So you've heard that comics can be worth a few bob, but where do you try to sell them? Vault Comic Auctions of London operates postal auctions which may be of interest to Irish readers. It distributes a full colour catalogue four or five times a year, which will soon be available on the Internet (www.vaultcomics.com).
Two or three weeks after publication of each catalogue, potential buyers send bids by post or fax. Then a telephone bidding system operates, with closing time on the day of the auction at 8 p.m.
"I've customers in Ireland who both bid and submit comics," says Mr John Pires, director of Vault Comic Auctions and a specialist in US comics. The grades for describing a comic's condition are: near mint, very fine, fine, very good, good, fair and poor. Consequently, the terms "low" condition or "top" condition are used to roughly indicate the state of a comic. A description of "very good" does not necessarily mean it's a nice comic, says Mr Pires. It could be closer to low than top condition.
A first-issue copy of Action Comics, June 1938, in which Superman made his first appearance, sold last year for $100,000 (£68,771). It was unrestored and graded "very good". In 1994, a restored copy sold at Christie's in London for £15,000 sterling. A "nearmint" copy could now be worth more than £100,000 sterling.
A first issue of the Beano (July 1938), which celebrated its 60th birthday last July, could fetch between £1,000 and £3,500 sterling, depending on condition. It's more valuable than the Dandy, although the Dandy is six months older - a first issue of which should fetch between £1,000 and £2,500 sterling, subject to condition.
"American comics fetch higher prices than British comics," says Mr Pires. Superman, the Incredible Hulk, Batman and Spider-man all originated in the US. US comics were always in colour, but British comics only had colour covers or were two-tone. A first edition of the Hotspur, which was issued in September 1933, in top condition would be worth between £100 and £200 sterling. In low condition, it would be valued at £30-£60 sterling.
Batman and Superman are the most valuable comics. The first appearance of Batman was in a comic called Detective Comics, No 27, in May 1939. A copy of that issue can fetch between £12,000 and £80,000 sterling, depending on condition. Action Comics No 1 is the most expensive comic, followed closely by Detective Comics, No 27.
The Amazing Spider-man, No. 1, March 1963, can fetch between £300 and £10,000, depending on condition. Spider-man first appeared in a comic called Amazing Fantasy, No. 15, in 1962. A copy of that issue can be worth between £500 and £15,000, depending on condition.
US comics imported into Britain and Ireland by D.C. (previously National Periodicals) were stamped on the cover with 9d. with a circular ink stamp. Unfortunately, this can take from their value and they could fetch 20 to 40 per cent less than the unstamped versions. These are referred to as "pence stamps".
But US company Marvel changed the printing plates near the end of a print run to print 9d., while the inside cover had the name of the British distributor, Thorpe and Porter. These are known as "pence copies".
John Pires welcomes readers' enquiries. He can be contacted at Vault Comic Auctions, P.O. Box 257, South Norwood, London SE25 6JN. Telephone: 00 44 181 771 8278. Fax: 00 44 181 771 8070.
