There is a process to convincing someone else, usually a stranger, to buy what you own. Many people have Antiques Roadshow or Pawn Stars syndrome; they think they will trip over crap in the attic and find out it’s priceless. There are processes to follow if you want to sell a comic book you believe is valuable. If the comic book does not have authentication by legitimate comic book grading and slabbing companies, then all you did was prove that you don’t know how to prove a comic book is valuable.
I once tried to sell a comic book by pulling it out of a plastic sleeve, touching it with my bare hands, and presenting it to a potential seller. (That guy gave me look like I had three heads. I was a teen then, but now I understand his reaction.)
It is a good idea to confer with legitimate comic book grading and slabbing companies before trying to sell valuable collectibles.
A buyer is not going to take your word about the value of your comic. The comic must have authentification from comic book grading and slabbing companies.
You must know these processes if you want to sell collectible comics.
Comic Book Grading and Slabbing Companies (How They Work)
Comic book grading and slabbing companies have experts who verify comic books as valuable. For a fee, you can send your comic book to get a grade on a scale from 0.5 to 10. 10 means the comic book is aesthetically perfect and very valuable.
After getting a grade, the company is slabbed and the grade is printed on a sticker affixed to the slab. A “slab, is a rigid plastic shell that encases the comic. The slab protects the comic from the elements.
It’s a hard truth about putting a comic in a slab and giving it a grade; you can’t touch it afterward to protect. You have to get a facsimilie of the comic to enjoy it.
You may want to call or email such companies before submitting your comic books for grading or slabbing. Ask questions first. Also these services aren’t free. You could pay anywhere from $22 to $100+ to have an expert assess, authenticate, grade and slab your comic.
You can mail in your comic books or bring them into a physical store for grading and slabbing.
Additionally, many of these companies offer “raw grade,” certification services. That means you can get your comic book graded without slabbing. However, most serious collectors may be hesitant to pay big prices for comic books that are not in a slab with a grade.
Many of these companies have online appraisals and price guides to help you determine the value of your comics.
1. Quality Comix
Quality Comix is a comic book store and certification company based in Montgomery, Alabama. They grade, slab, and authenticate comic books. They also have a free online Comic Book Price Guide. You can use it to check the current market value of your comic. You can at least get a ballpark estimate of the comics you own before trying to sell them.
Quality Comix offers grading services and free appraisals. They specialize in selling valuable vintage comics, so they fees they charge vary depending on grade and value. The company also offers a free e-book about grading and how to sell comics through their service.
2. Certified Guaranty Company (CGC)
There is more than one way to grade comic books, but CGC is the industry standard. When I was a child, the “Overstreet Guide,” was the standard for checking the value of comic books. But now, CGC is the overwhelmingly industry standard.
Depending on whether the comic book was published before or after 1975 will determine how much you pay in processing fees. Such fees can range between $27 to $150+ depending on how valuable the comic book is. The more valuable the comic, the more the processing increases accordingly.
You can also pay extra fees for fast-track processing.
3. Comic Book Grading and Certification Services (CBCS)
CBCS is one of the best comic book grading and slabbing companies in the industry. Most people who don’t utilize CGC will usually opt for CBCS.
The company was launched in Plano, Texas in 1998.CBCS charges anywhere from $22 to $200 for grading, slabbing, and certification services for comic books valued at up to $7,000.
However, such terms are not set in stone. Every client has different needs and authentication is dependent on many factors.
CBCS has certification experts you can consult, call, or email for free tips on how to identify valuable comics you may own.
3. Heritage Auctions
In January 2022, a copy of Action Comics #1 with a CGC grade of 6.0 sold for $3.18 million through Heritage Auctions. Even though the comic has a low CGC grade, the 1938 comic book is one of the rarest comic books in the world. There are probably only a few copies of Action Comics #1 in existence in good to nearly perfect aesthetic condition.
Heritage Auctions is a collectibles company that was launched in 1976 in Dallas, Texas. Heritage Auctions is famous for coordinating million-dollar sales of rare comic books and memorabilia. The company outsources grading and slabbing to other companies, like CGC, if it will potentially increase the
You can call or email Heritage Auctions for a free consultation on the value of your comics. Heritage Auctions believes that most comic books printed after 1980 possess little value. This is the company to call if you think you have an extremely valuable collectible on your hands.
4. Professional Grading Experts (PGX)
Professional Grading Experts or PGX is a third-party comic book grading, slabbing, and certification company based in Eugene, Oregon. The company was launched in 2002.
Depending on the era the comic book was published, (Golden, Silver, Bronze, and Modern age) the processing costs can range anywhere between $14 to $28. These processing costs apply only to comic books with a potential value of up to $4,000.
PGX will assess and pre-screen comic books for grading for free and only charge $5 per comic for any comic deemed not valuable enough for grading or slabbing. This company also offers pressing and cleaning services for comics ranging from $14 to $25.
5. Expert Grading Services (EGS)
Expert Grading Services, or EGS, is a newer company in the grading and slabbing service industry. It was only launched in 2018.
Depending on the era the comic was published in, and the swiftness of service you desire, you will pay anywhere between $25 to $100 for EGS’ grading and slabbing services.
6. ComicConnect
ComicConnect is a New York City-based collectibles auction house. While ComicConnect does not grade comics, they can connect you to a third-party grading and slabbing company if you want.
The company’s website has a user friendly interface where you can determine the value of your comic. The fees for selling your comics depend on the value of the comics and varies.
Does Your Comic Book Really Need Slabbing or a Grade?
Quality Comix has a great comparison page about CGC and CBCS. They saw the major difference is that CBCS might grade and slab a little quicker. However, CGC is the industry standard. Additionally, Quality Comix warns that grading and slabbing are not free processes. Getting a grade and slab for 200 comics could cost up to $10,000.
I mention this fact to get to a good point, which is that not every comic needs a grade or slab. I would recommend that you get an appraisal for every comic book that you think might have value as a collectible. Unless you think you could get hundreds or thousands for a comic, then it probably does not need a grade or a slab.
Treat grading and slabbing as a strategic process to get the most out of selling a valuable collectible. It is not something you need to do for every comic you own.
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