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