My dad is looking to sell his collection

[1950's war comics]

OP thread is at least comics related which is mainly why I read these boards.

[RCheli]

 

Well, I know of one person who'd want to buy a set of 'Nam for cheap. He has been looking for a set to read the stories. But yeah... That is a lot of sets! I doubt any dealer would take in that many sets like this one.

 

The first ten issues with Michael Golden art are terrific. They're not hot like they used to be, but they're at least pretty decent reads.

[lou_fine]

Here is a sample of his drek:

 

 

 

The Nam

#1 The Nam x12 Dec. 1986 9.2

#1 2nd printing 9.2

#2 x13 9.2

#3 x11 9.2

#3 x2 9.0

#4 x12 9.2

#5 x17 Same

#6 x13

#7 x12

#8 Tunnel Rat intro x13 9.2

#9 x12 9.2

#10 x12 Same

#11 x12

#12 x14

#13 -14 -15 each x12

#16 -17-18-19-20 each x10

#21 thru #30 x1 9.2

#31 thru #39 x1 9.2

#41 x1 9.2

#43 thru #49 x1 9.2

#51 x1 9.2

#53 Punisher appearance 9.2

 

 

 

 

wow you were not kidding.... about the "dreck" part or the previous mention about how he bought multiple copies... did he have a wholesaler contact or was he buying them off the newsstand? You have 12 runs of the first 12 issues of The 'Nam. Wow.

 

For the dreck runs, I can tell you that complete runs (or long runs say 20-30 issues) they sell relatively well on ebay for people looking for stuff to read and/or bind. I know I put together a Nam run about 10 years ago for that reason.

 

Wow that's a lot of Nam.

 

I cant imagine a dealer wanting to take on that type of duplicitous inventory, unless he's thinking about bundles (ie bundle Nam 1-12 sell for $5)

 

Well, that's the thing about 99.9% of your MA hot books...........they usually turn into dreck a few years later, once the speculators have move onto the newest hot run of books.

 

I remember back in the late 80's and early 90's when the first few issues were highly sought after and went for decent money. Now, it would be hard to find anybody that would be willing to take them off your hands, even for pennies on the dollar.

[lou_fine]

Here is a sample of his drek:

 

 

Action Force

 

#1 x22 March 1987 9.2

#2 x22 9.2

#3 x7

#4 x3

#5 x2

#6 x3 9.2

#7 x5 9.2

#8 x5 9.2

#9 x7 9.2

#10 x6 9.2

#11 x4 9.2

#12 x4 9.2

#13 x5 9.2

#14 x4 9.2

#15 x4 9.2

#16 x5 9.2

#17 x5 9.2

#18 x5 9.2

#19 x6 9.2

#20 x4 9.2

#21 x3 9.2

#22 x5 9.2

#23 x4 9.2

#24 x5 with poster 9.2

#25 x4 9.2

#26 9.2

PLUS 1-4 unbagged 9.2

 

 

The Nam

#1 The Nam x12 Dec. 1986 9.2

#1 2nd printing 9.2

#2 x13 9.2

#3 x11 9.2

#3 x2 9.0

#4 x12 9.2

#5 x17 Same

#6 x13

#7 x12

#8 Tunnel Rat intro x13 9.2

#9 x12 9.2

#10 x12 Same

#11 x12

#12 x14

#13 -14 -15 each x12

#16 -17-18-19-20 each x10

#21 thru #30 x1 9.2

#31 thru #39 x1 9.2

#41 x1 9.2

#43 thru #49 x1 9.2

#51 x1 9.2

#53 Punisher appearance 9.2

 

 

 

The Punisher

#1 Unlimited series [x23] July 1987 9.2

#2 [x15] August 1987 9.2

#3 [x17] Sept. 1987 9.2

#4 [x21] Oct. 1987 9.2

#5 [x19] Nov. 1987 9.2

#6 [x13] Dec. 1987 9.2

#7 [x4] Jan. 1988 9.2

#8 [x1] Feb. 1988 9.2

#9 [x4] March 1988 9.2

#10 [x5] April 1988 9.2

 

 

The Punisher

5 issue limited series #1 [x2] Jan. 1986 9.2

#2 [x2] Feb. 1986 9.2

#3 [x2] March 1986 9.2

#4 [x2] April 1986 9.2

#5 [x2] May 1986 9.2

 

 

The Punisher War Journal

#1 [x10] Nov. 1988 9.2

#2 [x10] Dec. 1988 9.2

#3 [x9] Jan. 1989 9.2

 

 

The Punisher

#1 Annual 1988 9.2

The Punisher

Book One

Hard cover

Contains Issues 1 &2 1987 9.2

 

 

 

 

Well, from looking at the quantities that your father had for his dreck books, is it possible that your father may have been selling off copies of some of the key books in the interim?

 

Just wondering why he would have mostly only single copies of the Spidey, Avengers, and X-Men books, yet have much larger quantities of the dreck books? On the other hand, I guess it might simply be a case of the key books being brought as back issues as opposed to being brought brand new off the stands.

[fastballspecial]

I think this thread is a good wake up call to many more of our "seasoned boardies".

 

Get a plan together about what do with your books. If you are like me your kids didnt take to comics and your wife doesn't care about them. So starting planning on how you want you want to do with them. Don't leave the decision to your kids and wife after you are gone.

 

I hate to put it that way, but trust me as big as some collection I have seen over the last few years I know their are bigger ones out there. I have seen too many collection sell for quite a bit under their value because the family either didnt know the true value or didnt take the time to find out.

 

 

 

[Artboy99]

Here is a sample of his drek:

 

 

Action Force

 

#1 x22 March 1987 9.2

#2 x22 9.2

#3 x7

#4 x3

#5 x2

#6 x3 9.2

#7 x5 9.2

#8 x5 9.2

#9 x7 9.2

#10 x6 9.2

#11 x4 9.2

#12 x4 9.2

#13 x5 9.2

#14 x4 9.2

#15 x4 9.2

#16 x5 9.2

#17 x5 9.2

#18 x5 9.2

#19 x6 9.2

#20 x4 9.2

#21 x3 9.2

#22 x5 9.2

#23 x4 9.2

#24 x5 with poster 9.2

#25 x4 9.2

#26 9.2

PLUS 1-4 unbagged 9.2

 

 

The Nam

#1 The Nam x12 Dec. 1986 9.2

#1 2nd printing 9.2

#2 x13 9.2

#3 x11 9.2

#3 x2 9.0

#4 x12 9.2

#5 x17 Same

#6 x13

#7 x12

#8 Tunnel Rat intro x13 9.2

#9 x12 9.2

#10 x12 Same

#11 x12

#12 x14

#13 -14 -15 each x12

#16 -17-18-19-20 each x10

#21 thru #30 x1 9.2

#31 thru #39 x1 9.2

#41 x1 9.2

#43 thru #49 x1 9.2

#51 x1 9.2

#53 Punisher appearance 9.2

 

 

 

The Punisher

#1 Unlimited series [x23] July 1987 9.2

#2 [x15] August 1987 9.2

#3 [x17] Sept. 1987 9.2

#4 [x21] Oct. 1987 9.2

#5 [x19] Nov. 1987 9.2

#6 [x13] Dec. 1987 9.2

#7 [x4] Jan. 1988 9.2

#8 [x1] Feb. 1988 9.2

#9 [x4] March 1988 9.2

#10 [x5] April 1988 9.2

 

 

The Punisher

5 issue limited series #1 [x2] Jan. 1986 9.2

#2 [x2] Feb. 1986 9.2

#3 [x2] March 1986 9.2

#4 [x2] April 1986 9.2

#5 [x2] May 1986 9.2

 

 

The Punisher War Journal

#1 [x10] Nov. 1988 9.2

#2 [x10] Dec. 1988 9.2

#3 [x9] Jan. 1989 9.2

 

 

The Punisher

#1 Annual 1988 9.2

The Punisher

Book One

Hard cover

Contains Issues 1 &2 1987 9.2

 

 

 

 

Well, from looking at the quantities that your father had for his dreck books, is it possible that your father may have been selling off copies of some of the key books in the interim?

 

Just wondering why he would have mostly only single copies of the Spidey, Avengers, and X-Men books, yet have much larger quantities of the dreck books? On the other hand, I guess it might simply be a case of the key books being brought as back issues as opposed to being brought brand new off the stands.

 

The date of the books tells us that he became a speculator at the same time as everyone else and started buying mass copies of books in the mid to late 80's.

 

[Icculus308win]

I still see this thread as the OP genuinely asking for opinions. I'm more interested in discussing what's in those boxes and where it came from than seeing another tv speculation thread.

 

I totally agree, but I understand the other side of the fence's concern also.

I would like it to stay, but if it got transferred - I feel it is warranted.

[lou_fine]

Here is a sample of his drek:

 

 

Action Force

 

#1 x22 March 1987 9.2

#2 x22 9.2

#3 x7

#4 x3

#5 x2

#6 x3 9.2

#7 x5 9.2

#8 x5 9.2

#9 x7 9.2

#10 x6 9.2

#11 x4 9.2

#12 x4 9.2

#13 x5 9.2

#14 x4 9.2

#15 x4 9.2

#16 x5 9.2

#17 x5 9.2

#18 x5 9.2

#19 x6 9.2

#20 x4 9.2

#21 x3 9.2

#22 x5 9.2

#23 x4 9.2

#24 x5 with poster 9.2

#25 x4 9.2

#26 9.2

PLUS 1-4 unbagged 9.2

 

 

The Nam

#1 The Nam x12 Dec. 1986 9.2

#1 2nd printing 9.2

#2 x13 9.2

#3 x11 9.2

#3 x2 9.0

#4 x12 9.2

#5 x17 Same

#6 x13

#7 x12

#8 Tunnel Rat intro x13 9.2

#9 x12 9.2

#10 x12 Same

#11 x12

#12 x14

#13 -14 -15 each x12

#16 -17-18-19-20 each x10

#21 thru #30 x1 9.2

#31 thru #39 x1 9.2

#41 x1 9.2

#43 thru #49 x1 9.2

#51 x1 9.2

#53 Punisher appearance 9.2

 

 

 

The Punisher

#1 Unlimited series [x23] July 1987 9.2

#2 [x15] August 1987 9.2

#3 [x17] Sept. 1987 9.2

#4 [x21] Oct. 1987 9.2

#5 [x19] Nov. 1987 9.2

#6 [x13] Dec. 1987 9.2

#7 [x4] Jan. 1988 9.2

#8 [x1] Feb. 1988 9.2

#9 [x4] March 1988 9.2

#10 [x5] April 1988 9.2

 

 

The Punisher

5 issue limited series #1 [x2] Jan. 1986 9.2

#2 [x2] Feb. 1986 9.2

#3 [x2] March 1986 9.2

#4 [x2] April 1986 9.2

#5 [x2] May 1986 9.2

 

 

The Punisher War Journal

#1 [x10] Nov. 1988 9.2

#2 [x10] Dec. 1988 9.2

#3 [x9] Jan. 1989 9.2

 

 

The Punisher

#1 Annual 1988 9.2

The Punisher

Book One

Hard cover

Contains Issues 1 &2 1987 9.2

 

 

 

 

Well, from looking at the quantities that your father had for his dreck books, is it possible that your father may have been selling off copies of some of the key books in the interim?

 

Just wondering why he would have mostly only single copies of the Spidey, Avengers, and X-Men books, yet have much larger quantities of the dreck books? On the other hand, I guess it might simply be a case of the key books being brought as back issues as opposed to being brought brand new off the stands.

 

The date of the books tells us that he became a speculator at the same time as everyone else and started buying mass copies of books in the mid to late 80's.

 

Yes, it would appear that way.

 

Unfortunately this is where the Rule of 5 kicks in........for all new books, no matter how hot they are to start with, they generally all become worthless dreck within 5 years or less.

 

You then have to wait for the Rule of 25 to kick in, which generally states that collectors start to see interest in the books once again after they turn 25. Unfortunately, this Rule of 25 in the old days now appears to be more like a Rule of 50 in today's market.

 

The only exceptions appeared to be if you are lucky enough to have gone into some movie or TV related book whereby the hype can give you a jump start on this Rule of 50. Of course, if you are fortunate enough to have one of these hyped books in your collection, you should know that the Rule of 5 kicks in again as we start the cycle all over again.

 

That's an awfully long time to be holding onto a book just in the hopes of making some money. That is why you should always buy what you like when it comes to comics, and if it goes up in the future, that's just an extra bonus.

 

 

[eddly]

Back in 1991 we were moving to a new house. Before we could take possession the seller blew out her back and was bed bound. We had to scramble as our house was sold. We ended up renting another house for two months while the seller recovered a bit. The rental was much smaller so we had to find a solution in terms of where to store a lot of our belongings. So it was agreed that my dad's long boxes would be OK at the seller's house in her basement.

 

The seller's 12 year old son ended up going through the collection with his friends - selling keys to other friends and local comic stores. The more expensive books were kept at our rental house, but still many books in the $50 to $300 range were stolen. When we found out the police were called but not much they could do to a 12 year old (especially since storing them there to begin with wasn't the greatest idea). Some were recovered but there ended up being a lot of holes in my dad's collection. My dad has since filled many of the gaps by buying on ebay over the past fifteen years.

 

It was awkward as I was 12 at the time as well and these kids went to my school, but were in french immersion classes so we didn't cross paths much. I had no idea. I only had a long box and half and kept most at our rental, I did lose my Incredible Hulk 340, but overall not too bad. I had a run of Transformers which they didn't steal... but clearly read as they had some damage.

 

In terms of why the crazy quantities, he started collecting around 1985 or 1986 and he speculated that they would fund his kids college costs (at least that is how he convinced my mom). The bronze age and silver age were picked up through conventions or contacts at our local comic stores... and of course ebay.

[thehumantorch]

Sucks to have kids steal many of the key books. Seems if the kids aren't responsible the parents should be.

 

It's pretty typical that any collection we look at has great books and tons of drek. When people speculated back in the 90s they all seemed to buy 'hot books' - the same 'hot books' - that are essentially worthless but also managed to buy some books with great value now. If you buy enough stuff you'll have winners and lots of losers.

[eddly]

One big long "sale" thread. Your PM box must be lit up like the 4th of July.

 

Sure there have been PMs, but most of it has been people providing advice based on their experience.

 

I wasn't sure which forum would be appropriate, these aren't my books, there are no prices attached to them. My dad is looking for ideas of how to sell... but nothing concrete yet.

 

I get it though, it is a slippery slope and you certainly don't want sales threads in the comic general forum. Maybe it helped that this wasn't my first post on the boards... perhaps my thread would have been deleted if it was my first post.

 

I really just want some advice, my dad is currently looking to sell it all as a lot, but I doubt he'll get what he's asking with most of it raw.

 

Two years ago he sold his hockey card collection without letting me know before hand, he didn't get near enough for them and if I had known I would have bought them just for the memories of collecting together.

[fifties]

My dad is looking for ideas of how to sell... but nothing concrete yet.

 

my dad is currently looking to sell it all as a lot, but I doubt he'll get what he's asking with most of it raw.

 

Two years ago he sold his hockey card collection without letting me know before hand, he didn't get near enough for them

I think it's clear, that he just wants to be done with them. Selling all at once is the least work, and yields the least return, but if he doesn't want the hassle of individual sales, it would be the way to go.

 

I would simply suggest to him to cherry pick, and maybe slab, the most valuable, and then let the remainder go as a lot to perhaps a dealer.

[miraclemet]

Before answering a question, I'll give my two cents and say no I don't think this is a sales/pimping thread...

 

We usually field similar "how do I sell this collection" threads in similar fashion, it's just that this one is sharing more details of whats in the collection.

 

And I think it's the first time I've seen discussion on how to deal with a speculator collection, and it's a prudent question since more of these types of collections are going to come onto the market over the next 10-20 years (as the 1980s-90s era collectors begin to cash out, retired, and downsize/simplify.

 

 

 

I would simply suggest to him to cherry pick, and maybe slab, the most valuable, and then let the remainder go as a lot to perhaps a dealer.

 

so to the question... does a dealer even show interest in a 80s-90s speculator collection with many multiples of issues that hold no (collector/flipper/dealer) value.

 

10 boxes of books that can be turned into $1 bin fodder is one thing, but 10 boxes of speculator books that include 10x-15x copies of books... I mean it takes time to sell 1 copy of __(random 1991 dreck title)____, how long does it take to sell 14?

 

So do dealers just see these types of collections and walk away knowing they are the longest of long returns, and smallest of small margins?

 

Or do bulk dealers basicly by "sight unseen" (ok I know they look, maybe a better term is comic agnostic, you don't care whats in there....)?

[Fan Boy]

Before answering a question, I'll give my two cents and say no I don't think this is a sales/pimping thread...

 

We usually field similar "how do I sell this collection" threads in similar fashion, it's just that this one is sharing more details of whats in the collection.

 

And I think it's the first time I've seen discussion on how to deal with a speculator collection, and it's a prudent question since more of these types of collections are going to come onto the market over the next 10-20 years (as the 1980s-90s era collectors begin to cash out, retired, and downsize/simplify.

 

 

 

I would simply suggest to him to cherry pick, and maybe slab, the most valuable, and then let the remainder go as a lot to perhaps a dealer.

 

so to the question... does a dealer even show interest in a 80s-90s speculator collection with many multiples of issues that hold no (collector/flipper/dealer) value.

 

10 boxes of books that can be turned into $1 bin fodder is one thing, but 10 boxes of speculator books that include 10x-15x copies of books... I mean it takes time to sell 1 copy of __(random 1991 dreck title)____, how long does it take to sell 14?

 

So do dealers just see these types of collections and walk away knowing they are the longest of long returns, and smallest of small margins?

 

Or do bulk dealers basicly by "sight unseen" (ok I know they look, maybe a better term is comic agnostic, you don't care whats in there....)?

 

No, this thread is not a sales thread ... It's more of asking the question on how to handle a large collection the best way by selling and get the greatest return.

 

That saying, Miraclemet has said the same thoughts I have in mind. I had seen that happened to myself and of other dealers before. Last year I was at an auction house with my friend where there were lots of comic books in long boxes. There, are 3 pallets loaded with dreks in long boxes. My friend and I had a look in some of the boxes. All dreks in late 1980-2000s in multiple copies! We knew then that they come from a comic store somewhere or was in storage.

 

We didn't go for them ... For me is too much work. Easily all $1 fodders. But the long boxes on pallets were sold to a bidder online for about $300-400 each (one pallet with 10-12 long boxes each). Pennies to pound... Hardly much of a return if selling and be a long time!

 

To eddly's dad's collection ... I would say if want to get the greatest return out of that. Separate keys from commons. Hold out the creamiest of the cream for CGC to slab, that will be your best return by selling in auction. Next on the best conditions or high grades in group - you could sell by singles or small groups whatever to get a good return . Most dealers would like that and will offer their best prices. That will be your good sizeable return out of them - sell them by auction or by ad online.

 

To the other books ... If all dreks in multiple copies. Put them in as one lot and sell to get your best price. Let the buyer do the work for small returns.

 

That is what I would do in your shoes, but that is just one opinion so mine may not matter to you?

[FineCollector]

I'm thinking the bulk boxes are going to sell for $20 each no matter what's in them, so the OP may as well try to build a couple of clean sets from the drek and sell that way first. They're genuinely "untouched, original owner copies", so drop a couple of buzzwords, and that'll get a nibble or two.

[drotto]

Is there a somewhat comprehensive list of keys, that is more of a quick reference rather than digging though OPG. Like the OP, I am sure many people are not aware of every issue that is worth something, as opposed to the 90% many of us have that is dreck. Better yet if it is broken down by era (GA does not count as it is its own unique thing).

[lou_fine]

And I think it's the first time I've seen discussion on how to deal with a speculator collection, and it's a prudent question since more of these types of collections are going to come onto the market over the next 10-20 years (as the 1980s-90s era collectors begin to cash out, retired, and downsize/simplify.

 

I had seen that happened to myself and of other dealers before. Last year I was at an auction house with my friend where there were lots of comic books in long boxes. There, are 3 pallets loaded with dreks in long boxes. My friend and I had a look in some of the boxes. All dreks in late 1980-2000s in multiple copies! We knew then that they come from a comic store somewhere or was in storage.

 

 

With stores now ordering hundreds and in some cases, even thousands of copies of a book just to get the variant covers, you can just imagine the pallets of unwanted excess copies of new comics that are being stored away in warehouses right now.

 

The drek from the 80's and 90's will just look like the tip of the iceberg compared to the massive amounts that will be coming out for the unwanted new comics nowadays.

[lou_fine]

 

It's pretty typical that any collection we look at has great books and tons of drek. When people speculated back in the 90s they all seemed to buy 'hot books' - the same 'hot books' - that are essentially worthless but also managed to buy some books with great value now. If you buy enough stuff you'll have winners and lots of losers.

 

If you are talking about Modern books only, the number of winners to losers will ensure that you are in deep doo doo if you are thinking of using these books to fund your kid's college education.

 

For every Walking Dead #1, TMNT #1, or BA #12, you will end up with thousands or possibly even tens of thousands of Adventurers #1, Gen 13 #1, Jim Lee X-Men #1, or what have you. Well, at least you can probably use them as tax write-offs although I am not sure what the taxman will say when you start offsetting capital gains with losses from sale of new comic books.

 

At least it looks like the original poster was smart enough to go back and also pick up some of the earlier SA and BA books as back issues. Hopefully, he should be able to make some money on these books here, even though a lot of them might not be worth slabbing once you take the grading fees and other ancillary charges into account.

[Artboy99]

And I think it's the first time I've seen discussion on how to deal with a speculator collection, and it's a prudent question since more of these types of collections are going to come onto the market over the next 10-20 years (as the 1980s-90s era collectors begin to cash out, retired, and downsize/simplify.

 

I had seen that happened to myself and of other dealers before. Last year I was at an auction house with my friend where there were lots of comic books in long boxes. There, are 3 pallets loaded with dreks in long boxes. My friend and I had a look in some of the boxes. All dreks in late 1980-2000s in multiple copies! We knew then that they come from a comic store somewhere or was in storage.

 

 

With stores now ordering hundreds and in some cases, even thousands of copies of a book just to get the variant covers, you can just imagine the pallets of unwanted excess copies of new comics that are being stored away in warehouses right now.

 

The drek from the 80's and 90's will just look like the tip of the iceberg compared to the massive amounts that will be coming out for the unwanted new comics nowadays.

 

One major difference is size of print run.

 

Todays books pale in comparison.

 

[kav]

They pail in comparison-garbage pail