The CGC Registry

Formed in 2002, the Comics Guaranty, LLC Registry has been an important and expanding part of the CGC’s trifecta of services that have been introduced since the company first started third-party grading, certification and encapsulation in February, 2000 (the other two being the CGC census or population report and the CGC boards or forum). The Registry allows Certified Collectibles Group (CGC’s parent company) members to list or register their certified comic books (and magazines) onto the Registry, where each certified item receives a value (in points) based on its grade. The Registry is divided into sets (Fantastic Four issues 1-300; X-Men issues 1-201, etc.) and subsets (X-Men issues 94-143; Amazing Spider-Man issues 1-25) and the registrants set listings are ranked according to the total number of points his or her set accumulates by adding up the value of each specific issue within that set. At first glance this would seem like a competition or a means by which a collector can "show off" his or her comic books, but the Registry is far more significant and consequential than its apparent use.

For me personally, using the Registry (and, in effect, the CGC boards) has been one of the most productive ventures I have ever undertaken in the comic book hobby, the result of which has led directly to the formation of my own internet website, Pedigree Comics.com. I started registering my personal collection of comics in late November, 2003, and still do so under the nickname "Captain Tripps". At that point in time I was already known as a high grade collector of Silver Age Marvels, but primarily only to dealers and a handful of other collectors, people in the hobby whose best interests were served by keeping my name anonymous. After registering a few of my favorite sets (X-Men 1-66 and Amazing Spider-Man 1-25) and viewing the other sets that were present , I began to take notice of the number of other high grade (and non-high grade) collectors using the Registry, collectors who previously never had a forum in which to list their books and see who else and what else was out there. It was an absolute revelation, and an addictive one at that, as I began to register practically all of my CGC certified comics over the next few months. Almost instantly, other collectors were taking note of who I was as I was now discovering a world of fellow collectors who shared the same love of the hobby as I did. In a way, the CGC Registry became the single worst thing that ever happened to dealers, as collectors, who never would have had the opportunity to learn each other’s identities beforehand, were now emailing and private messaging each other and finally sharing their love of comic books. And this phenomenon was not limited to just a handful of collectors or ones solely based in the Northeast or this country. The Registry includes members from many different countries, international comic book collectors who were now able to list their books alongside their American brethren.

The Registry was also invaluable in that it basically showed to the participating members (and anyone in the world who knew how to use a computer) what each collector had, and more importantly, which books within a set each collector was missing! Trades, sales, purchases, etc. became commonplace among registrants, as did the drive to upgrade one’s own set to get higher in the rankings. As newer registrants began listing their valued collections, more collector "awareness" was achieved and the entire hobby benefited as a whole. The CGC Registry fueled topics for the boards just as the board members cried out for more sets to be listed. Comic book fandom had reached an incredible new and exciting level, courtesy of the CGC.

For my benefit, the contacts I made through the CGC Registry (and boards) were more significant and valuable than any auction house’s or dealer’s customer list, as I used my new-found notoriety as a major Silver Age Marvel collector to open Pedigree Comics, Inc. in June, 2004. Many of these collectors (and "forumites" as per the CGC boards) have become good friends and valued customers and consignors and are the primary reason why my website has enjoyed success in its initial year of operation. Looking back, I realize now that I never would have had the means, contacts or vehicle in which to start an internet based comic book company without the advent of the CGC, and more particularly, the Registry and chat boards. I would have remained a fairly unknown high grade Marvel collector, one of thousands to go unnoticed within our hobby.

The Registry has become a valuable tool for me as a collector and I remember specifically those first few days and weeks as I began listing my collection. I chose the name "Captain Tripps" after my love of Jerry Garcia, the deceased lead guitarist of the Grateful Dead who went under that handle in the 1960’s. I also initially chose to list my favorite set, which was and still is the X-Men (issues 1-66), which I named "Pacific Coast Blues" since the predominance of the comics in the set are from the Pacific Coast Collection and all have blue, universal labels. It is undoubtedly the Registry set I take the most pride in, due to its completeness (all 66 issues), high grades (all in 9.6 or better) and composition of Pacific Coast copies (almost half). In fact, through trades, re-submissions and purchases, the set now includes more 9.8’s (36) than 9.6’s (29) plus one 9.9 (issue no. 41). Most of the early issues are from the Pacific Coast pedigree and are incredible, unread NM/M copies (#’s 1-3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 15, 17, 21, 24, 25 and 30). The Pacific Coasts that didn’t make it to 9.8 are all 9.6 (8, 10, 16, 18, 19, 29, 33, etc.). Since I first listed the set, I have been able to acquire (through trades) and up-grade (through re-submissions) several of the issues which are now 9.8, including the 1, 5, 9, 10, 12, 15, 25, 44, 47, 54, 56, 57 and 58.

Not only is the Pacific Coast Collection represented, but a few other known pedigrees are as well. These include the Northland (nos. 22, 23, 42, 43 and 62); Curator (nos. 10, 36 and 58); Oakland (#59); Golden State (#s 13 & 32) and Massachusetts (#35). In my desire to have the best possible set I could, I actually traded some Pacific Coast copies to get these other pedigreed ones as well as non-pedigree 9.8’s. Once the ball got rolling and the "fever" came to the forefront, I was trying to improve every issue, even making trades for an up-grade in page quality. No doubt about it, managing a Registry set can be an expensive and addictive adventure!

There are many other sets that I have come to appreciate and actively list my books into, such as the Avengers 1-50 set; Fantastic Four 1-102 and Daredevil 1-120; but the "Pacific Coast Blues" is my favorite one. With new sets (and sub-sets) being constantly created, only time will tell if X-Men #s 1-66 will remain that way!!