing grade bump! The info you shared on cleaning the staples was very informative as well.
Thanks so much!
Congratulations you put into work and and deserve results like that
great advice being a sloth. Definitely inspire with your work
Killer job. This is the book I’d love to get your skills to clean and press that I have. With your skills I know you could hit the 9.8 with mine. I just don’t trust sending out and hoping someone works on my books and could cause a negative impact. If your willing I’d love to send a few ASM books your way to get the magic touch
I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I am so overloaded with my own books. I can't imagine being able to press for others. But thanks again!
@@ImproveCollectingComics i understand that’s why I’ve got quite a few books just siting for the final touch. I’d rather keep raw and current condition then to have someone I don’t know touch a book that’s so important to me and my memories from my father. He picked this up in store at took care of it for this long. One day I’ll have it slabbed but not until I get someone I trust to get the seal of perfection
Amazing work my dude. Well done.
Congratulations buddy! If anyone deserves it you do! 🎉
Thanks!
are we gonna see the cleaning video for this one? :D
I didn't record it but I have another 129 coming in the mail today that I plan to show the entire process for.
Once again great job....then there's me...Life of a degenerate slabber who probably shouldn't be one but I have fun. I'm a bull in a China chop kinda guy, nothing like Precision Jim, whose primary way to make a living is cleaning and pressing books. It is a roller coaster existence. My latest screw up is with a Wolverine 1 Mini 1982 newsstand (paid $130 total). It HAD a 70% chance at 9.8, it was that good. There was a small black dot 1/8" from the edge near the back bottom left of book. It felt a little like a foreign object, but maybe not. I went through the progressions; cotton pad/absorene pad/eraser/steam/blunt instrument and still couldn't get it off. I became obsessed. An incredible brain fart happened as I picked up the xacto knife. Yes, I did!! I rarely use an xacto knife and never have to flick something out. I told myself just try to flick that black dot out, don't cut the book. Well, I not only cut the book I made a small hole. That black dot the size of a grain of sand probably wouldn't have mattered either. I still don't know what that black dot was but it's gone now! I'm about to send it off to CGC and see what kinda grade drop they do with small holes (1/16 by 1/32).
On the other hand I'm highly confident I nailed a Punisher 1 Mini Zeck newsstand. I bought the 1-5 set for about $95 in an auction. I light boxed it. Did some eraser word. Zero color breaks. Took out spine tics with my leather dots. Pressed it about 6 times. I worked it hard. It has the classic bottom corner binary tear that is minor so I don't think it will be a negative. It's 90% 9.8 which makes up for my natural idiocy moments!
I feel your pain.. I just damaged an X-Men 221 newsstand that is at least a 9.6 by getting careless with an eraser.. I swear, two swipes and blue came off.. now there's an obvious "fade" in that spot. I couldn't believe I did that :(
@@ImproveCollectingComicsGet curious and send it in!! LOL...I just did the aggressive eraser thing last week on a Marvel Age 95 newsstand, first app McFalane Spider-Man before the new series, on the back black border as I attacked the white area. I'm sending it in, what the Fk.....I'm just overly curious on how much of a grade drop it will get. I'll prob break even or lose a few bucks.
Oh, CGC is just all over the place with grades. Too many graders.
Nice job!
Holy smokes!! As a punisher fan, congrats!!!!! that's a huge bump!! AND it seems like you've already sold it!! Good for you man!! ::high5::
Nice work as usual Jim! And congratulations on that 9.6 ASM #129!!! That's fricking awesome!!!
Well done🎉🎉🎉
It wouldn't have killed you to hold onto to it for a year or two James.
I wish I could afford to :(
Niiiiiiiice! Get ‘em, Jim! :-D
Thanks!
Incredible work. Congrats. That would have been a hard one to give up. I’ve got a couple books ready for you if you’d be open to it! Your work is outstanding.
Thanks! And yes it was
I couldn't sell it
Whoooooaaa... Awesome job!
That deserves a follow! God damn that’s amazing. Great work 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼
Thanks!
Don’t sell. Sell other stuff. This book will make a great investment
🤯
You know ... In the movie, the Field of Dreams ..., the most famous line ,... ' ..if you build it they will come..' .
Well, my friend..., through your countless practice at pressing & cleaning, and inviting the world into not only your techniques, trails and errors, but your astronomical results.... You've [built] something amazing; and THAT is why [they] have come ...the reason your channel has boosted in numbers so rapidly in a very short period of time...that is why [we've] come ...that is why we're here.
Your gifted methodical method has resulted in outcomes, rarely seen in other channels or medium contents ... Congratulations my friend, because yes, You have built it, and now here we are.
(Hopefully, you could look back at this comment one day in the near future and see how much further you've gone)
I appreciate the kind words! And I hope you are right. :)