ComicLink sale of Star Wars 1 35 cent Price Variant Crushes Previous Price Record

One of the two highest graded copies of the 35 cent price variant issue of Star Wars 1 shattered the previous record sale of a price variant by more than $10,000.  The June ComicLink auction of the CGC 9.6 Star Wars 1 price variant closed at $36,500.  This sale is over 60 times higher than the current price of a regular issue certified 9.6.  Interest in the classic bronze age Star Wars books has been stoked because of the upcoming launch of new Star Wars films starting in December 2015.   You can search this blog for the previous two record sales of 9.6 Star Wars 1 price variants back in 2010 and 2011.  

The regular edition Star Wars 1 has risen in price in the last year from the $600 dollar level to around $2500.  It is not surprising that interest in the much, much, much rarer Star Wars 1 price variant is at an all-time high.  This is the only mainstream Star Wars collectible to be released before the release of the first Star Wars movie.  The CGC census of Star Wars 1 price variants currently has two 9.6 copies certified and lists eleven 9.4 copies.  The number of 9.4s is probably inflated a bit because both 9.6 copies were a result of resubmits to CGC.


These numbers will give you an idea of the rarity (and the justification for the high prices) of Near Mint or higher price variant issues versus the regular issues of Star Wars 1.

There are 339 copies of Star Wars 1 that have been graded 9.8, 921 copies that have graded 9.6, and 861 that have graded 9.4.  This is a total of 2121 books graded 9.4 or higher.

There are two copies of the 35 price variant in 9.6 and somewhere between seven to eleven copies in 9.4.  In other words, there is about one NM or better 35 cent price variant of Star Wars 1 for every 200 NM or better regular editions.

Here is the information on the ComicLink auction.  ComicLink does not report sales to GPA, but this blog keeps track of the important ComicLink variant sales.

Also featured in the ComicLink auction was a very nice CGC 9.0 Star Wars 1 price variant with Off-White to White pages.  I think that this is the first time that two high grade copies of this book have been auctioned in the same event.  This auction closed at $5764. 

These two sales imply current prices of $18,000 to $20,000 for 9.4 certified Star Wars 1 price variants and $9000 to $11,000 for 9.2 copies.

 

A couple of lower grade 35 cent price variant books to illustrate a point.

There is a tremendous amount of collector interest in the Marvel Price Variant issues.  Collectors looking to complete specific titles and collectors trying to complete the entire series create a healthy competition for any fresh material that hits the market.  In addition to the Rawhide Kid 141 in CGC 4.5 that I mentioned in an earlier post, there were two other sales of nice CGC certified 4.5 books that illustrate the true rarity of these books and offer a perspective on the pricing for the books.

On ComicLink, a CGC 4.5 copy of Amazing Spider-Man 173 sold for $205.  This is the seventh highest graded copy out of eight graded copies.  The key term is that there are only eight graded copies and there are certainly more than eight Spider-Man collectors looking for these books.  Comparisons to sales of the regular issue are really difficult, because with 17 copies graded in 9.8, there just aren't that many collectors looking for a CGC 4.5 regular edition.  Honestly, a 4.5 copy of the regular edition is not worth slabbing.  The closest comparison I could find is a CGC 8.0 regular edition that sold in December 2012 for $10 (or 1/2 of the CGC encapsulation fees).  A CGC 4.5 Spider-Man price variant is worth twenty times a CGC 8.0 of the regular issue.

GPA reports the sale in May of 2013 of an Iron Fist 15 graded in CGC 4.5 for $180.  The statistics are similar to the Spidey 173.  There are 21 total books graded of the price variant issue while there are 21 9.8s graded of the regular issue.  The closest comparison is again a CGC 8.0 regular edition that sold for $19 in September of 2012.  A CGC 4.5 Iron Fist price variant is worth ten times a CGC 8.0 of the regular issue.

It bears repeating.  35 Cent Price Variants regularly trade at ten to twenty times the price of the regular issues.  For the rarest of the rare books like the HB's, horror, war and western price variants the multiple is 100 times, i.e. Scooby Doo 1 in CGC 8.5 at $3500 versus $35 for the regular issue.  Or try Star Wars 1 in CGC 9.6 for $26,000 versus $190 for the regular issue.

Some other notable Price Variant Sales.

On ComicLink,

On ebay

one of the best if not the best 30 cent variant collection ever sold,

another good ebay seller,

From Heritage

Marvel 35 Cent Price Variants Checklist, Rarity Index, and Price Information

Many of you have asked when the updated Marvel 35 Cent Price Variant MasterList would be updated.  Well, at long last, here it is.  Just clip on the link and the Master List should pop up.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0An2Fkbt07yWJdFBPZmRydkRPUlVKYmZ3TDAxSTFrTVE&output=html

March ComicLink Auction - A Slew of Highest Graded 35 Cent Price Variants Auctioned

It is always a pleasure to see an auction when a highest graded price variant comes up for auction.  Even more so when it is a highest graded 35 cent price variant.  And even more so when one auction has several of these books for sale in one night. 

This was the 2012 March ComicLink focused auction and here are the hightlights. 

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY #7 - The Auction Has Ended

Publisher: Marvel

Condition: CGC 8.5 VF+

Page Quality: Off-White to White Pages

Type of Holder: Universal

Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored

Census Rank: 3rd Highest CGC Graded

Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT

Current Bid: $175

Number Of Bids: 16

Final Bid: $175

End Date: 3/29/2012 9:15:18 PM AVENGERS #148 - The Auction Has Ended Item description: 1976, Squadron Supreme appearance. Publisher: Marvel Condition: CGC 9.6 NM+ Page Quality: White Pages Type of Holder: Universal Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored Census Rank: 2nd Highest CGC Graded Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT Current Bid: $285 Number Of Bids: 19 Final Bid: $285 End Date: 3/29/2012 9:33:54 PM ComicLink Comments: This NM+ CGC 9.6 Price Variant is the second highest graded, with only 3 in grade and just 2 in the world ever having certified slightly higher at 9.8. Additionally, with perfect White Pages, this is the very finest 9.6 obtainable. BLACK PANTHER #5 - The Auction Has Ended Item description: 1977, Jack Kirby cover, story, art Publisher: Marvel Condition: CGC 9.0 VFNM Page Quality: Off-White to White Pages Type of Holder: Universal Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored Census Rank: 2nd Highest CGC Graded Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT Current Bid: $279 Number Of Bids: 18 Final Bid: $279 End Date: 3/29/2012 9:42:36 PM ComicLink Comments: This 35 Cent Price Variant is the second highest graded, with only 1 in grade and only 1 examples ever having certified any higher. Further enhancing its desirability, CGC has assigned its near perfect page quality designation, Off-White to White Pages. CHAMPIONS #15 - The Auction Has Ended Publisher: Marvel Condition: CGC 9.6 NM+ Page Quality: Off-White to White Pages Type of Holder: Universal Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored Census Rank: Highest CGC Graded! Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT Current Bid: $759 Number Of Bids: 15 Final Bid: $759 End Date: 3/29/2012 9:50:24 PM ComicLink Comments: This NM+ CGC 9.6 35 Cent Price Variant is the single highest graded example for this Price Variant example. Further enhancing its desirabiltiy, CGC has assigned its near perfect page quality rating of Off-White to White Pages. GHOST RIDER #18 - The Auction Has Ended Item description: 1976, Spider-Man cover and appearance Publisher: Marvel Condition: CGC 9.6 NM+ Page Quality: Off-White to White Pages Type of Holder: Universal Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored Census Rank: Highest CGC Graded! Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT Current Bid: $325 Number Of Bids: 18 Final Bid: $325 End Date: 3/29/2012 10:06:54 PM ComicLink Comments: This Near Mint Plus CGC 9.6 is the highest graded Price Variant example for this issue, and it's 1 of only 3 ever certified at this top tier. Adding to its desirability, CGC has assigned its near perfect page quality rating, Off-White to White Pages. GHOST RIDER #24 - The Auction Has Ended Item description: 1977 Publisher: Marvel Condition: CGC 9.4 NM Page Quality: White Pages Type of Holder: Universal Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored Census Rank: Highest CGC Graded! Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT Current Bid: $878 Number Of Bids: 20 Final Bid: $878 End Date: 3/29/2012 10:07:30 PM ComicLink Comments: This true NM CGC 9.4 is the highest Graded 35 Cent Price Variant for this issue, and is 1 of only 2 examples ever certified at this top tier. Additionally, CGC has assigned its perfect page quality designation of White Pages, making this the very finest 9.4 Price Variant obtainable. IRON MAN #102 - The Auction Has Ended Item description: 1977, Frankenstein monster, Dreadnight & Dr. Doom appearance. Publisher: Marvel Condition: CGC 9.2 NM- Page Quality: White Pages Type of Holder: Universal Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored Census Rank: 2nd Highest CGC Graded Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT Current Bid: $324 Number Of Bids: 19 Final Bid: $324 End Date: 3/29/2012 10:27:00 PM ComicLink Comments: The offered NM CGC 9.2 is the second highest graded Price Variant example for this issue, with just 1 in grade and only 1 example ever certified higher. Adding to its desirability, CGC has assigned its perfect page quality rating, White Pages. KULL, THE DESTROYER #22 - The Auction Has Ended Publisher: Marvel Condition: CGC 9.2 NM- Page Quality: Off-White to White Pages Type of Holder: Universal Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored Census Rank: 2nd Highest CGC Graded Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT Current Bid: $121 Number Of Bids: 13 Final Bid: $121 End Date: 3/29/2012 10:37:48 PM ComicLink Comments: The offered NM CGC 9.2 is the second highest graded Price Variant example for this issue, with just 1 in grade and only 1 example ever certified slightly higher at 9.4. Adding to its desirability, CGC has assigned its near perfect page quality rating, Off-White to White Pages. SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #11 - The Auction Has Ended Publisher: Marvel Condition: CGC 8.5 VF+ Page Quality: Off-White to White Pages Type of Holder: Universal Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored Census Rank: Highest CGC Graded! Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT Current Bid: $659 Number Of Bids: 19 Final Bid: $659 End Date: 3/29/2012 11:17:06 PM ComicLink Comments: The offered item is the highest graded 35 Cent Price Variant for this issue. It is 1 of only 2 examples that CGC has certified at this highest grade tier for this issue. Adding to its desirability, CGC has assigned its near perfect page quality rating, Off-White to White Pages. STAR WARS #2 - The Auction Has Ended Item description: 1977 Publisher: Marvel Condition: CGC 8.0 VF Page Quality: Off-White to White Pages Type of Holder: Universal Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT Current Bid: $343 Number Of Bids: 13 Final Bid: $343 End Date: 3/29/2012 11:20:42 PM STAR WARS #3 - The Auction Has Ended Item description: 1977 Publisher: Marvel Condition: CGC 8.0 VF Page Quality: Off-White Pages Type of Holder: Universal Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT Current Bid: $805 Number Of Bids: 18 Final Bid: $805 End Date: 3/29/2012 11:21:00 PM SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP #12 - The Auction Has Ended Publisher: Marvel Condition: CGC 9.0 VFNM Page Quality: Off-White Pages Type of Holder: Universal Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored Census Rank: Highest CGC Graded! Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT Current Bid: $304 Number Of Bids: 15 Final Bid: $304 End Date: 3/29/2012 11:24:00 PM ComicLink Comments: The offered example of this 35 Cent Price Variant is the highest graded, and 1 of only 2 examples certified by CGC at this top tier. TARZAN #3 - The Auction Has Ended Publisher: Marvel Condition: CGC 8.5 VF+ Page Quality: Off-White Pages Type of Holder: Universal Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored Census Rank: 2nd Highest CGC Graded Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT Current Bid: $77 Number Of Bids: 12 Final Bid: $77 End Date: 3/29/2012 11:24:18 PM ComicLink Comments: This 35 Cent Price Variant is the second highest graded, with just 2 in grade and only 2 examples ever having certified any higher. X-MEN #106 - The Auction Has Ended Item description: 1977 Publisher: Marvel Condition: CGC 9.0 VFNM Page Quality: Off-White to White Pages Type of Holder: Universal Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored Census Rank: 3rd Highest CGC Graded Pedigree or Highlight: PRICE VARIANT Current Bid: $600 Number Of Bids: 18 Final Bid: $600 End Date: 3/29/2012 11:44:24 PM You have been outbid on this item