New York police say a man stole a package off a doorstep, found copies of X-Men #1 and Amazing Spider-Man #1 inside it, and was arrested trying to sell them at a nearby comics shop.
Spider-Man #1, X-Men #1 stolen from friendly neighborhood doorstep, say cops
Accused thief not too bright in trying to fence them
Marvel Comics via Marvel Database
Owen S. Good is a longtime veteran of video games writing, well known for his coverage of sports and racing games.
The Daily News reported today that the accused had no idea what was in the package when he stole it off a doorstep in Brooklyn’s Windsor Terrace neighborhood.
The owner had sent the 1963 issues — premiere editions of two of Marvel’s cornerstone franchises — out for appraisal. The company that appraised them did so and sent them back. The delivery driver was supposed to get a signature, not leave them on the stoop.
After figuring out someone took his comics, the owner called the cops, who fanned out to the city’s comics stores. The accused, 40-year-old Kenneth Gaynor, had left his contact information at one store he tried. Police set up a sting, and apprehended him on Monday.
“If you own something this rare, you’re not going to try to sell it to any comic book store,” a police source told the News.
According to the News, Spider-Man #1 was graded 6.5 and worth about $11,000. X-Men #1 came in much lower, 1.8, still worth about a grand.
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