When I first started collecting comics in middle school, I told myself that I'd buy them when I was an adult and wasn't dependent on my parents for money. I dreamed of buying X-Men #1, Fantastic Four #1, Amazing Spider-Man #1, etc. Well, several decades have passed, and I still can't afford those comics in any respectable grade. The question is: would I buy them with no grade (i.e., "NG")?
Looking at recent eBay sales, it appears as though collectors are still willing to pay low four figures for coverless Silver Age keys. Let's take a look at a few of those sales below. How low would you go?
On April 22nd, a coverless Fantastic Four #1 Sold for $2,049.
Now, who wouldn't want a graded copy of Marvel's first family's first appearance - the Fantastic Four? Unfortunately, I can't even afford a copy of this book at the lowest of CGC's grades: 0.5. According to GoCollect, the last 0.5 sold for a hefty $8,000 on April 14th. If you go back to late March, a couple of 0.5s sold for $4,680 and $4,494 during auctions hosted by Heritage and eBay, but those aren't prices I can afford either!
Even this CGC NG pictured above, which sold for $2,049 earlier this month, is honestly still outside of my price range. Would you pay this much for a coverless copy of a grail like this? I wouldn't.
On April 1st, a CGC NG of Daredevil #1 Sold for $925.
Now, this sales price is more in my price range. Among all of Marvel's Silver Age mega-keys, the first appearance of Daredevil is one of the most affordable, at least relatively speaking. And even though coverless, the first page presents really well -- it looks very similar to the actual cover.
But it looks like the buyer overpaid, in my opinion. Here are the last three sales of a CGC 0.5 copies of this book on GoCollect: $1,399 on March 27th; $1,152 on February 21st; and $800 on January 6th. That's an average sales price of $1,117. I'd much rather pay for a graded copy, even if it's at the lowest grade!
On April 21st, a CGC NG of Amazing Spider-Man #1 Sold for $1,650.00.
Although Amazing Spider-Man #1 doesn't contain the first appearance of Spider-Man, this issue still kicks off one of the most famous ongoing comic book series of all time. This copy seen above not only is coverless but is also missing the first wrap as well. Despite these major flaws, it still sold for $1,650. CGC 0.5 copies of this book have sold for a wide range of prices.
Here are the last three sales of a CGC 0.5 copies of this book on GoCollect: $4,134 on March 15th; $7,000 on March 12th; and $2,800 on December 8th, 2022 (this 0.5 copy was missing the front cover). That's an average sales price of $4,644. $1,650 still seems like too high a price to me, considering that the copy in question is not only missing its cover, but also the first wrap as well.
Would you have purchased any of these mega-keys at these prices? If so, why? Please let us know in the comments section below!
*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.