RAW vs GRADED for Estate Valuation?

RAW vs GRADED for Estate Valuation?
Rovingsign Posts: 1 9/26/2025	Rovingsign Posts: 1 Hello, I have a question about RAW vs GRADED valuations. We inherited a desirable Golden Age comic. The estate lawyers want to know the "date of death value." At the time of death, the comic was ungraded, or RAW. Am I wed to that RAW valuation for the estate accounting? Seems like I am. I understand the potential tax benefits of grading and selling within the estate, but I think the situation is causing some confusion. Not sure I can legally use a graded value? Grading is going to be expensive. Grading amounts to an investment and upgrade of the actual comic, which it did not have at the time of death. The other question - they want me to make a valuation declaration for the estate, but wanted a local auctioneer to sign off on it on his letter head. He declined. I guess what I want to know is - for this kind of Golden Age comic - which goes to market somewhat infrequently - and usually without some fanfare...how does Comic Price Guide determine the "RAW" value? Are there actual sales of ungraded comics they are using - or is this an indexed number? I'm sure the GRADED number is good, but just wondering about the math on the ungraded. This is Pennsylvania btw. Thank you!
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Rovingsign

Posts: 1

9/26/2025

Rovingsign

Posts: 1

Hello, I have a question about RAW vs GRADED valuations.

We inherited a desirable Golden Age comic.

The estate lawyers want to know the "date of death value."

At the time of death, the comic was ungraded, or RAW.

Am I wed to that RAW valuation for the estate accounting? Seems like I am.

I understand the potential tax benefits of grading and selling within the estate, but I think the situation is causing some confusion.

Not sure I can legally use a graded value? Grading is going to be expensive. Grading amounts to an investment and upgrade of the actual comic, which it did not have at the time of death.

The other question - they want me to make a valuation declaration for the estate, but wanted a local auctioneer to sign off on it on his letter head. He declined.

I guess what I want to know is - for this kind of Golden Age comic - which goes to market somewhat infrequently - and usually without some fanfare...how does Comic Price Guide determine the "RAW" value? Are there actual sales of ungraded comics they are using - or is this an indexed number? I'm sure the GRADED number is good, but just wondering about the math on the ungraded.

This is Pennsylvania btw.

Thank you!

+1 link