Expert: Brian G. Philbin - 10/7/2005

Question
Could you please help me figure out a value for:

Marvel Comics/Dynamic Forces March 1993 #360 Beginning The 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Avengers   The comic is silver foil and is signed by the Artist Tom Palmer and numbered 891/1000.  Perfect condition, stored in clear plastic folder, never looked at.  It comes with a COA (certificate of authenticity) authenticating the copy as "Avengers #360" one of a specially limited series of 1000 signed by artist Tom Palmer.  Certificate number 0891

Thanks,
Michele

Answer
Hi, Michele - thanks for your question!

The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (the "blue book" or "Bible" of comics values) places the resale value of the book (unsigned) at $4.00 in Near Mint condition.

For signed books, or even limited edition copies of the same book, there is no accepted standard for any value above and beyond that.

In the early 90's, when this book was printed, there was a considerable amount of attempt to present comics as having a value greater than they had at the time by producing "limited editions", "special covers" and "limited signings" of books.  Many of these books were even sold on television on QVC, where the host would tout their future value, as if that was a good reason to pay far more than they were worth at that time.

This book, which has no particular significance outside of the 30th Anniversary of the Avengers and having a foil cover,
would not necessarily have any recognizable audience draw as a result, hence it's current market value.  Typically a story event, introduction of a character that later became very popular, first issue of a creative team or other event would be of significance in determining a greater value, however, at this period of comics, there wasn't much going on other than Marvel making pretty covers on their books to make up for what was lacking on the interiors.

The fact that it is signed by Tom Palmer may give it some small increase in value, however, I wouldn't expect anything more than, say, 20%.

However, a price guide is, quite simply, a guess at what the current market will bear nationwide. You can actually find out what folks are paying by monitoring eBay.com for a few months and finding a similar item in order to get an idea of what value it might hold to collectors.

By the same token, the price guide also represents market value (how much you would expect to pay in a comics store that specialized in back issues) which is usually a price that would not be expected to be attained in a typical eBay auction.

Currently, there is a very big push for the most pristine books available.  CGC is a company that puts a grade on a comic and then seals it for sale by the owner (otherwise, if you were going to read it, why seal it up?).  Those comics that attain a 9.4 (Near Mint) rating or higher are nearly perfect. These books are seeing prices in multiples of the values associated with the Overstreet Price Guide (again, the industry accepted Bible of comics prices).

That said, your book - in almost perfect condition could attain maybe only slightly more than its Overstreet value (perhaps as much as $6.00) in a comics shop, perhaps less on eBay, maybe more with a CGC grading of 9.4 and above.

Demand determines appropriate market value. It's all about finding the right "audience".

There are several tricks to putting an item up for bid on eBay and you should look at the comics getting the biggest bids any how they are "marketed" on eBay, i.e., how the reserve is set or whether it advertises "no reserve", whether there is a big minimum bid or not, etc.

I hope that this is helpful - let me know if there is anything further I can help you with.

Pax, harmonia,

Brian G. Philbin