Thoughts on Comic Book Grading

[Adam West]

I have been collecting Amazing Spider-Man comics since I was a kid and have quite a few key and semi-key issues.

I rarely read them anymore but still love the cover art. I am considering having some of them graded (mostly for investment purposes or if I decide to sell). I did talk to my local comic shop owner about it who can send them out for me to CGC. His initial opinion was don't bother unless it is one of the first 20 issues, would grade a 9.0 or higher, or another semi-key issue. I do have some in the first 20 but I'm sure none would grade that high. I do have some semi-key...such as first appearances of Scorpion, Rhino, 2nd Goblin, Gwen Stacey and Norman Osbourne death which are in superb condition. He told me to bring in some of them and he would be happy to help me with advice on which ones I should grade and which ones I shouldn't. I told him I would only want to do it if the price paid for grading would add value to the comic above and beyond the price. Just wanted some thoughts on what the owner is telling me before I take some in.

[LadyZod]

Before doing anything, check ebay.

If you are considering grading for value sake, you will at least see the true market rates for those particular issues you want graded.

Most people that collect graded comics don't really care about keys. They care about grade. Otherwise explain why ungraded NM Silver Age key would sit on a dealer's table for years, but a 10.0 or 9.9 graded Valiant book like Harbinger would sell for close to a K?

It's less about what's in the book and more about condition.

If you choose to grade for possible resale, you must being thinking of selling online. If selling in person to a collector, most collectors will want to buy ungraded hoping to grade themselves and avoid the heavy mark up. If selling to a dealer, don't bother. You did the leg work for them to be able to flip it on ebay, and they will pay you Overstreet if any. (CGC graded books tend to go multiples of Overstreet once they exceed the 9.4 grade.)

Do some research.

CGC regularly goes and does on-site grading at the bigger Wizard World conventions. If possible go to one.

Also keep in mind that CGC now charges a percentage of the estimated value of the book for grading if it is not considered a modern book.

If you're looking to get a run graded, regardless of condition, just for looks, call CGC and ask them questions. You might qualify to get it stamped as a Pedigree. (Their criteria for Pedigree may vary). If the run is pedigreed, you can in turn flip it for more than the individual values. In otherwords, make the whole more than the sum of it's parts.

Good luck, CGC speculation is like the stockmarket sometimes!

[Adam West]

Thanks...that's why I need help. I am looking into it not to sell but have it graded if and when the need comes. The shop owner I have known for years and doesn't like grading....period but understands the necessity. He also explained the pricing structure. I am supposed to take a handful of my key issues in for him to look at and his recommendation was to send a few of the nicer condition items and see what they come back (he said he should be able to give me a pretty good idea so it will be cherry picking the best) and go from there.

[toys2cool]

if it's in decent condition it'll sell way better if it's graded

[Brazoo]

I'm with the shop owner 100% - but I also hate CGC.

Besides - why rush into spending more money on them now if you're not ready to sell yet?

[Adam West]

I figure I would do a few at a time and see how it turns out.

Also, things sometimes change and I was thinking about having a few of the better ones graded now in case I have to part with them for some unforeseen reason

[Brazoo]

I don't think you or Lady Zod are wrong - but my personal take on this is that if you're planning on spending hundreds of dollars trying to protect or increase the value of your comic collection you might want to use that money for a more secure financial investment.

I think diversifying your investments is better in the long run, and it protects you better too.

After all - if you're spending money on these comics and you don't sell CGCing doesn't really add anything to them.

[suspense39]

i personally wouldn't bother

unless they are high grade or especially rare. It's just not worth it....go to comicsupply.com and get good mylar bags and micro chamber paper for you good books, it will preserve them. if you have a hundred or 200 hundred dollar book and you cgc it for 35 or 40 bucks the comic is still going to be worth or sell for the same only you spent 35 or 40 bucks, like someone here said look at ebay and study it a bit...good luck!

[Adam West]

So the concensus is that CGC grading is not worth it? In other words, if I spend $50 having a comic graded, then I would only expect to receive $50 or less than I would have if I didn't grade it at all?

Finally, if I decide not to go the CGC grading route at this point what kind of archiving supplies should I purchase for my better comics. I do have a few key issues that would grade high and I also have some early Spidey issues like #4 which wouldn't grade high but is still probably worth $200 or so. Right now, I have them on acid free boards and bags but have been worried about them getting bent, wet, or damaged in some unforseen way even though I have been super careful with them.

[number 6]

I also hate the whole CGC thing. And I agree that unless the books are high grade, CGCing won't add anything to the value of your books. In other words, you can't expect to get the crazy multiples of guide that CGC books have a reputation for getting.

However, while your books might not be high grade or super key, it does sound like you do have some nice books that are semi-key and would be desirable.

Thing is, if you try and sell them ungraded on eBay, you'll only get a fraction of what they're worth, especially if they are mid- to lower grade. While CGC may not add any value to the books, it might (and I stress "might") help you get something closer to what they're worth. One of the "advantages" of the CGC from a buyers point of view is they don't have to wonder whether you know how to grade or not. If they've drank the CGC kool-aid then they just accept the grade CGC assigns and bid accordingly.

Also, if you CGC your books, it allows you to consign them with sites like Comiclink.com Comicconnect.net. They charge a consignment fee but it's usually less if you've had the books CGC'd. Check Comiclink to see what your books have sold for both CGC and raw in the condition you think they're in.

Also, Bob Storms and Highgradecomics.com does a consignment service for both raw and CGC comics. I delt with him both buying and selling and he's a pretty fair guy.

The thing with consigning is you can't be in a hurry to get rid of the books.

I think alot of it depends on how much you spent on the books. Combine that with the CGC fees and compare that to what the books worth/what you think it might reasonable go for and that might give you and idea of whether it's worth it or not.

Hope that helps.

[suspense39]

archival supplies

So the concensus is that CGC grading is not worth it? In other words, if I spend $50 having a comic graded, then I would only expect to receive $50 or less than I would have if I didn't grade it at all?

Finally, if I decide not to go the CGC grading route at this point what kind of archiving supplies should I purchase for my better comics. I do have a few key issues that would grade high and I also have some early Spidey issues like #4 which wouldn't grade high but is still probably worth $200 or so. Right now, I have them on acid free boards and bags but have been worried about them getting bent, wet, or damaged in some unforseen way even though I have been super careful with them.

get heavy mylar bags (not the top loading one, the kind that fold over) and microchamber paper, i buy mine from comicsupply.com. mylar doesn't break down and damage your books like regular bags and the paper keeps acid migration down, cgc uses it themselves between the pages and cover, i usually put 3 to 4 sheets in my expensive books.

[Brazoo]

I personally agree with everything number 6 and suspense39 is saying.

Whether you're consigning or selling them yourself I would also add that comics (even CGC ones) are not as liquid as people might think. You could get lucky and find the right buyer right away - or you could have to relist them for a while.

In my experience "readers" of key issues or unusually high grades are more liquid than mid-grade, Fine or Very Fine books for early Marvel.

If you look at prices in the guide as retail and not wholesale prices you'll get a better idea of how much you're going to get for the books. Storing them takes time and money and selling them takes time and money too. There's ebay and paypal fees you have to factor that in to the sale price too.

If you bought them for cover price, you're already WAY ahead - that's why I don't see spending more money on them - especially if they're not insured. CGC books are still flammable, and not 100% water proof either. In my opinion they are not much better than just storing them properly with the correct materials.

Personally, I think collectables make bad financial investments. Most collectables will not yield the same kind of return as proper financial investments - but people enjoy the hobby and (like gamblers) they remember the wins and forget the losses.

Bottom line to me is that you're already ahead with your investment - why put more money into it? Again, just my opinion.

[B-Lister]

I don't pay for another person's opinion.

[Adam West]

Keep in mind that this is a comic collection that I built over years not realizing that some of these comics are worth some money. The money I have into most of them isn't much more than cover price with a few exceptions so any money placed into grading would be the only real cost in them.

[Blue Meanie]

Reviving this older thread because this book got me saying "how the hell could you grade a book like this a 9.2??!!??"

The purple that you see around the edges on the back towards the top of the book is the old "returned books" paint that used to be sprayed on comics bindings and outsides to indicate that the book was a return from a newstand and they were supposed to be "pulped" or destroyed. Warehouse finds during the late 70's and early 80's found a lot of the books that were returned were never destroyed:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Avengers-96-...QAAOSw4HVWCZiv

That spray usually got into the books tops or sides and they made for great reader copies...but IMHO were not collectors first choice to have as a permanent part of your collection. They were always a filler until you got an upgrade. How this book can get a grade of 9.2 is ridiculous