How to Buy Old Comic Books
Old comic books can be worth a great deal of money--Action Comics #1, featuring the first appearance of Superman, will often fetch up to $40,000 at auction--but even old comics which aren't worth that much can be coveted by collectors or those who remember them with fond nostalgia. Buying old comic books is fairly easy: the trick is to do so in a way which gets you what you want without paying more than the books are worth.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine exactly which comic books you want to buy. Some collectors may want a particular issue to complete a set, while others are simply looking for books which carry stories about their favorite characters. Get together a list of the titles you're looking for, organized by year and/or character if you don't know the particular name of the title.
-
2
Determine the market price of the comics you want to buy. While this doesn't necessarily reflect the actual price you'll have to pay, it will give you a good sense of what the market is like and allow you to budget accordingly. The Comics Price Guide provides online data for different comics, as does Wizard Magazine's home site (see Resources below).
-
-
3
Look for online auctions selling the comics you want. Old comics sell daily on eBay. Look for comics sold in bulk, and pay close attention to the number of comics in a given package (including omissions). You can often get a good deal on a number of comics, rather than paying higher prices individually.
-
4
Go to comic book conventions in your area. Dealers will often sell back issues there, and while it may take a little hunting through bins, you are more likely to find what you are looking for. Price tags are often placed directly on the book at conventions, which makes negotiations easier. If you already have a good idea of the price before you arrive, you'll know which ones are overpriced.
-
5
Visit local comics shops in your area. These are less likely to produce rare back issues, but some may specialize in these. More importantly, you can establish a rapport with the owner (especially if you are a regular customer), and he may be able to fill you in on a particular issue that a colleague or fellow collector may be carrying somewhere else.
-
6
Check pawn shops, flea markets, swap meets and garage sales. While these are the least likely to produce the particular issues you want, they may also contain hidden treasures which other comic book collectors have missed. They are also more likely to sell old comics at a discount, since the owners are usually more interested in getting rid of them than making a huge profit.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you're interested in the stories themselves rather than the actual old comic, look for a bound collection or graphic novel. Comic book companies often reprint popular stories in traditional book format, which will cost you a lot less, and save time and effort in hunting for them.
Be prepared for hustlers and swindlers when you buy old comics. While many traders and dealers are forthright professionals, some are more interested in leveraging as much money out of buyers as they can. Always ask to examine a comic book before you buy it if possible (you can ascertain its condition even if it's sealed in a bag), and don't be afraid to walk away from a purchase if you feel you're being overcharged.
