Doug Schmell, CEO and President of Pedigree Comics, Inc., reports that he just sold a CGC certified 9.4 copy of Journey Into Mystery #83 for a record price of $222,200. Featuring the origin and first appearance of Thor, Journey Into Mystery #83 is one of the most popular and valuable early Silver Age keys.
According to the most recent CGC sales, it is the 4th most valuable comic book from the Silver Age, bested by only Amazing Fantasy #15, Fantastic Four #1 and Incredible Hulk #1. As many collectors and dealers will tell you, it is also one of the most difficult Silver Age Marvel first appearance issues to locate in high grade. It trails only Tales to Astonish #27 and Incredible Hulk #1 in regards to condition. Journey Into Mystery #83 is one of the most desired books on the market. There have been record sales in each grade being recorded over the past year. A CGC 9.0 copy from the Twin Cities Collection sold in Pedigree’s May, 2011 Grand Auction for a record price of $52,000 and a CGC 9.2 example fetched a record $100,000 last October. The prior highest sale for a CGC 9.4 copy of this scarce comic book was for $43,125 in May, 2005.
According to the CGC census, only one copy out of over 800 submitted to CGC has graded higher than this 9.4 example. Only two other copies exist in 9.4 and only six have even certified at 9.2. High grade copies of this important comic book rarely change hands and when they do, it is at record prices.
The book is characterized by unbelievable color strike, perfect centering, tight staples, razor sharp corners and phenomenal white pages. It is easily the second nicest existing copy and it comes from the best known run of Journey Into Mystery the “Canadian Original Owner Collection”. Discovered in 2002, this unbelievable run of Journey Into Mystery of 28 books contained many of the highest graded examples of each issue, most of which are in certified 9.4 and higher. Some of the highlights of this run include JIM 84 9.4; 85 9.4; 86 9.8; 87 9.8; 90 9.6; 92 9.6; 93 9.4; 94 9.6; 95 9.8; 96 9.8; #97 9.8; #98 9.8; #100 9.6; and #103 9.8. Amazingly, the original owner did not collect any other titles, just Journey Into Mystery. He kept his prized Thor books in meticulous condition and the cool air of Canada ensured that the pages were all off-white to white or bone white.
“The buyer of the Journey Into Mystery #83 in 9.4 saw the book listed in the Vault section of my website and called me just under two weeks ago to see if I would part with it. I originally told him it wasn’t for sale, but he was persistent. We could not initially come up with a mutually agreeable price partly because of my reluctance to sell it but after numerous telephone calls over one week , the price of $222,200 was confirmed on Monday, January 30th. He is a ultra high grade Silver Age Marvel enthusiast who concentrates on keys and first appearance issues and is extremely happy with the book," said Schmell.
For more information visit: PedigreeComics.com.