Inherited a collection of comic books?

First, handle with care

Keep comics in their bags and boards if they have them, store them upright and away from heat, light and damp, and don't tape, press or try to repair anything. Restoration can lower a comic's value.

What to look for

• Age. Golden Age (late 1930s to mid-1950s) and Silver Age (mid-1950s to about 1970) comics are generally scarcer than later books.
• Key issues: first appearances of major characters, first issues of long-running series, and famous storylines or covers.
• Graded comics in sealed holders from CGC or CBCS.
• Signed copies, especially ones with a grading-company signature label.
• Bronze Age and later keys. Newer comics can be valuable too, though many 1990s books were printed in very large numbers.

Condition and grading basics

Comics are graded on a 0.5 to 10.0 scale. Condition problems include spine stress and rolls, creases, tears, missing pieces, stains, writing, and yellowed or brittle pages. CGC and CBCS grade and seal comics, and note restoration on their labels. Grading costs money, so it's usually worth it only for key issues or books in strong condition.

Watch for reprints

Some famous comics have been reprinted as facsimiles or in later editions. Check the indicia, the small print usually on the first page, for the publication date and any reprint notice.

Where real sold prices come from

Use sold prices: eBay sold listings and the Heritage Auctions archive of past comic sales are free to search, and GoCollect and GPA Analysis track sales of graded comics. Match the exact issue, printing and grade.

Mistakes to avoid

• Selling long boxes by the box before anyone looks for key issues.
• Pricing from asking prices or old price guides instead of recent sales.
• Taking comics out of bags just to check them, or handling them roughly.
• Assuming a reprint or facsimile is the original.

This guide is general information, not an appraisal or financial advice. Market prices change.

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