Overstreet 46th Editon & SA Keys: Changes in the Hierarchy?

[ThothAmon]

As we all know in a free market price is based on demand and scarcity so I thought it would be interesting to compare the top twenty list with the blue and purple census numbers. Ranked from fewest to most in parentheses.

1. Amazing Fantasy #15 2536 (17)

2. Incredible Hulk #1 1308 (13)

3. Fantastic Four #1 1751 (16)

4. Showcase #4 366 (4)

5. Brave and the Bold #28 825 (9)

6. Journey into Mystery #83 1361 (14)

7. Amazing Spider-Man #1 2986 (19)

8. X-Men #1 3422 (20)

9. Tales of Suspense #39 1681 (15)

10. Tales to Astonish #27 754 (8)

11. Avengers #1 2909 (18)

11. Showcase #22 724 (7)

13. Flash #105 467 (5)

13. Justice League of America #1 911 (10)

15. Our Army at War #83 127 (1)

16. Adventure Comics #247 299 (3)

16. Showcase #8 187 (2)

18. Fantastic Four #5 1075 (11)

19. Action Comics #252 618 (6)

19. Strange Tales #110 1145 (12)

 

Not sure what conclusions to draw other than if the Flash or Sgt. Rock ever get as popular as Spider-man watch out.

[kansascollector]

Interesting, thank you posting that breakdown. Does anyone know if the silver age DC books are in fact more scarce then the Marvel books? I am assuming similar print runs but the DC books are less likely to be graded because there is less demand.

[BlowUpTheMoon]

Interesting, thank you posting that breakdown. Does anyone know if the silver age DC books are in fact more scarce then the Marvel books? I am assuming similar print runs but the DC books are less likely to be graded because there is less demand.

 

Welcome to the Boards.

[Sqeggs]

Interesting, thank you posting that breakdown. Does anyone know if the silver age DC books are in fact more scarce then the Marvel books? I am assuming similar print runs but the DC books are less likely to be graded because there is less demand.

 

Certainly the late 1950s DC books like SC 4, Action 252, Superboy 68, and so on, are genuinely much scarcer than the Marvel early SA books.

[thunsicker]

Interesting, thank you posting that breakdown. Does anyone know if the silver age DC books are in fact more scarce then the Marvel books? I am assuming similar print runs but the DC books are less likely to be graded because there is less demand.

 

Certainly the late 1950s DC books like SC 4, Action 252, Superboy 68, and so on, are genuinely much scarcer than the Marvel early SA books.

 

Add in the fact that '60's Marvels were collected (and thus saved) in the '60's and '70's than their DC counterparts and I think there are probably fewer of those left as well. And those that are left are probably in worse condition. This isn't to say the relative values don't play a part in how many are slabbed as well, just that my guess is relative value doesn't tell the whole story.

[Chillax23]

As we all know in a free market price is based on demand and scarcity so I thought it would be interesting to compare the top twenty list with the blue and purple census numbers. Ranked from fewest to most in parentheses.

1. Amazing Fantasy #15 2536 (17)

2. Incredible Hulk #1 1308 (13)

3. Fantastic Four #1 1751 (16)

4. Showcase #4 366 (4)

5. Brave and the Bold #28 825 (9)

6. Journey into Mystery #83 1361 (14)

7. Amazing Spider-Man #1 2986 (19)

8. X-Men #1 3422 (20)

9. Tales of Suspense #39 1681 (15)

10. Tales to Astonish #27 754 (8)

11. Avengers #1 2909 (18)

11. Showcase #22 724 (7)

13. Flash #105 467 (5)

13. Justice League of America #1 911 (10)

15. Our Army at War #83 127 (1)

16. Adventure Comics #247 299 (3)

16. Showcase #8 187 (2)

18. Fantastic Four #5 1075 (11)

19. Action Comics #252 618 (6)

19. Strange Tales #110 1145 (12)

 

Not sure what conclusions to draw other than if the Flash or Sgt. Rock ever get as popular as Spider-man watch out.

 

And this is why collecting DC silver age is so much more fun than Marvel silver age - the hunt is more difficult (for the record I also love Marvel Silver Age books)

[showcase22gr1959]

Top 20 here ya go!

 

1. Amazing Fantasy #15

2. Incredible Hulk #1

3. Fantastic Four #1

4. Showcase #4

5. Brave and the Bold #28

6. Journey into Mystery #83

7. Amazing Spider-Man #1

8. X-Men #1

9. Tales of Suspense #39

10. Tales to Astonish #27

11. Avengers #1

11. Showcase #22

13. Flash #105

13. Justice League of America #1

15. Our Army at War #83

16. Adventure Comics #247

16. Showcase #8

18. Fantastic Four #5

19. Action Comics #252

19. Strange Tales #110

 

Can you add the new values and price increase percentages for the top 10? As I expected ASM 1 has gone down a few notches I believe one day maybe 10 years from now it will no longer be in the top 10.

 

1. Amazing Fantasy #15 NM- $260,000, Increase 8%

2. Incredible Hulk #1 NM- $180,000, Increase 20%

3. Fantastic Four #1 NM- $135,000, Increase 13%

4. Showcase #4 NM- #100,000, Increase 25%

5. Brave and the Bold #28 NM- $72,000, Increase 20%

6. Journey into Mystery #83 NM- $66,000, Increase 10%

7. Amazing Spider-Man #1 NM- $62,000, Increase 3%

8. X-Men #1 NM- $46,000, Increase 5%

9. Tales of Suspense #39 NM- $45,000, Increase 7%

10. Tales to Astonish #27 NM- $42,000, Increase 5%

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think ASM 1 ever falls out of the top 10. There's a lot of daylight between it and the next book down the list. It's right about where it should be to me. Just too much upside for the book in the long run, especially as AF 15 continues to move out of the price range of many collectors. ASM 1 is certainly an interesting book to look at in a historic sense with regards to collectors. 30 years ago, it was held in higher regard that AF 15, then again, Tec 225 and ADV 247 were the bomb back then as well. Now, ASM 1 is the red-headed stepchild of Marvel keys, and the other two books are sort of afterthoughts (to some not all).

 

The daylight doesn't matter so much as the rate of increase, and ASM 1 had the smallest rate of increase in the top ten. Not sure about the next ten, but if that pattern holds, it won't be long until ASM 1 isn't in the top ten any more. My guess is a lot will depend on how S-M does in the movies over the next few/several years.

 

Spidey 1 will teeter totter +- in percentage points but will always be in the SA top 10.

 

I still remember in the 1980's and early 1990's, Spidey 1 was always 3-5% less than AF15 in value. Time has changed, and makes Spidey 1 undervalue. I would agree that Spidey 1 will remain the top ten SA.

[peewee22]

Top 20 here ya go!

 

1. Amazing Fantasy #15

2. Incredible Hulk #1

3. Fantastic Four #1

4. Showcase #4

5. Brave and the Bold #28

6. Journey into Mystery #83

7. Amazing Spider-Man #1

8. X-Men #1

9. Tales of Suspense #39

10. Tales to Astonish #27

11. Avengers #1

11. Showcase #22

13. Flash #105

13. Justice League of America #1

15. Our Army at War #83

16. Adventure Comics #247

16. Showcase #8

18. Fantastic Four #5

19. Action Comics #252

19. Strange Tales #110

 

Can you add the new values and price increase percentages for the top 10? As I expected ASM 1 has gone down a few notches I believe one day maybe 10 years from now it will no longer be in the top 10.

 

1. Amazing Fantasy #15 NM- $260,000, Increase 8%

2. Incredible Hulk #1 NM- $180,000, Increase 20%

3. Fantastic Four #1 NM- $135,000, Increase 13%

4. Showcase #4 NM- #100,000, Increase 25%

5. Brave and the Bold #28 NM- $72,000, Increase 20%

6. Journey into Mystery #83 NM- $66,000, Increase 10%

7. Amazing Spider-Man #1 NM- $62,000, Increase 3%

8. X-Men #1 NM- $46,000, Increase 5%

9. Tales of Suspense #39 NM- $45,000, Increase 7%

10. Tales to Astonish #27 NM- $42,000, Increase 5%

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think ASM 1 ever falls out of the top 10. There's a lot of daylight between it and the next book down the list. It's right about where it should be to me. Just too much upside for the book in the long run, especially as AF 15 continues to move out of the price range of many collectors. ASM 1 is certainly an interesting book to look at in a historic sense with regards to collectors. 30 years ago, it was held in higher regard that AF 15, then again, Tec 225 and ADV 247 were the bomb back then as well. Now, ASM 1 is the red-headed stepchild of Marvel keys, and the other two books are sort of afterthoughts (to some not all).

 

The daylight doesn't matter so much as the rate of increase, and ASM 1 had the smallest rate of increase in the top ten. Not sure about the next ten, but if that pattern holds, it won't be long until ASM 1 isn't in the top ten any more. My guess is a lot will depend on how S-M does in the movies over the next few/several years.

 

Spidey 1 will teeter totter +- in percentage points but will always be in the SA top 10.

 

I still remember in the 1980's and early 1990's, Spidey 1 was always 3-5% less than AF15 in value. Time has changed, and makes Spidey 1 undervalue. I would agree that Spidey 1 will remain the top ten SA.

 

I do too Rich. In an Overstreet update (the quarterly pubs) in the 80s and 90s, Spidey 1 went AHEAD of AF15. It was short lived of course.

[Guardian Comics]

No one's saying don't bet. Just that it's not a sure thing. Comic values are speculative. There are no sure things.

 

I guarantee you until we are both dead that ST #110 will never overtake ASM #1. That's the biggest sure thing on this planet besides Death and Taxes.

 

Jim

 

Link to when you predicted slow fades of FF and X-Men and rise of Iron Man/Avengers?

 

Not sure what this means. For about the first 30 years of Overstreet Avengers #1 and X-Men #1 were valued equally. Both #1's, came out at the same time etc etc.

 

Judging by this years Overstreet, X-Men #1 is #8 and Avengers is #11 so where is this slow fade?

 

Jim

[RockMyAmadeus]

Interesting, thank you posting that breakdown. Does anyone know if the silver age DC books are in fact more scarce then the Marvel books? I am assuming similar print runs but the DC books are less likely to be graded because there is less demand.

 

Certainly the late 1950s DC books like SC 4, Action 252, Superboy 68, and so on, are genuinely much scarcer than the Marvel early SA books.

 

Add in the fact that '60's Marvels were collected (and thus saved) in the '60's and '70's than their DC counterparts and I think there are probably fewer of those left as well. And those that are left are probably in worse condition. This isn't to say the relative values don't play a part in how many are slabbed as well, just that my guess is relative value doesn't tell the whole story.

 

 

DC Silver Age from 1964 and earlier is orders of magnitude scarcer than Marvel in high grade, until you get to Marvel pre-hero, and then they about even out.

 

DC's print runs smoked Marvel for the entire decade, but, as mentioned, Marvels were saved, both absolutely, and in better condition, over DCs. Print run don't factor into extant copies until 1965 and later.

 

DCs are very common in low grade after 1961 and very common in most grades after 1965, as are Marvels. Marvel collectors tended to be older, which resulted in more copies being saved and in higher condition.

 

Despite some claims, nothing from DC or Marvel is scarce in any grade below 9.2 from 1965 and later. It is all quite common.

 

 

[kansascollector]

Great responses Thank You all!

[Phicks]

Is anyone else besides me fundamentally surprised by how high up Hulk #1 places? I never perceived the Hulk as Marvel's second most important character. I would have thought that the first issues of Fantastic Four, Avengers, and X-Men would all place above Hulk #1.

[Sqeggs]

Is anyone else besides me fundamentally surprised by how high up Hulk #1 places? I never perceived the Hulk as Marvel's second most important character. I would have thought that the first issues of Fantastic Four, Avengers, and X-Men would all place above Hulk #1.

 

It surprised me when it took off suddenly a couple of years ago. It's relatively scarce, although the census has expanded considerably since prices started rising.

[Jeffro.]

Is anyone else besides me fundamentally surprised by how high up Hulk #1 places? I never perceived the Hulk as Marvel's second most important character. I would have thought that the first issues of Fantastic Four, Avengers, and X-Men would all place above Hulk #1.

 

I'm not sure why X-Men 1 lags behind but Avengers 1 should never be that high due to the fact that it doesn't introduce any new characters. FF 1 does. Hulk 1 does. AF 15 does

 

Yes, it's the first app of the team, but is that enough to push it up there with the big boys? I say no.

[peewee22]

Is anyone else besides me fundamentally surprised by how high up Hulk #1 places? I never perceived the Hulk as Marvel's second most important character. I would have thought that the first issues of Fantastic Four, Avengers, and X-Men would all place above Hulk #1.

 

In my Overstreet, I place FF1 number 2. I can't see Hulk 1 ranked above a flagship series like FF. Sorry Green Skin.

[kimik]

Is anyone else besides me fundamentally surprised by how high up Hulk #1 places? I never perceived the Hulk as Marvel's second most important character. I would have thought that the first issues of Fantastic Four, Avengers, and X-Men would all place above Hulk #1.

 

I would only put X-Men #1 ahead of Hulk #1 based on significance personally.

 

Otherwise, the perceived scarcity of Hulk #1 relative to Avengers #1 and X-Men #1, and the lack of significance for FF #1 since the late 60s, are the reason that Hulk #1 sells for higher prices.

[peewee22]

If someone is really nice with a new guide, they could scan or take a pic of the Amazing Spiderman 1-20 prices and post them?