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Comic Books Grow Old

 

By Arthur Schwerdt

Events in the field of comic book collecting lately must had lots of people rushing to their attics and closets.
If they find any old comic books there, however, their next step should be on the computer to look up prices and discover what all the hoopla is really.
Three comic books published in the late 1930s recently sold for prices you would expect to see on original old fine arts. Right after the first Superman comic, Action Comics No. 1, 1923, sold for a million dollars, Detective Comics No. 27, featuring the first appearance of Batman, topped that price at $1,075,500.
Then, Marvel comics No. 1, featuring the first appearance of the Human Torch, sold for $227,050; The first appearance of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy No. 15, however, was recently listed on eBay for a mere $2,999, but that was only because its condition was only graded a 1.8 out of 10.
Condition is extremely important when it comes to comic book collecting. The earliest comics were not meant to be collected. They were read and re-read, and passed around or traded among friends. As a result, very few are in mint or even near-mint condition.
Most of those comics were published before the early 1960s. Since then several comics have been published as collectibles, and like many things that were specifically made to be collectible, they have not risen much in value and may even have depreciated. Think Pet Rocks, Beanie Babies and Cabbage Patch Dolls.
If you find some old comics, don’t be surprised if you sit down and start reading them. They always make me feel young again. I remember how thoroughly lost I would get in them, somewhat the way kids get wrapped up in a television show today.
Your now adult aesthetic sensibility will probably also be impressed by the artwork that you took for granted as a kid. This will give you some idea why they have attracted so much attention, and money, from collectors who are often very familiar with all these artists’ names and works.
Your old comic books may not make you rich, but they’ll make you richer.
A good place to start your Internet search for the value of your old comic books is www.comicpriceguide.com.
Registration is free.
If you are looking to find out the value of other old items you may have inherited or accumulated over the years, come to “What’s It Worth,” an Antiques Appraisal Night at the Wetlands Institute on Stone Harbor Blvd on Tuesday evening, March 23 at 7 p.m.
Call the Institute at 609-368-1211 for more information, or look for the leaflets posted around the area.
You can also contact me at the email address listed below.
Arthur Schwerdt, a certified appraiser, is the author of “The Antique Story Book: Finding the Real Value of Old Things, and co-owner of The August Farmhouse Antiques on Route 9 in Swainton. Send your comments, questions, or appraisal requests to aschwerdt@cmcherald.com.

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