This thread is being launched to alert potential buyers and collectors of books identified as being part of submission groups linked to Jason Ewert before he halted the public sale and Ebay auctioning of CGC graded books in 2005 as a result of allegations that he micro-trimmed comics that ended up in CGC Universal blue labled slabs.

We take no position on Ewert's alleged guilt or innocence, but in the coming weeks we will be alerting the public to the current widespread presence of books in the marketplace, and in CGC registry collections, that were deemed under suspicion by CGC.

CGC has an open offer to review and check any book purchased from Ewert during the time period of September 2004 through September 2005. We recommend that if you do hold one of these books, you send it in to CGC, making sure to call ahead to make sure their offer is still valid.

All Ewert purchases that have been checked and cleared by CGC are given a new certification number after reslabbing. This research was based on a list compiled of all books listed on submission groups of known Ewert related invoices.

To put it bluntly, our initial research is pretty stunning. The master list we worked from contained almost 3,000 books. We have identified nearly 350 books by title, certification # and owner sitting in current CGC registry sets, many of them extremely high scoring books. One current Collectors Society member was found to have over 40 Ewert invoiced books in his registry sets. We believe that this situation was allowed to come about because collectors were never clearly made aware of what they might be holding, due to CGC's reluctance to release a comprehensive list of suspect certification numbers. This would have been the right thing to do, and still would be if done today. It would have preempted the further dissemination of these possibly tainted books into the marketplace. In this case CGC failed to uphold their responsiblity to the collecting community. We encourage CGC to rectify this situation immediately with the release of all suspected invoice numbers and certification numbers.

We do not accuse any dealer or seller of malfeasance, simply because they may currently be selling these books or were found to have previously sold them. That judgement is left to the collecting community and the individual buyer. These dealers and sellers may simply be unaware of what they were selling, due again to the lack of the release of any really helpful information by CGC.

We welcome feedback from all collectors and certainly from CGC and it's principles, either present or former. Our goal remains to keep the collecting community informed of the risks inherent in the hobby, and wish only happy and safe collecting to all.

To begin with our first alert, we turn your attention to Ebay seller comicfutures who has the following Ewert submissions currently for sale in his Ebay store. Since we were unable to contact comicfutures directly (due to Ebay contact restrictions) we ask that any previous buyer of their wares either let them know about the presence of this thread or provide NOD with contact information. We welcome their response, and encourage them to send these books to Sarasota for an immediate check before selling them to an unwary public. For more information and scans of the suspect books, enter the item numbers shown here into Ebay's search engine. NOD currenty has a complete set of the scans of these books, which will appear sometime in the near future in a unique searchable database.




These books are:

- Spoof #5 CGC 9.6 OW to W CGC # 0098405004 graded on 9/20/2004 Ebay Item 200233552792

- Marvel Feature #12 CGC 9.6 W CGC # 0098413009 graded on 10/15/2004 Ebay item 200233552653

- Where Monsters Dwell #5 CGC 9.6 OW to W CGC # 0098439004 graded on 10/28/2004 Ebay item 200233552962

- Monsters on the Prowl #16 CGC 9.4 OW CGC # 0098491002 graded on 10/18/2004 Ebay item 200233552715

- Chamber of Darkness #5 CGC 9.6 OW to W CGC # 0098498008 graded on 9/17/2004 Ebay item 200233552488

- Thor #215 CGC 9.6 OW CGC # 0080562007 graded on 7/9/2004 Ebay item 200233552834

- Fantasy Masterpieces #6 CGC 9.6 WP CGC # 0098476003 graded on 4/11/2005 Ebay item 200233552575

- Marvel Team-Up #12 CGC 9.6 CGC # 0098476009 OW to W graded on 4/11/2005 Ebay item 200233552709

- Amazing Adventures #6 CGC 9.6 OW to W #0708986001 graded on 4/29/2005 Ebay item 200233552431

- Marvel Spotlight #3 CGC 9.4 White CGC # 0629521019 graded on 9/11/2004 Ebay item 200233552675

- Amazing Adventures #18 CGC 9.6 OWW CGC # 0098373019 graded on 7/9/2004 Ebay item 200233552425

- Giant Size Fantastic Four #5 CGC 9.4 OWW CGC# 0080548009 graded on 7/9/2004 Ebay item 200233552587

Well put together Brad I saw one of these comics when checking him out this morning.

...and so it begins, slow & steady

Excellent post and gathering of info.

I wonder how many people really know about this?

Eventually, a lot of people are going to know about this. And this is only the beginning.

The, uh, tip of the iceberg. Only this time, the iceberg is melting.

This needs to be submitted to all of the comic press as
a News Release.

Did Ewert trim a significant amount of GA books?

Not to my knowledge. But CGC has made it near impossible to track the GA books that he submitted.

Were any Bronze found to be trimmed or were they all Silver Age?

• A copy of Western Team Up #10 graded on 10/12/2004 was found to have it's top edge trimmed.

• A copy of ASM #137 graded on 2/28/2005 was found to have it's back cover trimmed.

• A copy of Captain America # 148 graded on 10/18/2004 was found to have the right edge of the cover trimmed.

• A copy of ASM #127 graded on 6/21/2005 was found to have the edge of it's back cover trimmed.

• A copy of Cat # 3 graded on 7/6/2005 was found to have it's bottom edge trimmed.

There were at least half a dozen more BA books found to be trimmed.

At least, that's what CGC caught at the time of grading, before the scandal broke and they realized that more had gotten through.

Here's an example of a Ewert submission book. CGC # 0708987006 OW/W pages. Graded on March 4, 2005 just months before the Trimming Scandal erupted...

This book was found as "sold" for the cool price of $7,000 on the website of a well-known dealer. If this book is in your possession, we would recommend that you contact CGC immediately for a check.

This is just one of dozens and dozens we came across either recently sold, currently for sale or coming to auction shortly on major dealer sites.

Here's another example of a Ewert submission book that was recently sold to the tune of $650 on yet another high profile dealers website. Please remember, the fact that these books carry suspect certification numbers does not mean that they are trimmed. It does mean that it is recommended that they be sent into CGC for a free check.

Also, remember, that simply because this book appeared on a specific dealers website does not mean the dealer was aware of the issues surrounding the book. That again, falls to the fact that full information was not made public by CGC. Then or now.

Presented is X-Men #5 CGC 8.5 OW pages cert.# 0700042017 Grading date: 2/9/2005

Here is another Ewert submission, sold on yet a third different dealer site this year. Captain America #107 CGC 9.4 White pages cert. # 0708995007 Pacific Coast pedigree. Grading date for this one was 5/2/2005, just before the scandal broke. Selling price for this one was $400.

Brad, this is just plan great data! Thanks for putting it together and getting it out there.

Thanks Greg, but I can't take the credit for the datadump I'm using. I'm building on data that was compiled by a couple of good men about three years ago. It's all publicly available, invoice numbers are all listed publicly on the CGC Boardsd.

I will take credit for examining the data closely and shining a light on the current situation.

My hope is that CGC will recommit to further clearing up the situation.

Jeff Delaney suggested that CGC not allow Ewert submissions that haven't been double-checked into the registry. We concur, and in addition we don't think they should allow them into the CGC Gallery either, where we found the following book:

All Star Western #5 CGC 9.8 OW TO W Pages Cert. # 90098451010 graded on 2/28/2005



Unfortunately, bumping the old contact list is too little too late. To begin with, it's incomplete. We suggest CGC release a complete detailed list of every Ewert/VIA submission from Sept 2004 through Sept 2005 with title, issue #, grade, cert. #, PQ, and grading date immediately. One registry member is about to unleash some very high grade Ewert submitted books on the buying public in about a week.

Very impressive compilation so far.

Each scan displays the same feature on the outer edge of the comic. The top edges also display the same qualities.

I guess it could be noted that from the vast amount of comics done and submitted by Ewert and Co. not all maybe trimmed. They may only have pressing done.

The pressing is not at issue at this point, as you know, DD. I assume that at that point in the jaenter operations, it was pretty much SOP. I'm sure some people see him as a visionary, but would never say so publicly.

People should not throw themselves into a panic over this. We've contacted a couple of collectors privately about this and most are very concerned about what they might have. But again, the odds are that many of these books have not been trimmed. But collectors need to protect themselves and future owners of these books by finding out one way or the other. Because it's obvious that no corporate entity is going to do it.

It's a great job of awareness. Why this wasn't attacked 3 years ago is baffling but hopefully this will ultimately help to educate.

Thanks for putting all this out into the forefront Brad. I was aware of the Ewert scandal but not how far reaching it was and how little was done about it.

I was the high bidder in a Jason Ewert auction in the summer of 2005. The book I won was a beautiful high-grade copy of Frankenstein#1.

When the Ewert trimming scandal broke sometime thereafter, I was extremely concerned about the true conditional state of the book I paid handsomely for.

Based on the counsel of a fellow collector I sent the book in for reevaluation as per the CGC product recall posting.

I received the book back from CGC with a clean bill of health. It was found to be without manipulation and recertified using a new Universal label and new certification number. It was exactly the peace of mind I was looking for.

Mitch, have I ever told you that your dropshadows are the coolest!? Next to Davenport's of course....

But seriously, that is a perfect example of a good outcome, and the responsible thing to do. Has CGC updated their offer? Have they made any mention of it on their boards lately?

Do they even know what is going on?

What would be cool is a database of all books that were submitted to CGC for the check and the result, along with new cert. #'s if issued. But I think only CGC can provide that information....if they're even tracking it.

One final note: I see that CGC has pulled the wagons into an even tighter circle by requiring one be "logged in" to the chatboards to use the search function. This new condition was instituted just a day or two ago.

One thought came to mind. After all of Brad's hard work. Is it possible that the comics resubmitted, if the offer still stands, once they all come to light will simply be given a new serial number and clean bill of health so the company can save face by saying, " See... these books are clean because we've told you all before that we caught it early and know how it was done. " Nothing to see here, move along ...

I'm just thinking... wouldn't it be good to have an impartial 3rd party versed with the restoration and conservation methods view them prior to resubmission.

Nice idea, but way too complicated I think. If CGC still has their offer open, I think they should do the check. I mean, they'd be the ones to break it out of the holder. If it were removed prior to CGC getting it, then they could easily refuse to reexamine it.

Well, it looks like this thread has chased it's first book into the sunlight.

The following Ewert submission book, graded on 10/15/2004, just went up for sale on one of the big auction/dealer sites.

Incredible Hulk #129 CGC 9.6 OW to W pages cert.# 0098437005

This book should be sent in for a check by CGC, if you own in presently, or if you decide to buy it. Asking price: $625

This book was just recently sold on a second major dealers site on Sept. 13, 2008 for $300. (gpanalyis data)

Interesting statistic:

Of the top 12 collections in the CGC Comic Registry Points Ranking, 10 of them own Ewert books that fall within the suspect time period. Total number of these high-grade high-scoring books spread out among these ten collections is approximately 120 slabs.

No wonder the silence is deafening.

I am an idiot.

After helping to produce some of the contents of Ewert's inventory, Brad just informed me moments ago of three books that may be in question.

First, I apparently didn't perform anough due dilligence in reviewing my own inventory when compiling the information (I could've sworn I did this, but apparently not).

Secondly, and this underscores the sinister nature of the issue, is that I didn't CONTINUE to use the information readily available to me in advising me of future purchases. As a result, one of the books in question was purchased by me WITHIN THE LAST YEAR.

Ironically, I initially joined the CGC forums after finding out that some of my eBay purchased books may have been trimmed. Due to the knowledge obtained, my fears were realized. Now, with my first post here, I am coming to you again...but this time, I want to help take action.

First, there has to be a legal means of making this information available to anyone who wants to know. CGC, in protecting its interests, has obfuscated the information such that no one can both know if a book is potentially at risk. It also prevents consumers from making educational decisions in determining if the book that they are about to purchase is potentially at risk. Heck, I helped to compile the list and didn't even use it!

I love comic certification and CGC, but we all know that this was not handled in the best of light with respect to consumers of the service. I'd like to work with NOD/CGC in developing an online database that would help communicate to potential consumers if a book is potentially at risk. I know CGC would not view this as positive PR but blind ignorance isn't going to work either.

The bottom line is that CGC needs to balance the needs of both the customers they serve and the consumers of their service. We have defect notification for motor vehicles...and although this isn't life theatening...the perception of the hobby and how its constituents can remain EDUCATED during their presence within the hobby is something I think everyone should be entitled to.

Welcome. I am sure others would agree that NOD would welcome any help on this matter. The desire is to produce as accurate a list as possible and make that available to collectors.

We are contacting certain individual collectors that we know personally and letting them know what we have uncovered. We are trying very hard to balance the interests of the collecting community against those of current holders of these books. We are also trying not to infer that any particular dealer or auction house acted in an unethical manner. That isn't the point.

Three years ago CGC failed to put a cap on this incident. Hopefully they will realize that a situation still exists.

I appreciate the manner in which communication is being handled. I've come forth merely because this will continue to HARM the collecting community as books pass from one owner to another who may not have the necessary information at hand. It didn't appear obvious to me until I became a victim (AGAIN).

The problems before the community:
1. Getting proactive notification of possible issues
2. Being able to get specific information relative to their inventory. I really liked the idea of being notified based on their registry contents.
3. Ensuring that the collecting community, ie all holders of CGC inventory, validate their inventory.

Everything comes at a cost, and I've no doubt think that CGC has estimated the true costs at correcting the situation. Obviously, given the stance of a profit-based corporation, taking the best financial stance is prudent. What can be done to bridge these gaps and help in providing the information that the community desparately needs? It's an obvious open-ended question; I'm curious as to the conversations had to date with CGC by any organization such as NOD and CGC's disposition in the matter.

Sterling