ComicLink January Focused Auction
The ComicLink January Focused Auction has just ended. True to ComicLink form 19 of the top 20 sales were Marvels. DC’s only top 20 book was a Rocky Mountain Pedigree copy of Detective Comics #359 (CGC 9.8) that took 3rd spot fetching a cool $9,300.00. Actually 43 of the top 50 sales were Marvels, DC had the other 7 which sadly means no 3rd publisher placed in the top 50. Let’s have a look at some highlights.
Incredible Hulk #1, Marvel Comics (May/1962) Graded by CGC at 8.0 with Off White to White pages sold for $28,350.00 on ComicLink on January 19th. Overstreet price guide value for this comic at 8.0 is $16,800.00. This was the big book of the auction and it did not disappoint. Remember that there are only 18 better copies out there and that the solid page quality puts this copy in the top 5% of all Universal grade Hulk #1s. This book is among the best of the best and for me 75% above guide isn’t much to pay to have such a book. Advantage buyer.
Fantastic Four #1, Marvel Comics (Nov/1961) Graded by CGC at 4.0 with Cream to Off White pages sold for $3,002.00 on ComicLink on January 19th. Overstreet price guide value for this comic at 4.0 is $4,400.00. Only 68% of guide for perhaps the most important comic book of the Silver Age? Right here is the whole problem with this entire online price tracking stuff. I’ve included the actual scan of the book that sold so have a close look. As you can see there is quite a nasty water stain happening along the upper part of the spine. My guess is that a lot of the bidders were turned off by said stain and stayed away from this book. So, back to the problem. When CGC graded books sell and their prices are tracked or recorded by sights like GP Analysis these results influence later sales. A few months from now some guy bidding on a CGC 4.0 copy of FF #1 will see this sale and he’ll try not to spend too much above it. One would have to do a lot of digging to find out the particulars of this individual sale. But hey, this set up means opportunities for all of us. Advantage buyer.
Batman #227, DC Comics (Dec/70) Graded by CGC at 9.0 Rocky Mountain Pedigree copy with White pages sold on ComicLink for $753.00 on January 18th. Overstreet price guide value for this comic at 9.0 is $155.00. According to the GPA the last sale was $400. Considering there are 63 as good or better this seems like a very very high price. Was it the pedigree? Was it the fact we just caught two guys in the mood for a good fight? Anyway the price seems crazy. Surely there are more nice copies of this book out there. In fact I will make it my mission to find a few in 2011. Advantage seller.
X-Men #1, Marvel Comics (Sept/63) Graded by CGC at 9.0 with Off White to White pages sold for $24,100 on ComicLink on January 20th. Overstreet price guide value for this comic at 9.0 is $17,000.00. The nice page quality puts this copy in the top 3% of Universal graded X-Men #1s and to me that puts it up with the best of the best. X-Men #1 is one of the big early Marvel keys and the property will be around forever. I think paying a 42% premium over guide is more than fair for this comic. Advantage buyer.
These ComicLink Focused Auctions are still way too Marvel heavy. There was a good mix of strong results and bargains in this auction.
