NostoNews, September 1, 2007
by Tommy Jasmin
What goes in the Nosto databases?
We had a question recently regarding how we decide what goes in
each of our databases - in other words, what does Nosto consider
a comic, coin, or magazine? What is each database supposed to
represent? I'll give a little insight on each of our three
currently supported categories below.
Comics
The current Nostomania comics database is intended to cover U.S.
published comic books from the beginnings of the modern format,
in 1933, to present. We don't consider Platinum Age or Victorian
Age books comic books per se. While we do acknowledge the
aspects of panelology present, we have to draw the line somewhere.
We feel Overstreet's continual push backward in time is different
subject matter. Is a future edition going to cover Stone
Age cave paintings? Or was that covered in the infamous Arrowhead
Guide? Yes, to some it's interesting and important history, but I say quit stretching the definition, guys.
Below I'll highlight some items we do
allow to go into the Nosto comics database.
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Magazine-sized comic books: (e.g. Savage Sword of Conan and Mad) These are, after all, just comic
books with slightly larger dimensions. Size should not matter here.
We therefore consider Treasury Editions and mini-comics (like modern
ashcans) eligible for the database.
-
Trade Paperbacks: These are just compilations of previously
published comic books. Sure, a little thicker and pricier (usually),
but still comic books.
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Graphic Novels: They might seem more... formal? Like something
you'd previously (luckily, this is changing) find only in a library.
But again, it's just a fancier comic book, often with a nice hardcover
and dust jacket.
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Undergrounds: Why these are not covered in Overstreet, I'm not
sure. A guess would be the publishers either never cared for them
or consider many to be in bad taste. We feel they play a key role
in comic book history, and include them as we gather the data. In
fact, for a short time one underground cracked the Nosto list of the
100 Most Valuable Comic Books.
And what do we consider not a comic book as far as the
current database is concerned? Things like:
-
Paperbacks: These are novels. The fact that some have painted
covers by comic book artists doesn't change what they are - books.
-
Big Little Books: While there are sporadic illustrations in these,
they are primarily text. These warrant their own database, which
we are considering supporting.
-
Pulps: Same logic as applies to Big Little Books.
Not a Nosto comic
Coins
The current coins database is intended to cover only regular
issue U.S. coins, both business strikes and proofs. Of course some day we hope to expand our coverage
to world coins, ancient coins, etc., but for now this is the focus.
Below are some items we do represent in the Nosto coins database.
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Bullion coins: Like any business strike, these coins have a base
denomination. We wouldn't recommend walking into a store and spending
a modern American Gold Eagle for face value, but legally you can do it.
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Designations: The value of a given issue will vary greatly when
designations such as Cameo or Deep Cameo apply (for proofs), or
Red-Brown and Red (for copper coins). A separate database entry
should exist where appropriate. We typically follow PCGS here -
if there is a separate PCGS number, there will most likely be a
separate item in the Nosto database.
And below are some items we do not cover in the Nosto coins database.
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Colonials: While we'd very much like to cover these, we are still
undecided as to whether they should go in a separate database.
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Tokens: Again, we see future expansion here; we've just had taller
nails to hit up to now.
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Planchet Errors: These, at present, we feel are too difficult to categorize. Often planchet error
coins are unique, and as such present great difficulty computing
pricing from actual sales. We do cover well-known error coins where
many were struck, such as the 1955 Double-Die Lincoln and 3-Legged
Buffalo Nickel.
Not a Nosto coin
Magazines
As I mentioned previously, our brand new magazines database at present
consists of mainly horror and science-fiction titles like Starlog and
Famous Monsters of Filmland. We'll be expanding this category
rapidly, as we know there are collectors out there who want to track
magazines with features like first appearances of movie stars, the earliest
issues of Playboy, etc. Another emphasis early on will be trying to
represent any magazines that CGC will certify, since at present they
are the only third-party grading service for magazines and the only
source of certified item sales data here.
Prizes
Don't forget, all you have to do is create a single Collection,
Wantlist, or Salelist item during the appropriate month to qualify for our sweepstakes.
Why not take a look and see what we're giving
away (and gave away last month), free as always.
Thanks, we'll see you all next month.
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