After five years, Tom Gordon, Managing Editor for Gemstone Publishing, is resigning from his post. Tom has spent many hardworking hours assisting with Gemstone's wide variety of publications, including The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, Hake's Price Guide to Character Toys, The Official Price Guide to Disney Toys, and Scoop. His breadth of expertise on comic books, character collectibles, rare toys, and pop culture will be sorely missed.

We at Scoop decided that Tom could not leave without giving us his final two cents. We picked his brain on the collecting market at present, in the future, and life without a neck tie.

Scoop: What are some of the most impressive items you’ve seen, as a collector and a historian, while working for Geppi’s Entertainment Publishing & Auctions?
TG: There are truly too many different things to mention. The key highlight would have to be being present with John K. Snyder Jr. in 2003 when the missing fifth 1913 liberty nickel was authenticated in Baltimore, Maryland. There were only a few people who were present that night. Being there when the Walton family's 1913 nickel was finally acknowledged as being authentic but also seeing the five coins together for the first time in 62 years was very special given my interest in numismatics and history.

I would have to also include being present when Don Levine’s G.I. Joe prototype arrived in Timonium somewhere on the top 20 if I had a list; just having the opportunity to be there when it made its trip from Dallas to Timonium when Steve (Geppi) acquired it. I had previously met and spoke to Don Levine, who created G.I. Joe, and had the opportunity to learn about what went into creating one of today’s most popular children’s toys.

As both a collector and a historian, being involved in the process of helping set up Geppi’s Entertainment Museum was definitely an opportunity and an enjoyable experience not only for the history but for the effort that was put into the museum. A tremendous amount of time and talent from an incredible group of people went into this monument to collectibles and pop culture. It’s amazing how the items in the museum catch everyone’s attention from the serious collector to the average person who just recalls having "that toy" when they were young.

Scoop: What changes have you seen in the collectibles business during your time at Gemstone?
Tom Gordon (TG): Obviously there’s been an increase in higher values and sale prices being realized whether it’s comic books, character collectibles, politicals, or antiques and collectibles. It’s not uncommon today to see a $3 million comic book auction, whereas in the 1990s a $1 million auction would be rare if not unheard of. A good portion of this is based on the fact that the information available to the general public is greater than it has ever been in the previous history of collecting. Third party certification has made it a safer hobby and has also made it an easier entry point for the novice collector. You also have a more accepted view of the collectibles market by the outside world that doesn’t relate to this area or genre. They’ve begun to see it more as a hobby and an investment. Whereas in the past it was not accepted to collect these materials based on some of the general public’s opinion.

Scoop: What areas of pop culture memorabilia are seeing strong results today?
TG: First, quality and rarity is king. There are many areas which are seeing strong results, but the common factor in all of them is condition and quality. Comic character watches have seen very strong growth as have high-end vintage Disney collectibles. A pair of Mickey and Minnie Mouse 1930s Charlotte Clark promotional dolls sold this past year for a world record price of $151,534.35. The only known example of the 1935 Bride of Frankenstein one sheet style D poster realized $334,600. The famed Honus Wagner card sold for $2.8 million in 2007. Comic character memorabilia and comic books have seen very strong results as well. The White Mountain pedigree copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC certified 9.4 sold for $280,000 and a CGC certified 8.0 copy of Action Comics #7 realized $143,400. The marketplace has been strong in a lot of areas ranging from historical Americana to mechanical banks, but the common thread is that people are making a real push for quality. People are also looking at availability when it comes to purchases in the marketplace with comic collectors purchasing a 9.0 graded copy of a comic book if a 9.2 or 9.4 copy is not obtainable. Key items in all fields have been selling very well.

Scoop: What has third party certification done to the comic book market?
TG: Third party certification has really taken comic books to the next level. The same results which have been seen in coins and sports cards translated into comics as well. Certification opened up the hobby to a lot of people who previously did not understand grading or restoration. It has allowed a better comfort level in both the purchasing and selling of comic books. Prior to comic book certification an individual had a better chance of purchasing a book with undisclosed restoration or buying a book which was improperly graded. Third party grading has definitely leveled the playing field for both buyers and sellers. Currently, CGC has certified over one million comic books in the past eight years, which is a monumental feat when one considers that a comic book is not a two sided entity like a coin or sports card.

Scoop: What will you be doing after you leave?
TG: Well, to begin with I’m still going to do freelance writing, which I’ve been doing previously. I write a monthly column for The Political Bandwagon, which is a hobby publication relating to the collecting of political Americana. The column is a market overview regarding eBay sales in the political field. I’ll also be doing some other freelance work for some other hobby publications.

I’m mainly going to be getting back to the buying and selling of collectibles and antiques which I did prior to working at Geppi’s Entertainment Publishing & Auctions. The way the market is currently, it’s fairly obvious that it will continue on a positive upward trend. There’s definitely an increase in the availability of quality material that’s been coming available in the past five years. There are some newer comic collectors today who don’t recall how difficult it was previously to acquire pedigree comic books. Ten years ago you had to either purchase these types of books from a specific dealer or from a select group of collectors where as today many of these books are trading more between various parties and are available from a wider group of auction houses.

Scoop: You were an advisor before you started here, are you going to continue doing that?
TG: Absolutely. I’ve not only been an advisor here but also give advice on collectibles and antiques in a number of other areas. One of the most valuable things that anyone can do as a fan, collector, or historian is to assist in not only promoting but also pushing the hobby forward. I’ve always enjoyed the research and history portion of the hobby. I have routinely shared new discoveries and information when others would have kept it private only for their own benefit. I personally think the most important thing in regard to collecting is not what you own, but sharing the information with fellow collectors and strengthening the hobby for the benefit of everyone today and future generations of collectors.

Scoop: What project(s) that you have been a part of while working for Geppi's Entertainment Publishing & Auctions are you particularly proud of?
TG: Where do I start… 

I would have to say that being involved with setting up Geppi’s Entertainment Museum is one contribution I am very proud of. This is one museum which very few collectors would have ever imagined coming to fruition in their lifetime.

I was also involved with Jerry Robinson in assisting him with locating some comic related artifacts for a museum exhibit he organized for the New York Jewish Museum in New York City. As someone who grew up as a huge fan of Batman and Robin, getting to work with Jerry and getting to know him was a real honor.

In regards to the publishing aspect of the job I would have to say that working on the wide variety of publications produced by Gemstone Publishing ranging from The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide to The Official Price Guide To Disney Collectibles were all very worthwhile projects. A lot of people truly don’t understand the amount of time, dedication, and hard work that goes into the research, planning, and production of these projects. On a personal note, I would have to say that I was very proud to be involved in seeing that Golden Age ashcan comics were included in The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. All of these publications have allowed the various fields to be strengthened by the information that is being shared in the collecting community. Scoop is also one area which I have been very proud of with the numerous accomplishments achieved there. From showcasing newly discovered collectibles to interviewing collectors or tracking the latest news in the field it has been a great opportunity to be involved with these projects. But, none of these projects would be as successful as they have been if not for the talented group of people who put a tremendous amount of time and dedication into seeing these projects through.

Scoop: Have your collecting habits or your collection changed since you’ve been working with Geppi’s Entertainment?
TG: I would say for the most part no, at times my interest has alternated between several different categories that I’m fascinated by. There are times when I am more focused on Americana and history than comic books. I’ve had a genuine love and serious passion for comics my entire life; sometimes it’s hard to do it 24 hours a day, day in and day out. For a lot of people this is just a hobby or an escape, but for those of us who work in the field it’s a career or a job. Probably the best thing about being not solely focused in one area is the fact that I can shift between my various interests while never losing my interest or passion in any of the subjects I collect.

Scoop: What do you think is causing the change in attitude and awareness toward Bronze Age comic books?
TG: They’ve finally become old enough to be recognized as vintage instead of being looked at like last week’s comics by some people in the hobby. There’s been an enormous amount of historical value to these books for the past 20 plus years. If you look at the Bronze Age from an investment standpoint, the readers who grew up with those books in the ‘70s have the money to reacquire items from their childhood and they are trying to buy back those items. We also have a strong amount of movies based on those books and storylines. In the past some people in the hobby had a tendency to be rather biased and overlook the Bronze Age due to a lack of foresight, which we’ve learned now was very inaccurate. One reason these books are now coming into their own is the maturation process of the age of the books and the marketplace. Years ago people were looking at other eras as being the “modern comic;” it is just part of the process as time goes on. The lack of available ultra high grade examples of some books and the demand for specific Bronze Age books in those conditions has also helped to propel the value of those books. A great example of this is Green Lantern #76 which features the Green Lantern/Green Arrow storyline by Neal Adams. In 2002, a CGC certified 9.2 copy of Green Lantern #76 would have cost around $700. Today, this same copy easily sells for well over a $1,000 with the majority of the sales in the $1,700 to $2,000 range.

Scoop: We’ve entered a Golden Age of strip reprint books. Do you think this will have any ramifications on collecting original strip art?
TG: I would say I definitely think it will affect it. Obviously anytime the collectors and the public have an interest they will go out and research and purchase those items. As a collector I’ve been captivated on different occasions by a number of different items and genres. After learning about them, I’d want to acquire them to have an example. I think strip art and related items will continue to be sought after and collected.

Scoop: What is it that interests you in giveaway and promotional books?
TG: One of the most interesting things to me personally regarding giveaway and promotional comics is the wide variety of products they’ve promoted ranging from automobiles to toothpaste, but also the manner in which they’ve creatively promoted products. As someone who has always had a strong interest in business and marketing, these types of comics are some of the purest forms in which a retailer attempted to sell a product. Also, the limited production and scarcity of some of these comics makes finding any examples a real accomplishment.

Scoop: As someone who realized early on the sleeper value in the Platinum Age comics. What do you think of the current acceptance and demand they are experiencing?
TG: One of the main issues with those books is the fact that the general public still doesn’t fully acknowledge that comics existed before 1938. These types of books are incredibly scarce, in many cases impossible to find in any grade, let alone found in high grade. There’s a seriously limited availability which can make them difficult to collect. I would say that acceptance has grown over the past decade or so and I would suspect as people become more aware of it there will be a stronger understanding of it. Unfortunately, at this time some people still don’t grasp the early comics and have a tendency to only look at the comic book/magazine format as being the only type of comic book. Strangely enough if you wander into any comic book retail store you’ll notice trade paperbacks, oversize reprint books, and a wide variety of book formats. Interestingly enough, if you study the history of early comic formats these modern formats are very similar to the variety of comic formats found during the Platinum Age of comics.

Scoop: You’ve been ahead of the market in anticipating a lot of changes in the market. What’s one that totally took you by surprise?
TG: I honestly can’t think of one. In most cases people allow their personal opinions to overshadow the obvious. When the Bronze and Copper Age comics started selling for record prices the past several years many people were questioning the sales and some appeared shocked. If you study history you can usually find a correlation in the marketplace to previous events.

Scoop: Given the increase in the public’s view of collectibles as both a hobby and also an investment, where do you see the market in the next five years?
TG: Given the strength of the market and the interest I honestly don’t see it going anywhere but up. Hollywood, while not directly affecting the value of collectibles, keeps these pop culture items in the public’s eye through film, television, and other media. I do think from an investment stand point you will see more people investing in collectibles and I do think we will finally see comic books move to a new level once we have a million dollar single item transaction in the hobby. When this occurs, comics will finally have moved to the next level and be in the same club as coins, baseball memorabilia, stamps, etc.

Scoop: Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share with Scoop readers and the collecting community?
TG: I would have to say that the past five years have been a fascinating time to be involved in collecting with many adventures and a lot of intriguing moments and discoveries along the way. While we all are fans or collectors of comic books or toys and value the items, the most valuable thing any of us will ever have as collectors is the history, memories, and relationships that go along with this great hobby known as collecting.