Expert: Mark Harmon - 7/10/2008

Question
hi there. hope you can answer my question. with the san diego comic con coming up, i want to get an idea of a reasonable price to sell this book at. its a restored 9,2 detective #122. i have never dealt with selling restored copies before, so i dont know how much less $ to expect for this book. however, on the + side. it is a highly desired book (first catwoman cover) and is the second highest rated on the CGC census registry for this book. IMO it is also a very scare book even though overstreet does not say so (it is very hard to find a copy).

just wondering what you think i should take as the lowest offer $ wise for this book.

thanks

sandy

Answer
Hi Sandy,

You're right, that issue doesn't come up for sale very often.  I checked  a number of sources and I could only find a handful of times that that particular comic was offered for sale, and usually the grades were much lower.

I couldn't find any examples of restored copies - the closest I came grade wise were 2 Very Fine 8.0 (unrestored) copies and the prices for those ranged from just over $1,000 to $1,900.  

Comicspriceguide.com shows a value for an unrestored CGC 9.4 issue currently at $3,600.  Overstreet lists the value for that issue at $2,200 in 9.2 (unrestored and non-CGC).  So those are figures you can start with.  Based on my experience, restored issues usually sell for 60 to 80% of the value of non-restored.  The fact that you have an issue with what I'm assuming is somewhat minor restoration given the grade plus it's a noteworthy edition, you may actually be able to sell it for more.

Keep in mind that I'm talking about prices that a collector (with money) might pay.  If you're planning on selling to a dealer at the show, you'll probably get much less unless that dealer happens to be a collector as well and wants/needs that issue for his personal collection.

Hope this helps.  Let me know how it goes if you end up selling it.

- Mark