Hello again, this one’s going to be a bit of a downer, so heads up.
I’ve mentioned that writing this substack is a way for me to spread my sadness out across people I know and some I don’t. Writing these weekly is way cheaper than paying for weekly sessions with my therapist so every now and then you’re going to have to read through me processing some things.
So now come process some stress with me!
I’m selling the first of some really big money items and I’m starting to second guess myself and my choices. Specifically I’m selling a near mint condition copy of The Crow volume 1. Amongst collectors of comics from the 90’s it’s a very valuable and sought after comic, specifically because it was culturally significant due to highlighting the goth movement of the 90’s and early 2000’s as well as gaining infamy when the story was translated to film due to the death of the actor playing the crow, Brandon Lee, Bruce Lee’s son, tragically on set due to a mishap with one of the prop firearms.
I remember when the movie came out that my dad mentioned having this comic. I assumed he was lying because he sort of did that a lot, and really paid it no mind. While researching the valuable comics of the eras he was collecting I saw that the story of the Crow takes up four slots of the top 100 most valuable comics of that era. No other series has such a distinction, it mainly has it because the whole story is only four comics and each one had low print runs.
So, now that it’s been graded I’m able to see what the market value is for that comic book, which is $1,100 depending on the market. Because collectors of this caliber value rarity I also know that this copy is one of 194 that graded at this level, with 209 copies at or greater condition. Which puts it in rarified air.
So I’m selling it here, mainly because they have a pedigree for selling these kinds of items and I’m somewhat tired of the whole fulfillment and processing of ebay. They have special auctions which are held quarterly for “Elite items”, of which my copy of the Crow was found worthy.
The auction has been open for three days now, and I cannot stop stressing about what it will sell for. Unlike ebay auctions which provide me a good degree of control, this one is totally out of my hands. I didn’t set the price, I’m not aware of the traffic that it’s getting, and I’m not able to pull the plug.
So I stress.
But not actually because of the potential money that’s at stake, which sounds weird. I’d be stressed if it was a $200 item that was on the block at $20. I want these assets to be sold for their full potential, mainly because they were investments that my Dad purchased 40 years ago and I don’t want his investment to go for less than it’s worth.
I know there’s still a lot of time. This auction is open for another 16 days as of this writing, but I’m almost habitually checking the website for bids.
Ugh, I hate that I know that most of the bidding will occur at the very end. I hate that I’ll have to wait several weeks before I know what will happen. I hate that I know that there’s often surprises when things go down to the wire. and mostly I hate that I CANNOT STOP STRESSING about this.
So I share it with you.
Thanks for reading my ramblings. I hope you’re unable to sleep just like I am, now that you’ve finished. In other news, I put some more stuff up on my ebay, if you’re interested go have a look.
Find something else really engaging to do in the next few weeks. Read a new book, binge a new show, play with your kids in the park while the weather is nice…