Book Exchange Stamps

The provenace. The journey. It's here. From book exchange to book exchange. What was it traded for? Was it or this a better read? Moved through so many hands. Now caught in hands of a collector. Will there ever be a release to that grip?

Accuracy not required.

In the good old days pilots were required to only fly. Other impractical skills, such as counting, were considered almost frivolous. Yet here we see an example of a fellow rising above himself and giving it a red hot go. Well done that man!

Comic Book Collecting

The ducks of war - well actually the duck of war meets the enemy head on in a confrontation so terrible that not even Battler Britton will be able to walk away grinning.

Whoever Bob is he's left his mark on this Air Ace Picture Library.

The idle doodle in the only white area on the cover is now locked into my collection. It's inevitable that free art and typographical interpretation of this calibre is going to turn up from time to time.

I'm happy to see it.

Bob if you're out there some where I have your comic now. And your duck.

Comic Book Collecting

As my collection slowly makes it way past 600 (too many for some not enough for others) time for some reflection. Where do these things comes from? There was a time, not too long ago, when I was able to build the bulk of my collection from second hand book stores and book exchanges. Sadly these are getting harder to find. I always had an overwhelming urge to rearrange the caches I would find in the semblance of some order. As these haunts have closed down they have been replaced by the Internet which is not a bad thing at all. However I often think that somewhere out there is a rambling second hand bookstore with a good number of the missing issues I've been looking for. I can't but help think that somewhere in England, probably, such a place exists. However as I am on the other side of the planet the chances of stumbling past this fine imagined and yearned for establishment isn't going too happen to soon.

After experimenting with different forms of storage, all of them inadequate, I realised that pocket war comics are about the size of a DVD case. This epiphany has saved me a lot of angst. My collection resides in a number of long DVD plastic storage tubs. The tubs have lids, handles and are stackable. Which makes sorting, resorting, finding and replacing so much easier.

As I was saying my collection is tipping the 600 point I must settle down to read my new prize.

Comic Book Collecting

Where to start? Time to look at creases, tears and staple rust marks. I'm quite taken by these recent editions to my collection. Everything about them is wonderful from the artwork to the back cover advertisements and of course everything in between. The imperfections do anything but detract from their beauty. They are the evidence of a full and long life. Now I know there are those of you who will flinch or even sneer at the very notion of a rust stain or a scuff. Why? These comic books were published about 50 years ago and were no doubt owned by a succession of boys - the fact that they've made it this far is a miracle in itself. Creases are a sign of being read, put away, stacked and re-read and then moved around, and then perhaps sorted and read again. Now that they've reached my care for the time being they'll find a bit more attention to their preservation. You might ask, now that they're been, "collected" and "preserved " will they ever be read again? Absolutely by me!

Comic Book Collecting

Some people get very excited by the idea and the pursuit of collecting only mint versions of comic books. Even though I throughly understand the cult of the new it makes little sense. Sure holding the unread in your hands is exciting but surely reading something for the first time is more exciting! Don't get me wrong. I own a number of pocket war comics in pretty good nick. I also own a number that have been read again and again and then some more. They look and feel like they've been through a number of owners as well as through their own unfair share of neglect. The history of a comic book can be so exciting. Past from hand to hand, marks left by owners, uncaring book exchange owners, and efficient news agents all make up the provenance of an item. For me that means so much more than having something that has been forgotten about. Even though that has it's own sad romantic charm.