Recently a friend came to me with a large box of old comic books from the 1950’s. “Is this worth anything?” he asked. The box continued quickly. “Yes, they are worth something,” I said. “But it’s probably not as much as you think.”
It may be hard to believe for the kids of today’s generation, but there was a time when the lesson was first taken in the form of a show. And for the kids of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, they were king. Popular titles like Donald Duck, Superman and Spiderman have sold for millions.
Among collectors, the stories are super-valuable old comic book legends. But how do you know if your comics are worthless? A quick guide reads:
BIGGER IS BETTER – Like most collectibles, bigger is usually better. For comic books, titles from the 1930s to the mid-1950s are considered the “Golden Age” and these books are often more expensive. People began to take seriously comics as a hobby in about the mid-1970s, with so many titles published since then. They are the most common date. Generally, the more people have saved it, the less it is worth.
That’s where all those skirts come from. Although many titles were sold by millions in the 1950s, it drove away most of the diligent mothers. The paper World War 2 also served to increase the scarcity of any comic books published before that date.
SUPERHEROES RULE – In terms of value, Superhero titles are usually the most collectible. Nicknames such as Superman, Batman, Wonder-woman, The Fantastic Four, etc. All the legions of fans have questions and the first ones can go for thousands of dollars. Other hot genres include horror and science-fiction and some movie, game and cartoon titles. Lesser-priced vintage genres include romance, animal humor and lesser-known characters. In general, if you have heard the character, it is more valuable. For example, Walt Disney Donald Duck was immensely popular and is going to be more valuable than Screwy the Squirrel, which almost no one he heard.
CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION – When it comes to old comic books, condition is very important. A comic book that is only worth five dollars in “fair” condition (torn, lots of cuts, etc.) can go for a few hundred dollars “near mint” condition (as it was done off by the news) condition. The vast majority of all early comic books fall into the former category (fair and good). When comic book guides look at book price, they tend to immediately look at the highest prices on the book. This is a big mistake. About 90% of old comic books only sell for prices in the reviewed “good” category. While you don’t want to underestimate the old comics, you don’t want to underestimate them.
DREAMS AND SURPRISES – Many titles were collected from a certain artist who illustrated the book. Highly collected comic book artists include Frank Frazetta, Carl Barks, Steve Ditko and many others. Other sneaky prices to look out for include some fake or “premium” books, first issues and any original comic book artwork.
As with any old collectible, knowledge is the key to keeping your items valued. The best comic book price-guide is the official Overstreet Price Guide for comic books that can easily be placed in all sizes. library
Of course, if you find your old titles worth it, it’s always a joy to read them!
