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Mark Jewelers inserts...
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Just received an auction win of a Marvel Preview lot (#s16-25) today, and noticed that all of them had the Mark Jewelers insert in them. I've heard of this insert, which had been included in comics distributed from military bases toward the end of the Vietnam War. My question is, would this insert increase the value of a comic by a bit, if any?

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Just received an auction win of a Marvel Preview lot (#s16-25) today, and noticed that all of them had the Mark Jewelers insert in them. I've heard of this insert, which had been included in comics distributed from military bases toward the end of the Vietnam War. My question is, would this insert increase the value of a comic by a bit, if any?

 

MJI (and National Diamond) were put in books distributed to overseas military bases (although it has been confirmed that some were distributed at US bases). They ran in every 32 page book (not giants or square bound) from most of the major players (Marvel, DC, Dell/Gold Key, Charlton) from '72 through the early '90s.

 

Unless you have one in a key issue you're not going to see any premium. However, I have seen where they actually make the sale on some more common and/or lower grade books that just don't seem to move.

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National Diamond Sales inserts can be found in Marvels round bound Giant size Monsters on the Prowl #13 ( 52 pager) which I have a copy of. Also one might note Archie's from the 1972 time period can also be found with National Diamond Sales inserts. One example I know of is Archie at Riverdale High #1. The National Diamond Sales inserts preceeded the Mark Jeweler inserts with Marvel and DC. DCs Mark Jeweler inserts actually began appearing in comics three months before Marvels back in 1972.

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Unless you have one in a key issue you're not going to see any premium. However, I have seen where they actually make the sale on some more common and/or lower grade books that just don't seem to move.

_____________

 

But that is a premium! If you can sell something that woould normally have trouble moving, that seems like a premium to me. No, not a huge premium like 35 cent variants, but a boost.

 

Kindah like very early Direct Market versions of Marvels (and maybe (some?) DC Whitmans). If you can sell a mid-grade copy of some generic mid-70's marvel for OPG that's a heck of a lot better than what you might ordinarily do.

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Anyway, I think they're a lot more common in areas with a lot of military. For example, I rarely see them up in NYC (where we don't have too many military bases) and you'd think that by now comics should be spread all over the country (especially because at shows I'm buying from a lot of NJ dealers who are closer to bases), but honestly, I probably own 10-15,000 BA books and maybe 25 of them are the MJ inserts.

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DCs Mark Jewelers first 4 page inserts that appeared in DC comics back in 1972.

Marvels MJ inserts began on Marvel comics cover month dated 11/72..

Check your books to verify the listed below. "7 of 45" below listed books are verified and noted...

 

.

 

 

Minor key DC books on the list.

 

Weird Mystery Tales #1

Weird Worlds #1

Larry Harmon's Laurel and Hardy #1

Demon #1

Wanted #1

 

 

 

DC Comics Mark Jewelers First Ad Insert Issues.

A total of 45 books covering 45 DC titles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Action Comics #415 August 1972

 

Adventure Comic #422 August 1972

 

Batman #243 August 1972

 

Demon #1 September 1972

 

Detective Comics #426 August 1972

 

Falling In Love #135 August 1972

 

Flash #217 September 1972

 

Fobidden Tales Of Dark Mansion #6 August 1972

 

Forever People #10 September 1972------verified to contain MJ insert.

 

From Beyond The Unknown #18 September 1972

 

Ghosts #6 August 1972

 

G.I Combat #155 September 1972------verified to contain MJ insert.

 

Girls Love Stories #172 August 1972

 

Heart Throbs #144 August 1972

 

House Of Mystery #205 August 1972------verified to contain MJ insert.

 

House Of Secrets #99 August 1972-----verified to contain MJ insert.

 

Inferior Five #11 September 1972

 

Justice League Of America #100 August 1972

 

Korak Son Of Tarzan #47 August 1972

 

Laurel And Hardy #1 August 1972

 

Mister Miracle #9 August 1972

 

New Gods #10 September 1972------verified to contain MJ insert.

 

Our Fighting Forces #138 August 1972

 

Phantom Stranger #20 August 1972

 

Secrets Of Sinister House #6 September 1972

 

SGT. Rock #248 August 1972

 

Star Spangled War Stories #164 September 1972

 

Strange Adventures #237 August 1972

 

Superboy #189 August 1972

 

Superman #255 August 1972

 

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #125 August 1972-----verified to contain MJ insert.

 

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #152 September 1972

 

Tarzan #211 August 1972

 

Teen Titans #40 August 1972

 

Unexpected #138 August 1972

 

Wanted #1 August 1972

 

Weird Mystery Tales #1 August 1972

 

Weird War Tales #6 August 1972

 

Weird Western Tales #13 September 1972-----Verified to contain MJ insert.

 

Weird Worlds #1 September 1972

 

Witching Hour #22 August 1972

 

Wonder woman #213 August 1972

 

Worlds Finest #213 August 1972

 

Young Love #98 August 1972

 

Young Romance #185 August 1972

 

 

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Would like to thank everyone who replied in this thread & offered info on these particular inserts...very much appreciated. Hope to run into other copies with the inserts in the near future. (thumbs u

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Would like to thank everyone who replied in this thread & offered info on these particular inserts...very much appreciated. Hope to run into other copies with the inserts in the near future. (thumbs u

 

HI BILL-

 

I HAVE A QUESTION: YOU ARE NOT SAYING THAT THOSE WERE THE ONLY DC TITLES TO CONTAIN MJ iNSERTS, ARE YOU? I AM ASSUMING THESE WERE THE ONLY AUGUST 72 TITLES THAT WERE AVAILABLE? DID ALL TITLES THROUGHOUT HAVE THEM AT SOME TIME?

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Your data is a little off. Here's the timeline for Marvels:

 

April 1971 - October 1972 - National Diamond Sales

November - December 1972 - Mark Jewelers Inserts

January - April 1973 - National Diamond Sales

May - June 1973 - Haven't seen a copy w/inserts

July 1973 - MJ Inserts with the Mennen Wrap

August - September 1973 - MJ Inserts

October 1973 - MJ Insert with the Alka Seltzer Wrap

November 1973 - Febuary 1985 - MJ Insert

March 1985 - MJ Insert with the Bose Wrap

April 1985 - July 1991 - MJ Insert

 

The earliest DCs with MJ inserts I've also seen is Aug 1972 and ended in 1986.

 

The NDS/MJ inserts also ran in Archies and Gold Keys from late-1971 to 1973.

 

I've never found a Charlton with the inserts...

 

Jim

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You are correct I agree with you and your time line dates. I also have never seen a Charlton with a MJ or NDS insert ad in it.

I find the below to be the first Marvel issues of Marvel titles that can be found with Mark Jewelers inserts inside them and posted them below. All are picture frame Marvel issues cover dated November/December 1972. I agree with you the Marvel NDS inserts as you mentioned started with 1971 April/May cover month dated issues.

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing Adventures #15

Amazing Spider-Man #114

Astonishing Tales #15

Avengers #105

Captain America #155

Captain Marvel #23

Chamber of Chills #1

Chilli #20

Combat Kelly #4

Conan #20

Creatures on the Loose #20

Daredevil #93

Defenders #3

Doc Savage #2

Fantastic Four #128

Fear #11

Harvey #6

Hulk #157

Iron Man #52

Journey into Mystery #2(2nd series)

Jungle Action #2(2nd series)

Kid Kolt #164

Kull #5

Luke Cage, Hero For Hire #4

Marvel's Greatest Comics #39

Marvel Feature #6

Marvel Premiere #5

Marvel Spotlight #7

Marvel Tales #39

Marvel Team Up #5

Marvel Triple Action #7

Millie the Model #199

Monsters On the Prowl #20

Night Nurse #1

Outlaw Kid #13(2nd series)

Rawhide Kid #105

Red Wolf #4

SGT Fury #104

Shanna, the She Devil #1

Special Marvel Edition #7

Sub-Mariner #55

The Cat #1

The Gunhawks #2

Thor #205

Tomb of Dracula #5

Two Gun Kid #107

Warlock #3

Werewolf By Night #2

Where Monsters Dwell #18

X-Men #79

 

 

 

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I have an additional question.

I have a Fear #17 which has the four-page Mark Jewelers insert (on uncoated paper), plus another wrap printed on coated paper with some other military-related ad, which is between the cover and the first wrap.

 

Is that normal for regular MJ inserts?

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