The best way to discover the worth of classic comedian books? – The Artsology Weblog

I used to gather and browse comedian books once I was a child rising up in Minneapolis. I had the occasional DC title corresponding to Batman or Superman, however for probably the most half I used to be eager about Marvel Comics. There was a retailer within the Uptown space referred to as “Comedian Metropolis,” and I’d journey my bicycle there each month when the brand new points had been launched. It was at all times enjoyable to look over the newsstand and choose up the most recent problems with a few of my favourite superheroes, utilizing the earnings from my paper route and mowing lawns (that description alone ought to assist with providing you with a time interval: mid-late Seventies and early Eighties).

The comics that I primarily purchased and browse had been: The Superb Spiderman, The Implausible 4, Captain America and the Falcon, The Avengers, and Star Wars, since Marvel had a long-running sequence that was extending the unique film.

I’ve had my childhood assortment saved in packing containers for years, and barely pull them out, however for some cause I needed to urge to look via them the opposite day. As I used to be refreshing my reminiscence of what I had, I occurred upon this primary situation of Black Panther, printed in January 1977. Sooner or later in my childhood, recognizing the idea that first points had been beneficial, I put it on this plastic sleeve, and I feel I can safely say it’s in all probability been a couple of many years since I’ve checked out it. Seeing this, and understanding the immense recognition of the Black Panther film, I used to be curious to see what this was now value.

My preliminary search was merely a Google seek for “Black Panther Marvel Comics #1,” and the preliminary outcomes present listings for this promoting for $65 on eBay, one other eBay itemizing for $475, however then I additionally see that Heritage Auctions offered one for $1,800! So the query turns into, how can I work out the worth of my Marvel Comics Black Panther No. 1?

I do know there’s an entire grading system, and additional analysis means that “CGC” (Licensed Warranty Firm) is taken into account the “world normal for figuring out a comic book e-book’s bodily situation,” with a full vary of .5 for “Poor” as much as 10 for “Gem Mint.” However in fact this prices cash – the identical supply of information means that the fee vary for grading is $22 to $120, and comics with the next worth may have a sliding scale of three% of the e-book’s worth. I’ve no expertise with this, and am solely starting my analysis, in fact the preliminary feeling is that paying $120 for a grading is loopy, however I suppose if that comes off a sale worth of $1,800, I may stay with that (particularly contemplating I purchased it for 30 cents in 1977).

I additionally see there’s one thing referred to as “Overstreet Grading Information,” however the entire idea of grading normally is clearly a subjective course of, and the grade would clearly rely upon the person doing the grading. I’d prefer to suppose that mine would get a excessive grade, since I learn it possibly as soon as and it’s been untouched and in a plastic sleeve for many years, however … who is aware of?

It’s been some time since I’ve browsed any classic comics at a comic book e-book retailer to get any sense of what my assortment is value – I don’t have many first problems with any sequence, so in all probability not an entire lot. However that single situation public sale worth of $1,800 floats in my head and has me curious to research. I’ll write once more if and once I study extra or truly take motion with this … however within the meantime, if anybody on the market has any information to share on this strategy of investigation, please tell us within the feedback part beneath. And if anybody desires to make a proposal, I’m open to taking your finest provide!