Marvel Value Stamps: A Visual History

A remarkably thorough and comprehensive overview of Marvel Value Stamps. Each stamp is discussed individually, included when and where it appeared, and there is a larger overview of the program. Lots of great illustrations. A deep dive, nerd extravaganza!

Marvel Value Stamps: A Visual History took me by surprise as one of the most intriguing books on the history of comic publishing this year.I never clipped out the 1970s stamps; I was savvy about collectible value at that point, and I certainly didn’t have the budget or inclination to buy two copies of every comic, especially titles I would have never collected in the first place. (Just for the record --- A few years earlier, I had made a DIY scrapbook of Marvel covers by cutting up the house ads for new issues. So, I wasn’t always “savvy.”)The book offers a comprehensive history of the program's evolution, which originated from a similar gimmick in the UK. Roy Thomas, the author, walks us through Stan Lee's “seat-of-the-pants “approach to developing and executing the program, which was typical of Marvel.For me, the book's most compelling aspect is how it focuses on art and its transformation and re-purposing. The book is detailed and captivating, presenting the original source art for each stamp alongside the full letters page, which is where the published stamp appeared.On some of my favorite pages, we see art for the original covers as well as the altered reprints.My only (minor) quibble? I wish the trim size was the same as an actual comic book. (It’s smaller.) Makes it hard on the eyes in places, especially the letters pages. And let’s face it: The prime audience for this title is well into the reading glasses phase.SRP at $29.95, the book itself is a bargain, regardless of whether you collected the stamps – or not.

Ah, yes. The (in)famous Marvel Value Stamps collected and presented in all their wonderful, shortsighted glory! What an incredibly goofy marketing stunt they were, but kids loved them, despite maiming their beloved comics to collect them. LOL. I pre-ordered this book back in May of 2020 and the release date kept getting pushed out further and further until I was beginning to wonder if it would ever make it to market...Well, it has finally arrived and it was completely worth the wait. This book features each stamp by itself and in terrific context to show how everything worked together--it appears to be a pretty well thought out book. The great Roy Thomas has developed into a kind of Marvel Comics historian and curator of late and he doesn't disappoint here. A quality work and a necessary addition to any comic fan's collection. Highly recommended!

Perfect small yet very detailed book on the history of the Marvel Stamp collection. Tons of historical photos andinformation on the stamps and Marvel characters. The perfect time capsule of classic Marvel Comics pop culture.

I was interested in this book but skeptical as to how they were going to make a book on a couple hundred Marvel Stamps seem interesting enough to spend the money on. I’m happy to say that they pulled it off.This hardback book is roughly the size of a current Overstreet volume and is packed with reproductions of the stamps in the letters pages that they appeared on as well as photos of the art sources and examples of completed puzzle images (for the stamps that formed puzzles) and information regarding what issues contained each stamp. For myself, it is almost worth the money just to go back and read the various letters pages.It also contains a 20-page Introduction from Roy Thomas and a host of other photos of Marvel Stamp-related items. The pages are thick stock with only a very mild gloss factor (hardly any), which was probably a wise choice, because it simulates the look of the original books better than a fully glossed book would.

Great stamps classic.

A very comprehensive tome! Only downsides: it's a heavy book, and it was printed in tanned, old comic style shades instead of bright pages, but that may have been due to the fact that many of the originals had aged and could only have been reproduced this way. A great book all-in-all.

If you were a big fan of Marvel comics of the seventies, like I am, you'll love this book!! It totally takes you down memory lane as far as the excitement of getting a book to find out which stamp you had!! I never was able to collect all the stamps, but this is even better, because this book has collected them all in one place!! Recommend!!!