TOS 39 Hey CG!!!...

[AceVentura]

... get a gander at the spine. Do you see it?:

http://cgi.ebay.com/TALES-OF-SUSPENSE-39-IST-IRON-MAN-KEY-6-0-TO-6-5_W0QQitemZ280151766199QQihZ018QQcategoryZ32744QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[The Charlton Guy]

Hey, disclose some:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280141978956

Don't disclose others.

Sounds familiar.

[AceVentura]

Hey, disclose some:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280141978956 (http://ads.auctionads.com/pagead/link_16ab40a37249e63306c1_a0b88df8baa4d939fc0d61f0 c1325480_http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280141978956)

Don't disclose others.

Sounds familiar.

Definitely a different case, CG. Most scans of books we question can be interpreted either way. Restored or not. The scans questioned usually allow for a margin of error or doubt.

The black spine line and blue areas just right of the spine line can only be interpreted one way. Conclusively, without having to examine the book in hand. The color touch isn't only obvious, it's extensive, and as this is a smart, experienced comic seller on Ebay with an excellent track record. I can't even begin to imagine what he's thinking by putting up a large scan like this and calling it unrestored. Unless someone hacked his account and is playing a joke on him?

[The Charlton Guy]

It is one of the most obvious cases of color touch I have seen.

I can't believe that the seller couldn't spot it, so yes, it is highly problematic.

I think an email to the winning bidder (ID not available after auction's end of course) will be in order.

I can only imagine that this is a case of potential loss of profit (on a key SA book) getting in the way of the seller's scruples.

Yet another case in point regarding the importance of disclosure.

If you know the book is restored, just say it.

If you don't (disclose), what you stand to lose in terms of credibility and profits is potentially much more harmful and in the long run, is going to kill you off as a seller.

[AceVentura]

It is one of the most obvious cases of color touch I have seen.

I can't believe that the seller couldn't spot it, so yes, it is highly problematic.

I think an email to the winning bidder (ID not available after auction's end of course) will be in order.

I can only imagine that this is a case of potential loss of profit (on a key SA book) getting in the way of the seller's scruples.

Yet another case in point regarding the importance of disclosure.

If you know the book is restored, just say it.

If you don't (disclose), what you stand to lose in terms of credibility and profits is potentially much more harmful and in the long run, is going to kill you off as a seller.

Well said! :)

[The Charlton Guy]

The buyer has probably already payed for the book, but I figured I'd at least give him a heads up. Here's my message to him:

Hello Marc, You can take this with a grain of salt if you wish, but I have to tell you that the Tales to Astonish #39 that you just won at auction is most certainly color-touched on the spine. In fact, I don't think I have seen a more blatent example of color touch. Look at the ink spread on the black line on the spine. It bleeds at each spine stress. There is also an associated spot of blue at each spine stress, slightly darker than the true light blue background. It is somewhat disturbing that the seller would not disclose this, especially as he has disclosed color-touch on other books. I just though you should know. I would make sure there is a clearly stated refund policy for this item should you find it has been restored/color-touched. And of course, this is all just my opinion, but it might serve you well to have the book sent to CGC or a restoration expert for a restoration check. Either way, best of luck and best regards, The Charlton Guy

[The Charlton Guy]

I received the following reply this morning:

hi this is marc...i just wanted to say thank you for the warning...i sometimes get careless when buying comics as my eagerness gets the better of me...i bought an amazing spider-man #1 that was not officially graded 2 years ago exactly(sept. 26,2005)that was sold as unrestored and was massively restored...i don't intend to repeat that mistake...ebay was certainly no help when i tried to seek restitution...they threw the seller off of ebay but i got no money back...the book cost me $3350.00 us and was only worth $1000.00 in its restored state...looking again now at the tales #39 i would tend to agree with what you say...i noticed that the back cover looked funny but took it for a water stain...you can be sure that had i purchased this book it would have gone straight to cgc as the amazing spider-man #1 did but now i must first discuss this with the seller...i would like to know how you got my name as expensive bids are now kept private...thanks again,marc

[The Charlton Guy]

To which I replied:

Hello Marc. You are welcome. I would have tried to alert the high bidders earlier, but the new Feebay policy hides the bidders' ID until the auction end, at which time the high bidders' name does become evident. Go figger on that one. I agree about the back cover as well, there is something up there. Perhaps a chemical cleaning bath was applied, but this is impossible to tell without the book in hand. It would be most evident on the inside of the covers. As for my interest? I am a member of the Network of Disclosure and a pretty avid scam-buster on ebay. We have a discussion board at comicscorral.com where I often call out obvious scams. This auction came up. You should take a look there (The Corral) if you get a chance. Undisclosed restoration could really be the biggest hurdle that this hobby has ever encountered. The problem is that more and more sellers are turning a blind eye or worse, refusing to disclose just to up their profits, leaving many buyers seriously burned. Again, feel free to chime in on this at comicscorral.com , I hope to see you there. Best of luck and best regards, The Charlton Guy

[The Charlton Guy]

Two more messages from the buyer (Marc). I don't think Marc would mind my sharing them with you, particularly because it shows that this auction was much more rotten than we imagined:

hi this is marc...i just wanted to say thanks again...suffice is to say that i would have been burned on this one if not for your warning...i received a similar warning in regards to the amazing spider-man #1 that i mentioned yesterday but it came hours after sending out my money order...after that i learned the hard way that ebay just does not care...it was a book with a value of roughly $1000.00 us in its restored state that cost me $3350.00 us as i already mentioned...ebay's buyer protection policy pays out a maximum of roughly $250.00 us...it is obvious that their main concern is keeping their big money machine rolling and little else...it is pretty much akin to the wild west out here with buyers and sellers left to fend for themselves...so the help of good people like you out there make all the difference and is certainly appreciated...it is my intention to certainly not complete this purchase,regardless of what the seller or ebay has to say about it...thanks again and warm regards,marc ps.,i will definitely check out your site...bye!

And then this:

hi this is marc again...the seller tried to reassure my doubt by disclosing that the book was an ebay purchase he recently made...he then sent me a link of that purchase...ebay item number is #200142680199...notice scan #1 and scan #7...they are obviously 2 different books...i just thought you would appreciate this information...this seller is obviously a redneck and a con who cannot even spell, by the way...so i told him politely where to place his book and that should he pursue me through ebay that i would call him out on obvious fraud...it was a mistake of his to send me that link...if i had any doubt whatsoever before it is now gone...he is a crook and not a very intelligent one either...too bad for him but my good luck...thanks again for saving me close to $2000.00 canadian...warm regards,marc

Here's a link to the previous auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200142680199&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fse arch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D 200142680199%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1

An ugly scene. Thanks to Ace for bringing it to our collective attention and thanks to Marc for shedding more light on this seller.

[The Charlton Guy]

Before the scans vanish...

Here's the original auction scan (purchased by "marvelseller" on August 23rd, 2007):

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a240/the-charlton-guy/3ebf_3.jpg

And here's the piece of color-touched crapola that "marvelseller" tried to sell off as the same Jack Kirby-signed book!:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a240/the-charlton-guy/DSC04201.jpg

What was he up too? And was there a fake signature on the splash page?

Hopefully, nobody will have to find out the hard way.

[AceVentura]

What was he up too? And was there a fake signature on the splash page?

Hopefully, nobody will have to find out the hard way.

The sig looked authentic, and in my estimation, since Stan Lee has signed about a gazillion books in his 69 year history with Timely/Marvel (yep. he already had a high-position with Timely by the time Marvel #1 came out in 1939. He was married to Goodman's daughter, I believe), his autograph really shouldn't add anything at all to the value of a book already worth at least $5.00.

Aside from pure hype, signature's values are based on rarity and demand. A great artist who died before his time or signed very few pieces will be of far greater value than a sig like Lee's.

Ditko's should add to the value considerably. his sig a very difficult and rare acquisiton. He's signed the least of all the "modern" artists.

[The Charlton Guy]

You miss my point.

It is not that a Kirby signature on a key book is valuable or not, it's that "marvelseller" was trying to pull a switcheroo on the books. WITH the COA from the previous auction.

The only conclusion being that he either forged a Kirby signature on the substitute crapola color-touched book (worse case) or had another crapola condition color-touched Kirby-signed #39 that he substituted for the one he bought in August and included the COA from that auction.

Either way, this deal was about as shady as it gets.

[AceVentura]

I get it! I missed that part of it! Good observation, and dead to rights evidence! No getting around a "disappearing/re-appearing" autograph on the same book being "signed" by the deceased.

Just out of curiosity, have you seen any legitimate DITKO signed Silver age books? Something with a fairly uncontestable provenance?

I'd love to have one. I'm still looking for a Frank R. Paul sci-fi pulp cover signature. Can't find what I think is a good one.