For enthusiasts of time travel, whether through Dr. Doom’s inventions, the Guardian of Forever from Star Trek, H.G. Wells’ classic novel, or Marty McFly’s DeLorean, there’s a new time machine to add to the list: Gemstone Publishing’s The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #1 Facsimile Edition. This meticulously crafted reproduction of the inaugural Overstreet’s Price Guide, originally published in the fall of 1970, offers more than just a glimpse into past comic book valuations; it’s a portal to a pivotal era in comic book collecting.
At its heart, this book is indeed a fascinating snapshot of vintage comic book prices. Reading through it, you might find yourself exclaiming, “Why didn’t I buy stacks of Fantastic Four #1 for $30.00 back in 1970?!” However, the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Facsimile Edition transcends mere pricing data. It’s a celebration of the passionate, fan-driven entrepreneurs – the “fantropreneurs” – who took the comic book hobby by storm and shaped the industry we know today.
This guide emerged during a transformative period when comic books were shifting from disposable entertainment to valued collectibles. In the “old days,” once you were finished reading a comic, it was typically discarded. Magazines and comics weren’t widely seen as items to be saved or collected by mainstream society. While there were collectors, they were often perceived as eccentric or outside the norm.
However, the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide played a crucial role in changing this perception. By authoritatively assigning economic values to comic books, it legitimized comic collecting in the eyes of the broader public. Suddenly, these “funny books” that once cost just a dime at the newsstand could be worth hundreds of dollars, like a copy of Whiz Comics #1 featuring Captain Marvel, which was valued at $235.00 in this guide. This tangible value resonated with a society that might not have understood the artistic or narrative merit of comics, but certainly understood economics. It’s the kind of realization that sparks the universal lament, “Oh, if only my mother hadn’t thrown them out!”
(And on a personal note to my own mom – thank you for not throwing out my comics. Though, I am still slightly saddened about the Major Matt Mason Space Station that disappeared at a garage sale.)
Beyond the price listings, this facsimile edition is also a delightful journey through vintage advertising. The ads, once commonplace in the pages of comic books, are now captivating relics of a bygone era. The very first ad in the book belongs to Passaic Book & Comic Center, a name that will ring a bell for long-time collectors. It’s also a fun reminder of adjacent collectibles like Big Little Books, which, while perhaps less widely collected today, were once a significant part of the collecting landscape. And a nod to mail order legend Robert Bell is a welcome piece of historical context within these pages.
Credit is due to Gemstone Publishing’s VP of Publishing, J.C. Vaughn, and his team for their dedication in bringing this wonderful reproduction to life. Flipping through The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #1 Facsimile Edition truly is like stepping into a time machine, transporting you back to a time when the world of comic collecting felt fresh, new, and brimming with potential. For anyone interested in the history of comic books, the evolution of comic book values, or simply a nostalgic trip back to the early days of collecting, this guide is an invaluable and enjoyable resource.
