Marvel (De)Value Stamps

As I've mentioned before, my big entry point into the world of superhero comics was the summer of 1974...exactly the year Marvel began their infamous Marvel Value Stamp promotional program.

The first series featured stamps of 100 different characters printed on the letters pages of most Marvel comics, which naturally encouraged fans to pick up more Marvel mags to complete their Value Stamp collection. Marvel also sold a 16-page booklet for eager "stamp collectors" to display their clipped-out Value Stamps.

So, what we had here was Marvel, in effect, telling thousands of young comic fans (like me) that it was okay, even admirable, to mutilate their comic books! Oh, and mutilate them I did. I mean, what eight year-old could resist the siren call of this bombastic message:

"This is it! Your MARVEL VALUE STAMP for this issue! Clip 'em and collect 'em!"

I still recall clipping them, occasionally trading them with friends, and proudly displaying them on the closet door next to my Marvel Superhero stickers.  Obviously, as I grew older and developed the inevitable "collector's mentality",  I was horrified by my clip-happy behavior. 

However, as I've grown older still, I've come to view comics with clipped Value Stamps with a nostalgic fondness. So much so, that I never get too worked up when I buy a 1970's Marvel back issue missing its Value Stamp. See, to me, it's less a "permanently devalued" comic book and more an "artifact" preserving a moment of young enthusiasm, feverishly clipping a piece of clip art from a pulpy letters page. This is why whenever I'm searching through back issue bins at a comic shop or convention, I usually buy the issues marked "Stamp Missing".  Even though many of them are still in excellent condition, the fact that the stamp is missing usually knocks the official value way, way down....so they're usually significantly cheaper than issues with their stamps intact.

That closet door of Marvel stickers and Value Stamps has long since been dismantled and cleaned up....so I have no idea how many stamps I actually manged to collect (though I recall having all the stamps pictured above).  I think the highlight of my collection was the "rare" 100th stamp, featuring none other than Galactus, appearing in Amazing Spider-Man #145 (1975). As you can see here, clipping the Value Stamp really didn't have much of an effect on its overall value.

If you'd like to find out more about this odd (yet fondly remembered) promotion, check out the excellent Marvel Value Stamps website, which includes a complete index of all the stamps!

Comments

[Jeff Mierzwa]

I remember the old DC comics from the 1970's with the Daily Planet in back. I used to cut them out and pretend to sell them! They had a Hembeck cartoon on them. I also went through "what did I do???" phase, but when I look at the comics now, I smile a little.

[Wes C]

I was too young to be involved in the stamp happy days. I do remember buying back issues and being alarmed to find the stamp cut out though!

One of the happiest days in my comic book collecting came when I decided to lose the uptight attitude about condition and "collectible value". I felt liberated (as corny as I know that sounds).

I'll happily buy an issue that is in bad shape or has a coupon cut out if it cost less than it's pristine counterpart. I'm buying the comic book for the contents inside, y'know to read it and enjoy it. How else could I have gotten F.F #49 for ONE BUCK?!?!?

To me your dog eared and velveteen Spidey 145 has much more value than some pristine bagged and boarded copy that will stay in it's baggie and probably never get read anyway.

[Mark Engblom]

"One of the happiest days in my comic book collecting came when I decided to lose the uptight attitude about condition and "collectible value". I felt liberated (as corny as I know that sounds)."

Oh, not corny at all. I know exactly how you feel, since I was also "liberated" at some point along the way. I don't recall exactly when, but all I know is that I used to be pretty fussy about condition, and then, one day, it didn't matter much. Oh sure, I prefer to get something in at least Good or Very Good condition, but if it's got a loose or missing staple....I either ignore it or sometimes even re-staple it (GASP!).

That said, you can imagine how amused I am at the whole "comic books encased in plastic" trend sweeping up the collector markets. Although I've been dying to write about it since I started this blog in '06, I've never figured out how to properly break the subject down and slow-roast it like it so richly deserves. I'll figure it out at some point, but for now I'm just perpetually bemused by the whole thing. Meanwhile, I'll keep buying back issues I CAN ACTUALLY READ.

"To me your dog eared and velveteen Spidey 145 has much more value than some pristine bagged and boarded copy that will stay in it's baggie and probably never get read anyway."

Oh, you bet.....that's a great old issue with all kinds of memories wrapped up in it.

[Pat Curley]

I remember a few years back some guy got GCG to certify a Spiderman comic as a "Conditional 9.6". The condition was that the stamp had been cut out. Now I'm sorry, I don't care how much nostalgia you have for comics with missing stamps, but that's not even a "fair" in my estimation. Made me think I should send in an Amazing Fantasy #15 and get it certified as a Conditional 9.8, with the condition being that it's missing the cover and the insides.

[MaGnUs]

Mutilating comics.... heart attack!!!

[stephen]

i wish comics had the same sort of fun sense of advertising