Grail piece(s)?

[Hulksmashed]

Kinda gives a whole new meaning to "This is my body given for you.."

 

[The Mike]

That is the tricky thing with this terminology. I was hunting the Exclusive Doom PF for about 2 years before I got it, losing countless auctions and even hunting in brick and mortars that may have had at one time. One time I drove out to San Jose in heavy traffic (almost 3 hours) to a comic shop who had the Doom Archive set and had mistakenly told me it was the PF. When I finally got it, I felt really accomplished especially since I had a picture of it on my wall for the longest time with the word "Grail" written above it.

The thing is now, like Indiana Jones, I am hunted another piece that I never acquired which in reality would make it my new grail. Doom is one of my most prized possessions and it'd be one of the last pieces I'd ever sell but since I'm not hunting it then...technically it wouldn't be my grail.

 

[GondorGirl]

That is the tricky thing with this terminology. I was hunting the Exclusive Doom PF for about 2 years before I got it, losing countless auctions and even hunting in brick and mortars that may have had at one time. One time I drove out to San Jose in heavy traffic (almost 3 hours) to a comic shop who had the Doom Archive set and had mistakenly told me it was the PF. When I finally got it, I felt really accomplished especially since I had a picture of it on my wall for the longest time with the word "Grail" written above it.

The thing is now, like Indiana Jones, I am hunted another piece that I never acquired which in reality would make it my new grail. Doom is one of my most prized possessions and it'd be one of the last pieces I'd ever sell but since I'm not hunting it then...technically it wouldn't be my grail.

Thats interesting, so what your saying is does a grail piece stay a grail piece once you now own it? My opinon is that, according to the def. that hulksmashed used it is as much about the object than the endeavour to reach it. So I would personally say that one could certainly have more than one grail...whether you own them or not.

 

[The Mike]

Right, if I'm not actively hunting it then does it stay a grail once I have obtained it? I agree that you can have multiple grails by definition alone it doesn't stand at one but at what point would it stop being considered one?

 

[Hulksmashed]

Right, if I'm not actively hunting it then does it stay a grail once I have obtained it? I agree that you can have multiple grails by definition alone it doesn't stand at one but at what point would it stop being considered one?

I would argue that as long as ES<# of hunters it remians a grail. By definition, an object cannot be a grail unless it is quested after, and again by definition you can't quest for something that is readily available. IMO the quest doesnt end simply by obtaining the piece either. As long as others seek that particular object you have to fight to keep it. Though originally a literal fight, today it refers more to having the will power and funds to not sell it when the value is high.

Thus, if supply is less then demand the object can be a grail.

 

[GondorGirl]

I would argue that as long as ES<# of hunters it remians a grail. By definition, an object cannot be a grail unless it is quested after, and again by definition you can't quest for something that is readily available. IMO the quest doesnt end simply by obtaining the piece either. As long as others seek that particular object you have to fight to keep it. Though originally a literal fight, today it refers more to having the will power and funds to not sell it when the value is high.

Thus, if supply is less then demand the object can be a grail.

I absolutely agree with this (very eloquently put by the way) however I would not rule out the more personal feelings that one may have towards an object in sustaining its grail status, for instance if the cave troll statue suddenly took a nosedive and there was no demand and a large amount for sale that does not take away from the fact that my personal quest in obtaining this piece had made it grail...in my opinion as long as a long quest was given prior to owning it than it shall remain, always, a grail piece to that person, until as such time that person no longers 'feels' that it is.

 

[Hulksmashed]

I absolutely agree with this (very eloquently put by the way) however I would not rule out the more personal feelings that one may have towards an object in sustaining its grail status, for instance if the cave troll statue suddenly took a nosedive and there was no demand and a large amount for sale that does not take away from the fact that my personal quest in obtaining this piece had made it grail...in my opinion as long as a long quest was given prior to owning it than it shall remain, always, a grail piece to that person, until as such time that person no longers 'feels' that it is.

Agreed! The personal grail is a wholey different beast. It can exist outside the limitations of obsurity as long you actually quested in order to obtain said item. Similarly, a personal grail can be something that is readily available to most, but is unnatainable to you due to some sort of relatively unique limitation.

 

[GondorGirl]

Agreed! The personal grail is a wholey different beast. It can exist outside the limitations of obsurity as long you actually quested in order to obtain said item. Similarly, a personal grail can be something that is readily available to most, but is unnatainable to you due to some sort of relatively unique limitation.

And I agree with you there too! So do you think it is possible to mix the status of 'grail' to an item with the more individual idea of 'personal grail' or are they both completely seperate? I suppose subjective evaluations would probably mean that they are seperate...which in my opinion is a shame because collectibles would be nothing without the collectors behind them.

 

[Hulksmashed]

And I agree with you there too! So do you think it is possible to mix the status of 'grail' to an item with the more individual idea of 'personal grail' or are they both completely seperate? I suppose subjective evaluations would probably mean that they are seperate...which in my opinion is a shame because collectibles would be nothing without the collectors behind them.

Hmm...i would say that all "Grails" are also "Personal Grails, but not all "personal Grails are "Grails". In order to be a Grail something must be sought after by a relatively large amount of people. The act of those people seeking makes the objects an over all Grail as well as a personal Grail on the individual level. A personal grail, however may not be something of wide appeal, so while it achieves a "personal Grail" status it may not be elevated to an over all "Grail".

 

[GondorGirl]

Hmm...i would say that all "Grails" are also "Personal Grails, but not all "personal Grails are "Grails". In order to be a Grail something must be sought after by a relatively large amount of people. The act of those people seeking makes the objects an over all Grail as well as a personal Grail on the individual level. A personal grail, however may not be something of wide appeal, so while it achieves a "personal Grail" status it may not be elevated to an over all "Grail".

Very interesting, never looked at it from that point of view...so, if I understand you correctly, 'grails' are the foundation and 'personal grails' are built upon this and vary according to the individual? I have to say that does sound about right to me!

 

[ComputerFly]

My God, that is friggin' awesome!!!

 

[Hulksmashed]

Very interesting, never looked at it from that point of view...so, if I understand you correctly, 'grails' are the foundation and 'personal grails' are built upon this and vary according to the individual? I have to say that does sound about right to me!

Basically a personal grail can be anything an individual quests after (an over all grail by definition has to be searched for so is a personal grail). The Personal grail however may not be an over all grail but a unique object sought after only by the individual.

OR, like the Conan statue...it can just have ****ies

 

[Chapter 2099]

If this is the piece you desire above all others, it qualifies as your grail. Congrats on obtaining it. Many others are still searching for theirs.

That's the one piece, in terms of Marvel statues, that I would keep before all others. I know a lot of people don't care for that particular PF, but I love it.

 

[The Mike]

Essentially all Grails are personal grails because the individual has to quest for them. While some may share a grail, meaning multiple individuals are looking for the same thing, in reality you'll always find people who have no interest in that piece whatsoever. I don't think there is a piece in existence that everyone is or was questing for.

To say one thing is more "graily" than others is simply just putting personal emphasis on its importance.

 

[Hulksmashed]

Essentially all Grails are personal grails because the individual has to quest for them. While some may share a grail, meaning multiple individuals are looking for the same thing, in reality you'll always find people who have no interest in that piece whatsoever. I don't think there is a piece in existence that everyone is or was questing for.

To say one thing is more "graily" than others is simply just putting personal emphasis on its importance.

Well I partially agree. All grails are personal grails, and to each individual each grail holds just as much importance as any other. However, if you look at the trend you can identify which object is more commenly sought after as a grail.

Example: Say one person considers Spiral vs. Psylock to be a grail. They can't afford it, so they save up and work hard in order to get it. That object was a personal grail to that individual even if no one else ever buys one.

Now, look at Hulk PF. The ES is much smaller then the over all demand, which is why it fetches close to a grand on Ebay. That item is a personal grail to each individual seeking it, AND every PF Hulk is a Grail since someone that does not have it, wants it..

In other words, if ES < demand it is by definition a grail. If ES > demand and one person quests after it, then it is a personal grail. True to that one individual it is no less a grail then PF Hulk, but in general trend it is in fact less of a grail.

 

[GondorGirl]

I must admit that does sound like solid logic there, that 'personal grails' and 'grails' are seperate entities, and I have to say I agree with it. But I think as a collector I see through the eyes of everything I pursue in this manner as a 'personal grail' not a 'grail'...if that makes sense?


And, yes, ****ies do help!

 

[shawn-ray]

i think it is personal. one persons grail, may not be anothers. but everybody has different opinions. very good and interestion opinions at that!

 

[Hulksmashed]

I must admit that does sound like solid logic there, that 'personal grails' and 'grails' are seperate entities, and I have to say I agree with it. But I think as a collector I see through the eyes of everything I pursue in this manner as a 'personal grail' not a 'grail'...if that makes sense?


And, yes, ****ies do help!

People that look for specifically for personal grails are called collectors. People that look specifically for over all grails are called flippers

Holy COW..if "GondorGirl" means your a lady, then the you have just become awesome in my opinion!

 

[GondorGirl]

People that look for specifically for personal grails are called collectors. People that look specifically for over all grails are called flippers

Holy COW..if "GondorGirl" means your a lady, then the you have just become awesome in my opinion!

That does aptly describe the difference between Flippers and collectors!

I am indeed a lady! and what can I say? I like ze women!!!

 

[Blackthornone]

People that look for specifically for personal grails are called collectors. People that look specifically for over all grails are called flippers

Holy COW..if "GondorGirl" means your a lady, then the you have just become awesome in my opinion!

Actually they are called scalpers. Flipping refers to fixing up houses and selling them at a profit. Flipping implies work to restore or improve something and then selling it. Scalping is just buying something and reselling it for a profit, without adding anything to it or doing any work, like scalping concert tickets.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flipping

As you can read from this, flipping applies chiefly to real estate.