Expert: Chris Brown - 4/25/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a collection of Classic Comic Books from 1943 to 1969. are these of any value? Most are in very good condition. Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Marcia

Classic Comics are of some collector interest, especially first editions.  The problem is that most issues were reprinted many times, so you may or may not have the originals.  The way collectors determine the edition is by looking at what is called the "Highest Reorder Number" or HRN.  That is the highest back issue available for reorder on the in-house ad that usually appeared on the back cover or inside back cover.

Generally the issue number and HRN should be pretty close to be an early edition, e.g. if you have a copy of Classics #1 but it has an HRN of 75, then pretty clearly that is a later edition.  However, some later editions were redrawn by new artists, so diehard collectors may still have interest in some of the later editions.

If you want to send me a list of issues including both the issue number and the HRN for each issue, I could give you a general idea which issues might have some value.

Chris

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Most do not have a HRN
Classic comics:  Frankenstein-#26-12/45 .15
Ivanho-#2-5/64  .15
Tale of Two Cities  #6-9/43  .15
Rip Van Winkle  #12    3/44   .14  (Gilberton Co. NY)

These are just a few, check these out and I will work on scanning the entire list into my computer.  

Thanks,
Marcia

Answer
Hi Marcia

Virtually every Classic issue had an HRN number, but I may not have done a good job describing it.  The cover will not say "HRN" on it.  It will just have a list of Classics issues available for order by mail, and you want to figure out what the last issue is on the list.

Unfortunately, the dates on the issues don't tell us much, because the dates weren't always updated from one edition to the next.  If the .15 you have listed means that these have a 15 cent cover price, then they are definitely later editions.  You are more likely to find any value in the higher number issues.

Another thing to look for on the low-number issues is whether the front cover says Classic Comics or Classics Illustrated.  The first editions of the first 34 issues should all say Classic Comics.

Chris