This week I’d like to examine some recent sales of comics graded at 8.5 (or VF+ for you old timers). A comic graded 8.5 is generally in very nice condition and is considered as high grade for Golden Age, Silver Age and even some Bronze Age comic books. In light of the record prices being realized for these and other important comics in very high grade let’s see how they’re doing just a few notches lower on the grade scale.I’ve picked 3 very famous comic books that are still attainable in nice grades while at the same time being very expensive in super duper nice grades.
Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974) graded by CGC as 8.5 sold for $381 on Sept. 6th on ebay. The Overstreet price guide value for this comic at 8.5 is $420 (8.0 + 9.0 values then divide total by 2). Based on the sale price this comic realized 90.7% of it’s guide value. The CGC census shows over 300 copies graded at 8.5 while there are over 1,000 copies available at 9.0 or better including 20 9.8s. Clearly the supply is such that it can more that satisfy the demand for the lower end of the high grade spectrum.
Incredible Hulk #181 (1974) graded by CGC as 8.5 sold for $742 on Sept. 13th while another CGC 8.5 sold for $735 on Sept. 12th, both on ebay. The Overstreet price guide value for this comic at 8.5 is $887.50 (8.0 + 9.0 values then divide total by 2). Based on the sale price this comic realized just over 83% of guide value on both sales. The CGC census shows over 335 copies graded at 8.5 while there are over 1,000 copies avaliable at 9.0 or better including 32 9.8s. Similar numbers in terms of supply to the Spider-Man #129 listed above. Perhaps the slightly lower return versus guide can be attributed partly to the fact that there were 2 copies available at the same time.
Green Lantern #76 (1970) graded by CGC as 8.5 sold for $850 on Sept. 13th on ebay. The Overstreet price guide value for this comic at 8.5 is $528.00 (8.0 + 9.0 values then divide total by 2). Based on the sale price this comic realized 161% of it’s guide value. The CGC census shows 50 copies graded at 8.5 while there are less than 100 copies available at 9.0 or better including only 1 at 9.6 and no 9.8s. Comparing this comic to the two above you realize just how scarce it is in higher grades. It outperformed both books listed above almost by double when measuring realized price versus guide value. All 3 comics are pillars of the Bronze Age, and musts for Bronze Age collectors.
Walter Durajlija is an Overstreet Advisor and Shuster Award winner. He owns Big B Comics in Hamilton, Ontario.
