Determining Comic Book Value

Did you unearth a whole stash of comic books while cleaning the attic? Did you discover and decide to buy someone’s collection of old comic books at a garage sale, intending to sell them for a few extra bucks? No matter how you obtained them, and regardless of whether you have a few or several dozen comic books, you need to learn the comic book value.

The methods for determining the value of a comic book are several. First of all, based on accepted guidelines, you need to know what kind of condition it’s in. The other thing that determines the price you can get for a comic book is its rarity and desirability.

There are two ways to determine comic book value, also called its grade. You browse online to find resources that will help you determine its grade. Alternatively, you can consult the CGC (Comics Guaranty Company) by mail or by going to a comic book convention. The grading terms are Mint, Near Mint, Very Fine, Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. There is a lot of information online to help you determine the grade, and you can also consult a book or guide on the subject.

Once you have determined the grade, finding the comic book value is much easier. One way to get a good idea as to how comic books are selling is to check out online auctions on eBay. However, you should be aware that values will vary from issue to issue, based on special events that might have occurred in the issue, printing errors, or rarity.

You can also purchase a comic book price guide. There are many different ones you can buy. Some guides will give you one price for each comic. Some give you a range of values depending on the comic’s condition. Lastly, try using a good search engine to find information on a specific issue, and join an online community of other collectors.

Have a lot of comic books laying around? Visit Comic Book Prices and check out our sections on Comic Book Values and Comic Book Grading to find out what your collection is worth!

- Candace Right

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