How hard is it to complete a set of Pre-Unity CGC 9.8's

magnus20009 · Post by **magnus20009** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:30 am

My typical focus with CGC slabs has been Marvel Comics from 1961-1965 in graded 8.0 or better but when StanChek71 (his eBay handle not sure of his handle on the Boards here) was selling off a ton of his Valiant CGC slabs on eBay I won 14 pre-Unity CGC 9.8 White Page books from him in spur of the moment bidding. Other than some Valiant slabs in 9.6 condition that I picked up in 2003 these are the only moderns I have in slabs.

After winning his 14 auctions I picked up 5 more 9.8's including a Harbinger 1 for $450 so that gives me 19 of the 49 books (for some reason the CGC registry includes the 4 Magnus reprints as pre-Unity, the variant A&A cover and Magnus 0 both with and with-out the card giving 55 books by their count).

I am debating whether I should try to get a full set of the 49 books but am wondering how difficult they are to acquire and how much expense would be involved. I have all the books in unslabbed form, and I actually bought them all off the rack when they came out. Not sure if any would be 9.8's but all 9.4's at least if they were slabbed.

Is it very difficult to complete a full set of 9.8's without spending too much money (they are modern's after all so there have to be tons of ungraded 9.8's out there) or time?

iggy101us · Post by **iggy101us** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 7:55 am

It's difficult and expensive. At the same time, it's fun and challenging. I've been working on it for 2 years and I still haven't cracked the top 10. You already have one of the most expensive ones in Harbinger #1 but there are also other tough key books - Solar #10, Magnus #12, A&A #0 gold, Magnus #0 w/ coupon, Rai #3-5. Even some of the more "common" issues are hard to find and expensive, like Vintage Magnus #1-4, Magnus #11 and #13.

There are some very dedicated Valiant fans and there is still only ONE full set of 9.8 (or better). So yeah, it's pretty difficult but that's what makes it fun.

dhudson1 · Post by **dhudson1** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:19 am

iggy101us wrote:It's difficult and expensive. At the same time, it's fun and challenging. I've been working on it for 2 years and I still haven't cracked the top 10. You already have one of the most expensive ones in Harbinger #1 but there are also other tough key books - Solar #10, Magnus #12, A&A #0 gold, Magnus #0 w/ coupon, Rai #3-5. Even some of the more "common" issues are hard to find and expensive, like Vintage Magnus #1-4, Magnus #11 and #13.

There are some very dedicated Valiant fans and there is still only ONE full set of 9.8 (or better). So yeah, it's pretty difficult but that's what makes it fun.

Spock: After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true.
Amok Time

magnus20009 · Post by **magnus20009** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:32 am

I think that there are 4 complete sets of 9.8's on the registry and there might be a few off of it.

Maybe I will have to try. I just don't want to spend a ton of time (or money) doing so as it is not my main collecting focus for slabs and I already have unslabbed copies of the books. The pre-unity books though are the books I remember best form my late high school/early university days though.

iggy101us · Post by **iggy101us** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:38 am

magnus20009 wrote:I think that there are 4 complete sets of 9.8's on the registry and there might be a few off of it.

Maybe I will have to try. I just don't want to spend a ton of time (or money) doing so as it is not my main collecting focus for slabs and I already have unslabbed copies of the books. The pre-unity books though are the books I remember best form my late high school/early university days though.

I double-checked and we're both wrong.

There are 2 complete set of 9.8 or better - #1 worldsbestcomics and #4 SQUEE.

#2 0316gb: has a A&A #0 gold at 9.6
#3 Ricomortis: has a Vintage Magnus #2 at 9.6

magnus20009 · Post by **magnus20009** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:37 am

iggy101us wrote:
magnus20009 wrote:I think that there are 4 complete sets of 9.8's on the registry and there might be a few off of it.

Maybe I will have to try. I just don't want to spend a ton of time (or money) doing so as it is not my main collecting focus for slabs and I already have unslabbed copies of the books. The pre-unity books though are the books I remember best form my late high school/early university days though.
I double-checked and we're both wrong. There are 2 complete set of 9.8 or better - #1 worldsbestcomics and #4 SQUEE.

#2 0316gb: has a A&A #0 gold at 9.6
#3 Ricomortis: has a Vintage Magnus #2 at 9.6

That's true I overlooked those but then I was just looking at the 49 unique issues and forgetting about the vintage magnus reprints, the magnus 0 without the card and the A&A variant cover (gold).

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:15 am

At least you picked a good time to buy. You definitely wouldn't have bought a Harby #1 for $450 last year.

ckb · Post by **ckb** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:06 am

There never has been a time when prices were so low on 9.8s. I have stopped submitting because I have no confidence the books I slab to sell can pay for the books I would keep. Your biggest problem now may be finding them all for sale *at Market*.

I would think you could get the vast majority of what you need for under $30 each right now if the sellers let the market take them.

You already took care of one of the expensive ones. Solar 10 is going to run you about what you paid for the H1. The last Rai 5 went for over $200. Solar 4 may still be up around there, too. You can expect to pay in the $100 range for Magnus 12 and Rai 3. Maybe Magnus 7 as well.

A big problem will be the Vintage Magnus books if you want them. Just not available at any price.

Phantom.. · Post by **Phantom..** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:11 pm

Get solar 10 in 9.8 then its easier from their.
Solar 10 maybe more than harby 1.

People here will probably help.

And yes you have chosen the best time to get these books. They are down alot from a year ago.

superman-prime · Post by **superman-prime** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:24 pm

smoking deals out there for sure, where in the world would i put 700 slabs

Knightt · Post by **Knightt** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:57 pm

I have seen worldsbestcomics pre-Unity CGC 9.8 collection... and with me not being a CGC fan at all, I was very impressed. But I am sure it was expensive to come by.

I am surprised that Steve has not posted here yet about his voyage to a pre-Unity CGC 9.8 collection.

superman-prime · Post by **superman-prime** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:11 pm

thats a huge voyage

gavster · Post by **gavster** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:41 pm

I'm coming up to my fourth year attempting to get a pre-unity set in 9.8. The ones I don't have are the toughest to get in my opinion of course. A&A GOLD, Rai 5, and MRF 0 with card.

But the thing is, the longer you wait the less you will pay for them, I know if I threw some money around I could get the set completed quite quickly, but the wallet is weak, but my stamina is stronger.

Good luck.

superman-prime · Post by **superman-prime** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:47 pm

patiance is always important on big collections of any rare item, keep on trucking

Knightt · Post by **Knightt** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:46 pm

superman-prime wrote:thats a huge voyage

Thank you, thank you... I've been working with herbal enhancements and it's paid off so far.

dhudson1 · Post by **dhudson1** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:59 pm

Knightt wrote:
superman-prime wrote:thats a huge voyage
Thank you, thank you... I've been working with herbal enhancements and it's paid off so far.

Rufusharley · Post by **Rufusharley** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:47 am

superman-prime wrote: patiance is always important on big collections of any rare item, keep on trucking

superman-prime · Post by **superman-prime** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:35 am

been a while, hows it going Rufus

sanman · Post by **sanman** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 3:05 am

Not my thing but what an incredible challenge—good luck bro

Rufusharley · Post by **Rufusharley** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 1:08 pm

superman-prime wrote:been a while, hows it going Rufus

Good

Just busy with work and life. It's harder to find the time to devote to the boards here. familiar story i'm sure.

Knightt · Post by **Knightt** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 3:45 pm

Rufusharley wrote:
superman-prime wrote:been a while, hows it going Rufus
Good Just busy with work and life. It's harder to find the time to devote to the boards here. familiar story i'm sure.

Yes, it is a story that I am sure all of us go through every once in a while.

Personally, I am VERY happy to have seen your name show up in the 'who is online' section at the bottom of the main screen and then to see that you had posted.

I'm glad that you're here, my friend. You've been missed.

JohnnyRnR · Post by **JohnnyRnR** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 4:56 pm

Rufusharley wrote:
superman-prime wrote:been a while, hows it going Rufus
Good Just busy with work and life. It's harder to find the time to devote to the boards here. familiar story i'm sure.

A story I know well. I got snowed out of heading your way a few weeks ago.

(For Night of 100 Elvises)

Rufusharley · Post by **Rufusharley** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:00 pm

JohnnyRnR wrote:
Rufusharley wrote:
superman-prime wrote:been a while, hows it going Rufus
Good Just busy with work and life. It's harder to find the time to devote to the boards here. familiar story i'm sure.
A story I know well. I got snowed out of heading your way a few weeks ago. (For Night of 100 Elvises)

for some reason i'm not surprised and that makes sense for you.

superman-prime · Post by **superman-prime** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 10:36 pm

good to hear family is always first an formost to us all