I want to make sure about this before I put a lot up for auction...

The way to differentiate 1st from 2nd printing in the early issues of the marvel run is the cover price of 60 (1st) vs 75 cents (2nd), correct?

I read through the fine print at the bottom of the first page and can find no reference to printing number. The issues in question have the same logo color, but I assume these comics predate the "Change the color of the title logo as means of differentiating printing"-method that's common now...

The way to differentiate 1st from 2nd printing in the early issues of the marvel run is the cover price of 60 (1st) vs 75 cents (2nd), correct?


No, that was just inflation. The biggest difference between the first print and second print is that on the page of the book where you find the title information and the fine print there is a "2nd Print" or "Second Print" printed below it.

There are a couple other ways, but with the Marvel issues, the easiest way to tell is the way I said above.

http://www.joereloaded.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412

There is a thread, where this very topic was discussed at Joe Reloaded.com and there are some good links and images to help you out.

Let me know if this helps.

Phil

So is it possible to have two copies of the same issue that are the same printing but different price?

The fine print in the two comics is letter-for-letter identical. Neither have "2nd Print" listed anywhere. And the 75cent comic does not have the "clean" price box like other reprints I'm familiar with and are referenced in the joereloaded thread:

http://www.yojoe.com/comics/joe/joe2.shtml

Can I safely sell both of these as first printings?

Wow....

Well, to be blunt. I don't know. This is a very odd case, and someone wiser then myself will have to clarify.

From just looking at the pictures, I would say yes, they are both 1st Prints. But I would suggest that you wait for a second opinion.


Phil

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I think Snake Shadow is right about the lack of info in the price box being an indicator of second printing (at least among the earlier issues). That's how I always differentiated them before. He just happened to link to two newstand edition comics as his examples of '1st printings,' so it appears that he's mistaking 'direct sale' comics from 'newsstand' comics. Generally the "clean price box" is a second print signifier.

1st Print Direct: http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=enlarge&issue=35544179902%2012

1st Print Newsstand: http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=enlarge&issue=35544179902%2012%20NEWSSTAND

2nd Print: http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=enlarge&issue=35544179902%2012%202ND%20PRINT

It looks to me that the price of the comic went from 60 to 75 cents beginning with issue 34. And so issues before 34 priced at 75 are reprints as they were printed following the price hike...?

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I side with the conclusion that one is a Canadian and one is an American comic, and that they're both first prints.

I got the two books back out again. They have the same Bullpen checklists and the exact same ads throughout - except for the inside last cover. The "Canadian" one is for a model kit company, and the "American" one is for one of those 'sell-x#of-items-and-earn-prizes' ads. Both of these companies have mailing addresses in the USA. I'm sure it's possible that Marvel could have sold the choice ad real estate (ie 2nd/3rd/4th coverspace) by regional distribution.

It dawned on me to check the subscription rates listed in the Bullpen Bulletins to see if the suspected Canadian comic quoted higher rates, but both comics had a standard form listing US and Canadian prices.

The indicia is letter for letter identical and there is no indication that "second printing" has been rubbed out on either book.

I cannot compare the UPC codes, because the 75cent comic has the Spidey logo on it instead of the UPC. I purposefully did not picture or mention that difference between the two issues because I did not want to have people arguing that the 15cent difference came from it being direct market, cause by quickly glancing through my backissues, I knew that wasn't the case.

If this thread has been worth anything, I suppose it's been to determine that "All blank boxes are reprints, but not all reprints are blank boxes."

Thanks for the help.