Beware of Incorrect Obi on 1st Print Manga Sold on eBay

December 4, 2024

If you’ve ever purchased or searched for a 1st print manga on eBay, you might have encountered a situation where the Obi (the paper band around the book) doesn’t seem to be the correct one. This can happen for various reasons, and often, the seller may not even realize that the Obi doesn’t match the first print. I’ve personally experienced this several times—buying a manga only to discover at home that the Obi was incorrect…

In secondhand stores, employees are handling hundreds of books every day, which can lead to Obi being swapped by mistake. It’s an easy oversight, and the mistake may go unnoticed, especially for those who don’t specialize in 1st print editions.

However, the real issue arises when a company like Beckett grades a book with the wrong Obi and buyers end up paying top dollar, believing it’s the correct one. This creates a misunderstanding, as collectors and enthusiasts are led to believe they’re purchasing an authentic 1st print edition with the correct Obi, when in fact, they might not be. For example, consider the case of Mushoku Tensei sold items (see the photo below).

Now, I’m not blaming Beckett for this mistake either. The problem stems from the lack of a database that specifically catalogs the Obis of 1st print manga. This gap in knowledge is causing confusion, and unfortunately, there’s no easy way to cross-reference if a manga has the correct Obi, especially for collectors.

Sometimes, spotting an incorrect Obi can be quite easy due to temporal inconsistencies. For example, the date printed on the Obi might be significantly later than the release date of the 1st print manga, which is a clear indicator that the Obi doesn’t belong to that edition. Similarly, if the Obi promotes a live-action series or film adaptation released well after the manga’s initial publication, it’s another strong sign of an error—especially if the manga had just been released (see photo).

For example, even though I’ve never personally had a Naruto 01 or Attack on Titan /w Obi, I know what they should look like. However, with Death Note, I’m in total uncertainty. There are two versions circulating on eBay, but to me, the true Obi tied to the 1st print is the one with green lettering. Yet, I can’t say for certain (see the photos below).

That’s why I’m suggesting a simple solution that could help. You can access a database dedicated to 1st print manga with their respective Obis. You can also use the search bar to find your manga, followed by “/w Obi” (e.g., Vinland Saga 01 /w Obi). Since not all books are listed on 1stPrint.net, you can help grow this database by listing your books for sale. And don’t forget, the commission fee is only 8%, compared to eBay’s hefty 15-20%.

If you notice an issue with a product listed on 1stPrint.net, please report it to [email protected] or via the contact form on the site. Thank you for your cooperation.

By building this database together, we can help make sure that buyers are well-informed and that they get the correct Obi with their 1st print manga. Let’s help each other preserve the authenticity of these rare editions!