Interesting Items Currently on eBay • Page 123 • Collecting General • The Acaeum

The Acaeum Forums • Collecting General

Interesting Items Currently on eBay
	Page 123 of 217 • 1 2 3 ... 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 ... 215 216 217

Author

Waynes_Books
Active Collector

Posts: 68
Joined: Aug 28, 2019
Last Visit: Sep 09, 2024

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2021 7:36 pm

I just put up a WARRIORS OF MARS book up on eBay.

** expired/removed eBay auction **

A briefexplainer and many more photos over at my blog.

-Wayne

Sales Site
Reference Site
Game Blog

ddt58
Prolific Collector

Posts: 136
Joined: Nov 29, 2002
Last Visit: Aug 07, 2026
Location: Seattle, WA

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 3:00 pm

Blackmoor wrote in Interesting Items Currently on eBay:
Here is a better quick answer

Don’t restore anything, adding colour, pieces, glue etc ruins the item completely and destroys the value, a good example is the comic world (of which I know a great deal about) restored paper items are hard to sell and should not be “fixed up” using any invasive procedures

A dry cleaning and pressing is as far as it should go, don’t fall into the restoration trap and kill the collectable

I also know from the comics world that "restoration" has been a huge issue. However, I understand that non-destructive cleaning and pressing is generally deemed to be acceptable, and the transformation can be pretty striking. I would expect you could use the same procedures on gaming collectibles.

mbassoc2003
Grandstanding Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 7050
Joined: Jan 03, 2005
Last Visit: Jul 24, 2026
Location: UK

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 3:53 pm

TBH, I don't mind and don't have an issue with any form of 'restoration' people do to their own collectables.
The problem comes with concealment and deceit these people then bring to the community if they choose to lie about it afterwards. When faced with selling a product, I suspect many 'forget' actions they took to 'restore' the products they are selling in the hopes that they can dupe the buyer and get a little more money out of them.
I don't recall ever seeing a listing stating that the seller had done this or that to preserve/improve condition, and I have many times bought products with staple rusting on the paper but no rusting to the staples for example. Magic staples? Or just a seller trying to scam a buyer?
Now, if the seller says, it has staple rust but I have replaced the staples, and sticker residue on the back that I treated with X, that's different from a photo of shiny staples and no corresponding centre spread or back page photo. One is honest, the other is not. Luckily here in the UK, eBay have implemented a means of punishing such sellers at no cost to the buyer.

This week I've been mostly eating . . . The white ones with the little red flecks in them.

muaddib5
Verbose Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 1200
Joined: Nov 07, 2003
Last Visit: Aug 03, 2024
Location: Wisconsin

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:55 pm

ddt58 wrote in Interesting Items Currently on eBay:
I also know from the comics world that "restoration" has been a huge issue. However, I understand that non-destructive cleaning and pressing is generally deemed to be acceptable, and the transformation can be pretty striking. I would expect you could use the same procedures on gaming collectibles.

Someone had a brown box professionally restored (actually rebuilt). IMHO, as long as the restoration is professional and disclosed to the seller, it's all good.

Home - Gen Con Wisconsin 1968 2002

muaddib5
Verbose Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 1200
Joined: Nov 07, 2003
Last Visit: Aug 03, 2024
Location: Wisconsin

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:57 pm

Waynes_Books wrote in Interesting Items Currently on eBay:[ Image ]

I just put up a WARRIORS OF MARS book up on eBay.

** expired/removed eBay auction **

A briefexplainer and many more photos over at my blog.

-Wayne

What is the provenance of the book (if you don't mind saying)?

Home - Gen Con Wisconsin 1968 2002

Vismore
Active Collector

Posts: 37
Joined: Apr 01, 2021
Last Visit: Jan 11, 2026

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 9:53 pm

Sir Kill Alot wrote in Interesting Items Currently on eBay:What would be the chances of it possibly being moldy? I would love to own a Tamoachan, but this one sadly would be a hard pass.

-SKA

Does it do anything for anyone that its from Jim Ward’s collection? Does that add a premium despite the condition?

Vismore

Vismore
Active Collector

Posts: 37
Joined: Apr 01, 2021
Last Visit: Jan 11, 2026

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:02 pm

dbartman wrote in Interesting Items Currently on eBay:In case you haven't seen this yet.

It's been a while since one of these has popped up on eBay:

** expired/removed eBay auction **

It's missing a couple of the character background sheets, but with some good restoration work, pretty confident its condition could be upgraded.

This sale might shake a couple others lose. I just missed out on Mr. Ward’s copy. The Hunt continues...

Vismore

dbartman
Sage Collector
Valuation Board

Posts: 2868
Joined: Nov 16, 2002
Last Visit: Aug 07, 2026
Location: Ohio, The land without sun

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:08 pm

Vismore wrote in Interesting Items Currently on eBay:Does it do anything for anyone that its from Jim Ward’s collection? Does that add a premium despite the condition?Vismore

That typically does increase the value. In this case, Jim will provide a letter of authenticity, which usually adds to the sale price as well.

If it's the original author's copy, or if it has been signed by the author(s), that's an even bigger premium.

Waynes_Books
Active Collector

Posts: 68
Joined: Aug 28, 2019
Last Visit: Sep 09, 2024

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:36 pm

muaddib5 wrote in Interesting Items Currently on eBay:
What is the provenance of the book (if you don't mind saying)?

I'm selling it on consignment. I doubt owner wants to be public.

Sales Site
Reference Site
Game Blog

Vismore
Active Collector

Posts: 37
Joined: Apr 01, 2021
Last Visit: Jan 11, 2026

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:42 pm

dbartman wrote in Interesting Items Currently on eBay:That typically does increase the value. In this case, Jim will provide a letter of authenticity, which usually adds to the sale price as well.

If it's the original author's copy, or if it has been signed by the author(s), that's an even bigger premium.

I agree. Despite the condition I saw it as a piece of history being that it was his apparent personal copy. Seems like Paul Stromburg had an auction last year where one in better condition went for more if I recall but I am not aware if that came from a TSR personality.

dbartman
Sage Collector
Valuation Board

Posts: 2868
Joined: Nov 16, 2002
Last Visit: Aug 07, 2026
Location: Ohio, The land without sun

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:58 pm

Waynes_Books wrote in Interesting Items Currently on eBay:
I'm selling it on consignment. I doubt owner wants to be public.

Hello Wayne, Is it someone that is associated with the D&D in some way, such as an ex-TSR employee, author, etc.? Those types of details would only help to increase the sale price.

Any information on where it came from and/or when it was purchased, wouldn't necessarily reveal any personal details, but if it's simply from a private collection, and there are no additional details, that's fine of course.

Waynes_Books
Active Collector

Posts: 68
Joined: Aug 28, 2019
Last Visit: Sep 09, 2024

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:38 pm

He's a known name from the old days in the hobby, but no direct connection to D&D. I'll ask him.

Sales Site
Reference Site
Game Blog

Waynes_Books
Active Collector

Posts: 68
Joined: Aug 28, 2019
Last Visit: Sep 09, 2024

Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 11:23 am

I have permission from the owner to post the history of this particular Warriors of Mars game book, Scott Bizar of Fantasy Games Unlimited (FGU). I'll repeat what he told me:

Hi Wayne, It is fine to attach my name and you can say that I purchased it at the annual miniatures show/convention in Chester, PA back in 1975. Another member of my gaming club purchased D&D, which we were unable to decipher or figure out without guidance and never did play. The "bend" in the book is due to being in a box with other rulebooks and magazines for over thirty years where some of the books might have varied in size. It is okay to say that I saw other copies up for obscene prices that I did not believe were fair or accurate so I asked you about it and we decided together to put it up for auction. It should be clear to people who know you from the forum know that you buy FGU games from me, so it should not be a surprise that I would ask you about pricing of Warriors of Mars. As I wrote the miniatures rules for Barsoom for Heritage back in the 70s and the background book for SPI's Barsoom boardgame, it should also not be a surprise that I am a big Burroughs fan and collector and that I would purchase this book when it first came out. Best, Scott

Sales Site
Reference Site
Game Blog

mbassoc2003
Grandstanding Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 7050
Joined: Jan 03, 2005
Last Visit: Jul 24, 2026
Location: UK

Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 4:39 pm

Isn't it great to have a little bit of history about past history of a book. Even if it adds nothing to the price, its a great thing to have on a little folded sheet tucked in with a book.

This week I've been mostly eating . . . The white ones with the little red flecks in them.

Last edited by mbassoc2003 on Tue Apr 20, 2021 4:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Waynes_Books
Active Collector

Posts: 68
Joined: Aug 28, 2019
Last Visit: Sep 09, 2024

Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 4:54 pm

You're right. This is why I love the Acaeum. You guys have saved my bacon more than a few times.

I asked Scott if he'd provide a note. He is sending one to me now, and it'll be added to the book.

Sales Site
Reference Site
Game Blog

aia
Long-Winded Collector
Valuation Board
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 3906
Joined: Nov 23, 2005
Last Visit: Aug 07, 2026
Location: Italy

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 12:27 am

** expired/removed eBay auction **

Thunderdave
Verbose Collector

Posts: 1655
Joined: Mar 08, 2008
Last Visit: Aug 06, 2026
Location: Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 9:14 am

My pleasant Scott Bizar / Barsoom memory:

When I was a kid my local fgs was Waterloo Hobbies in Stony Brook. I want to say it was Scott’s family that ran it (could be wrong) and he frequently worked the counter (1982-ish?). They had a an excellent fantasy fiction section, shelves and shelves!, and when I happened across Burroughs, Scott recommended the series, suggested I read books 1-3 in order, and that set me off on a lifetime love of Barsoom, fantasy, sci-fi, rpgs and gaming. I’d probably only read Tolkien and had a basic set at that point when I started visiting Waterloo, by high school I was elbows deep in the rpg hobby and Waterloo & Scott were a big part. Super nice guy, always had time to chat with little old me, and I had no idea he was an author/game publisher.

I’ve since collected just about everything FGU and have tons and tons of game books from his store. Happy memories

. I hope he’s doing well.

I draw the line at collecting... D&D beach towels.

Shoulda been: ".. from Pangreenia to Floratopolis, from mystical Treeonia of spectral Forests to Schruborial dimensions." - The Forests of Leng

Sir Kill Alot
Verbose Collector
Acaeum Donor
Valuation Board

Posts: 1238
Joined: Nov 26, 2002
Last Visit: Jul 20, 2026

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:20 pm

This had a fight with a trash compactor or was a chew toy for seller's pit bull, but its still 'Mint'.

Well...almost...

** expired/removed eBay auction **

It looks like it was kept nicely until an unfortunate event... Just spit balling...

-SKA

The Acaeum Forums • Collecting General

Page 123 of 217 • 1 2 3 ... 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 ... 215 216 217