4/11/2016
Topic:
Epic Auction find!
tonicmole
|
I went to a farm auction over the weekend where they were mainly auctioning off old furniture, tools, and household items. However I spotted three boxes of comics setting out in the sun. I thought I'd get all three boxes for $50, but an antique dealer saw me looking and bid me up to $400! Mind you, the comics were bundled in set's of 50 so I had only the vague idea that the comics were mostly from 1965-1970. I took the comics home and started digging and found Avengers #1, Daredevil #1 and several additional issues down the line. Condition varied wildly, but I'm not a comic dealer, so I didn't care. The more I dug the more I found. Several early Spider-man, and Fantastic 4's. First Appearance of Huntress, some really early Thor and Ironman appearances. Really awesome stuff. 4th appearance of Spider-man, 3rd of the Silver Surfer. By far the greatest find I've ever gotten. What's weird is that most of the issues are recall issues. Especially the later 60's to early 70's. Several have the UPC code cut out or the cover ripped in half (not the older ones thank goodness). Also, the cover will be cut or stapled wrong. Maybe the original owner worked at a grocery store and took home the defective comics. Maybe they were merely dumpster divers? I don't know. Anyways, just seeing Avengers #1 got me pretty excited. Unfortunately, about 1/4th of the cover was clipped out for some reason, but otherwise in readable shape. Daredevil #1 was really rough. Complete, but rolled spine, and VERY brittle, and the cover was detached. Daredevil 5 and 6 were actually in pretty good shape. In all around 300 comics mostly Marvel, but I also got a few early 1960's Batman and Superman. It was funny when I had become so spoiled at finding legendary comics that I had to go back through them again to realize I had lesser ,but still amazing comics hidden in there. I'm pretty happy about the whole deal. |
4/11/2016
Topic:
Market Price vs Guide Price
tonicmole
|
Hold on. It depends heavily on the comicbook. I bought a coverless Batman #5 for $160 on ebay. Most comic guides would suggest no cover/no value. However, my Avengers #1 is around a 1.5 or 2.0 and a guide would suggest it's worth $1500. Guess what? They sale in the same shape as mine for $300 to $500 all day long. I saw a "buy it now" for a 3.0 graded for $1800. As far as classic comics go, the guides are way off.
Now, on the subject of buying comics at yard sales....they post a price, you buy them. It is not deceitful. You are not there to appraise items. You are a customer. Unless they ask your opinion, you have no obligation to give it. If you went to an auction would you go to all the other biders explaining the value of comics being sold? That'd be weird, and crazy. The more I think about a person going to yard sales, and auctions on a mission to educate people about the value of comics, the weirder it sounds. Who does that? It's like a one man "Antiques Road Show". Also, who doesn't know that some comics are valuable? "I got this 1940's Batman comic. I'm asking cover price." Come on. No one alive is old enough to not know what comics are worth at least a little. Now, if you're talking about stuff like Spawn #1.....who cares. Frankly it's insane to assume that buying comics under market value is some sort of theft. It's not wrong to help people, but holy bejesus. It's borderline creepy. Like you are pushing being a good person TOO much, and at some point you'll crack and become a serial killer. Keep in mind I bought a Uncanny X-men #12 at an auction and gave it to my cousin cause he was an X-men fan more than I was. I did not scream the value of the stack of comics which I got for $36. Actually most people would think you were some sort of weirdo. Honestly, if I met someone who did that type of thing I'd think, "I am not leaving my kids alone around them. Something ain't right." :P |
