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Comic fan sacrificing $250K Spider-Man collection

by Barry ORegan | February 20, 2011 at 09:29 am

235 views | 10 Recommendations | 2 comments

Gareth Gaudin, Victoria, B.C. native and avid Spiderman comic collector will be parting ways with his first love of 20 years ago, now eclipsed by the birth of a second child.

Gareth co-owner of Legends Comics and Books in Victoria, B.C., built an impressive collection of Amazing Spider man comics, a passion of collecting that included writing to the editor upon the birth of his first child in 2008 to include her photo in an upcoming issue in the hopes one day, his daughter Enid would appreciate her fathers commitment to his love of Spiderman, and his love to his daughter who would one day inherit his impressive collection of Spiderman comics.

With the birth of a second child due, Gareth and his wife Bronwyn now facing increased parental and financial commitments will be parting ways with Gareth's collection of 20 years.

While the collection of Amazing Spiderman comics are estimated at $250,000.00 a princely sum, the sentimental value most likely is priceless.

One can only surmise what his Legends Comics and Books store is like, perhaps a storefront right out of the Big Bang Theory, with the Sheldons, Leonards, Wolowitzs and Rajeshs types, nerds all, hovering over counters, frantically looking for the latest, greatest and past issues of comics, with the giddiness of a child given their first taste of chocolate.

While some feel hobbyists who collect for monetary gain and investment, never truly understand the mind of a true collector. Collecting can be an obsessive passion, ruining relationships and families.

The mettle of a true collector, is one who knows reality from passion with all things collectible, and in the case of Gareth, reality has set in to let go of his passions for his family, knowing one day, he may get his collection back when financially on solid ground.

Because in the end, Gareth just replaced his passion of collecting for the passion of his family, because family is forever, and you can never put a price on that.

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Gareth Gaudin (not verified)

at 16:43 on February 20th, 2011

Wow! Thank you for the kind words. It seems rare that people don't automatically veer towards the negative on the internet, but you actually made me happy. Thanks again.The "princely" sum is certainly an exaggeration, and a I have a much more realistic price in mind as opposed to the high-end Near Mint Guide Prices that the media seemed to initially quote.Oh, and yes, I've loved collecting this series but am more than happy to let it go in order to add comfort and stability to my family.You're rad.

Barry ORegan

at 18:27 on February 20th, 2011

Your are most welcome Gareth, by princely sum, if you figure out 20 years of collecting and the time spent, perhaps, princely sum to many of us would be anything costing more than a tank of gas or a hundred dollar win on a lottery ticket.

One can be certain the money you get would pale in comparison to the effort put into the collection over 20 years. Put into reality, you are selling what die hard collectors would most likely never do, unless forced to and under your circumstances you did what you had to do for your family. A rare trait rarely found in many men. I am sure your daughter and the other child on the way once grown will realise and what a fathers love means to them.

Hence why my story on you are in a few other publications with links to Comic Con 2011 and a few other comic collector sites. Hopefully this additional exposure will get you the money you deserve.

Barry O'Regan