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Spent $80 on a custom frame for a single issue, now I'm not sure it was worth it.
I got a graded 9.8 of a key first appearance and wanted to display it properly, so I ordered a custom UV-protected frame. It looks nice on the wall, but I could have bought three more raw copies for the same price. Do you guys actually display your expensive books, or just keep them stored away?
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kevint472mo ago
Three more raw copies for the same price" is the kind of math that keeps me up at night. I have a couple slabs in cheap frames from the craft store, but I'd never spend that much. At least you can stare at your one perfect book while thinking about the three you don't own.
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colegarcia2mo ago
Nah, I get the slab appeal but man, the hunt is the whole point for me. Finding that raw copy in a dusty box and grading it yourself with your own eyes, that's the win. My favorite book in my collection is a beat up raw first print I found for ten bucks. A slab just feels like it's in jail, you know? I'd rather have three stories than one locked up perfect one.
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henryr452mo ago
Man, I feel that, @kevint47, but the math hits different for me. See, a slab isn't just a fancy frame, it's a permanent grade and a shield. That raw copy could have a spine roll you missed, or a hidden tear. My one slabbed book is a known quantity. I can sell it tomorrow without debate. Those three raw books are a mystery, and mysteries can cost you way more down the line.
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xenam8428d ago
@kevint47 but here's the thing I've been wondering about that angle - how do YOU even know that one perfect slab is actually perfect? Like you're trusting whoever graded it never had a bad day or missed something. I've seen CGC cases get cracked open and find pressed color breaks underneath. So is it really safer or are you just paying for the illusion of certainty while the rest of us get to actually feel the book in our hands?
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