Mirage issue #1 FIRST PRINT

[Rat_King]

Hey everyone!

So, I've fallen on some hard times and need to part with my issue #1 first print of the Mirage TMNT. I bought this from Kevin Eastman's eBay page eight years ago. It's from his personal collection and signed by him on the cover. PM with any offers.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/HeebyGB/TMNT%201.1.jpg (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/HeebyGB/media/TMNT%201.1.jpg.html)

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/HeebyGB/TMNT%201.2.jpg (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/HeebyGB/media/TMNT%201.2.jpg.html)

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/HeebyGB/TMNT%201.3.jpg (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/HeebyGB/media/TMNT%201.3.jpg.html)

[kaptainmyke]

aw jeez why did i have to see this

[Bebop87]

Awesome piece!

[Chris]

Amazing piece! Wish I had the funds to afford it but well out of my range.

Good luck finding a buyer, hope you get back on your feet soon.

[Meow]

Amazing piece! Wish I had the funds to afford it but well out of my range. Good luck finding a buyer, hope you get back on your feet soon.
Just wondering out of interest: What would those #1 issues usually go for in such a condition?

[kaptainmyke]

$4,000 however it's qualified not verified. I wouldn't mind taking it for $3300 but he's asking like double that on ebay

[DestronMirage22]

Man, do I wish I could afford to buy this.

[MrPliggins]

Beautiful book, good luck with the sale!

The signature isn't verified, but since it came from Eastman's collection, I'm sure it's real. Also it looks real and not like some forgeries I've seen. I wouldn't think it would lower the value too much in this instance.

[kaptainmyke]

You can tell it's real. If CBCS would do magazine size (COUGH, COUGH) this book would absolutely pass the signature verification program. I'm still waiting so I can get my 1-4 slabbed with red labels. My #1 is only a second printing.

[Mayhem]

Would CGC verify if fake? Although I'm right in thinking you get a different header colour for the slab if they witness the signature?

[mrmaczaps]

Since CGC people are still people, sure.

I've talked to a few people who pay their witness to get yellow labels on all their signed comics.

CGC has become, to me, the same as any other certificate of authenticity... if it makes you feel good to buy it and pay out the butt for the signature series or certificate, by all means go right ahead...

This book looks great though. I wish I didn't have this damn tumor and could afford it myself...

[kaptainmyke]

CBCS is the only comic book grading service that offers Signature Verification Program, which is when they scan your book/signature to a team of experts and trained professionals with a digital database of thousands of registered creator/artists signatures and sketchworks. They then compare the data and crunch it and decide for themselves if the signature obtained is in fact, verifiable and legit.

Conversely, if I send my own sketch cover book into CBCS and fill out a form I can get my own WITNESSED YELLOW LABEL SIGNATURE series on a CBCS book, but only if I state I am the artist who did the sketch on cover and sign off on it. For big names, and other people at cons, you have to find and appoint an "AUTHORIZED WITNESS" and they will watch your creator sign your book or sketch and they submit your books off to CBCS with that same form I stated before and that third party helps you obtain the yellow label on your book.

You may also send a book in to, say, Kevin Eastman, and commission him to do a sketch, and he'll either send it off directly or an appointed handler at a convention and you get your yellow label that way too.

As far as CGC is concerned....I've heard and seen stories of corruption and fixed yellow labels at cons so....yeah, CGC is going away soon....going the way of the dodo imo