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.
