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RICK: All right.
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What do we have here?
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HOLLY: I have a Mad comic number one that I'd
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like you to take a look at.
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RICK: That's pretty damn cool.
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I was hoping you would think that.
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Have you ever read it?
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Comic books aren't really my thing.
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I was more interested in the Mad art.
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RICK: It's cool.
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I mean, it's just really full of that, you know,
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pre-teen boy silly humor, you know.
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HOLLY: Yeah.
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I can't believe you didn't read this.
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I'm not a boy, so maybe that explains it.
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[laughs]
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HOLLY: I am selling this Mad comic issue number one
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because it was purchased as part of a collection
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and the comic itself was not what
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I was really interested in.
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I'm hoping to get $2,500 for this comic.
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I would use that money to purchase other pieces of art
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that I'm interested in.
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RICK: This is extremely cool.
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Rarely am I in awe of something.
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I had a subscription to Mad magazine when I was a kid,
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and this is Mad comic.
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This isn't even Mad magazine.
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It's neat that it's a comic because eventually it turned
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into a magazine format, because in the '50s,
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the government was, like, getting all
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weird about comic books, and you know,
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they were screwing up kids' minds.
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Magazines weren't scrutinized the way comics were.
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RICK: Exactly.
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When it was first released, Mad was more than a comic book.
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It was a satire on current events.
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It wasn't afraid to get really close to the edge, just
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like today.
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I'm assuming you want to sell this.
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HOLLY: Yes.
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RICK: How much you want for it?
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I'm asking $2,500.
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RICK: OK.
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I have no idea if that's a good price.
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I know they go for good money, you know--
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Right, and I feel like this is in very good condition.
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And if you're a Mad collector, you
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want to have Mad number one.
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I actually have a friend who grades these things.
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Do you mind if I call him and get him down here?
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No, that sounds great.
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RICK: OK.
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Hang out a few minutes.
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I'll be right back.
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I'm fine with an expert coming in because I'm just
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as curious to find out what the grade of this particular comic
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would be.
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PAUL: Wow.
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RICK: Awe.
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[laughs]
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PAUL: Awe.
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That's awesome.
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Well, it's Mad comics.
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That's the weird thing.
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I-- I've never seen one this old.
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At issue 23, they become the magazine.
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They were trying to get away from the Comics Code.
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So the Comic Book Code Authority-- was that like
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a government regulation, or--
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PAUL: Yeah.
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Dr. Frederick Wortham-- he was on this witch hunt,
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saying that comic books were destroying America's youth.
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Wortham had this huge Senate hearing,
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and the Comics Code Authority got instituted.
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The publisher of Mad changed it to a magazine format
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so they could skirt the Comics Code Authority.
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RICK: So what do you think?
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PAUL: Well, it's very nice.
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Got some fingerprints on the back, and the interior front
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cover, also.
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Cover's a little bit tanning.
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You have some creases here along the spine.
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A little tanning on the pages--
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looks a little cream.
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Here, let me take a look at that black.
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It's a beautiful looking book.
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So grade-wise, it's a--
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On a scale of 1 to 10, it's around a 6.5 or a 7.
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RICK: Well, I mean, what do you think it's worth?
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I would put the value at about $2,000.
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Well, thanks, man.
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I appreciate it.
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PAUL: Anytime, Rick.
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This would be a great buy for the shop
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if Rick can get this for a good price.
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It'll sell quickly.
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So what's your best price?
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$2,000.
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Well, there's nothing in it for me at $2,000.
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I have to make money off it.
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HOLLY: OK.
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So let me give you $1,300 for it.
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I would say $1,800.
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There's no money in it for me then.
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I can give you $1,400.
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Anything after that, it doesn't make sense.
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The lowest I can go is $1,500.
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If you change your mind, give me a call.
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OK.
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Thanks.
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Thank you very much.
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I wasn't able to sell the comic today, but I will go home.
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I'll put it online, and I'm confident that I will get
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a price of $1,500 or better.
