Low-Grade Golden Age from October Goldin Auction
Goldin’s October 30 auction saw sales of low-grade Golden Age DC first issues that currently dominate the top of the Chartbusters list. Superman #1, Batman #1, and Flash Comics #1 all sold in the October 30 auction. The Superman #1 was a 3.0 graded copy selling for $420,000. That’s down considerably from a 3.0 selling in a February 24 Goldin auction for $720,000.
However, that sale marks a definite spike in the curve. Better to look at the previous sale in December 2020 for a more reasonable comparison. That 3.0 graded copy sold in a ComicConnect auction for $310,111 and shows an increase of 35%, which is more in line with the value curve for this book.
We see similar spikes in 2021 and early 2022 – and a subsequent decline in the October 30 Goldin auction – for the 2.0 graded copy of Batman #1 (selling for $174,000) and the 2.0 graded copy of Flash Comics #1 (selling for $75,600). Even key Golden Age comics like these weren’t immune to the spikes we saw last year.
While unreasonable growth expectations were, unfortunately, set for many books, the sales numbers we see in this Goldin auction are representative of a healthy market where 15 to 20 percent growth year over year is more the norm. That’s still growth that you don’t see in many other investments.
Silver Age Keys in Heritage and Goldin Auctions
Goldin’s October 30 auction included many Silver Age first issues and first appearances, including Amazing Fantasy #15 (5.0 - $50,400), Fantastic Four #1 (6.5 - $43,200), Amazing Spider-Man #1 (7.0 Signature Series - $28,800), X-Men #1 (7.0 - $28,800), Journey Into Mystery #83 (7.0 - $28,800), and Fantastic Four #48 (9.6 - $26,580).
As with the Golden Age books sold in this auction, we see similar trend lines – prices down from spikes in 2021, but healthy growth along a more reasonable trajectory when compared to pre-2021 sales.
Not to be outdone, the early November Heritage auction saw sales of Incredible Hulk #1 (6.5 - $54,000), Star Trek #1 (9.6 - $45,600), and Tales of Suspense #39 (8.0 - $43,200).
While we see the now familiar trend lines in the sales of Incredible Hulk #1 and Tales of Suspense #39, the sale of Star Trek #1 set a record for this book, topping the sale of a 9.8 in an October 2015 ComicConnect auction for $40,500. Should that lone 9.8 graded copy come up for sale, it will be interesting to see how high the price can go.
Other Notable Chartbusters
It wouldn’t be the Chartbusters chart without Incredible Hulk #181 showing up. We have two sales of 9.8 graded copies. The first sold in that October 30 Goldin auction for $86,400 while the second sold in a November 8 Heritage auction for $90,000.
While the price is down from Heritage Auctions' in September ($138,000) and June ($102,000), the mid-$80K to $90K sales better follow the trend lines.
The November 4 Heritage auction saw sales of comics featuring cartoon-related characters, many in high grade. The sales included Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #2 (9.6 - $38,400), Four Color #9 (9.6 - $31,200), Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Comics #1 (7.0 - $18,000), and Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #17 (9.8 - $10,200). All four were records in their grade.
It’s nice to see investors pay attention to books that fall outside the traditional superhero and pre-code horror books that tend to dominate the big auctions.
Do you think sales of important comics reflect trends seen throughout the hobby? Do you see these trends continuing? Let us know below.
