Discuss comic grading and how to evaluate books
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Rovingsign Posts: 1
9/26/2025
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Hello, I have a question about RAW vs GRADED valuations.
We inherited a desirable Golden Age comic.
The estate lawyers want to know the "date of death value."
At the time of death, the comic was ungraded, or RAW.
Am I wed to that RAW valuation for the estate accounting? Seems like I am.
I understand the potential tax benefits of grading and selling within the estate, but I think the situation is causing some confusion.
Not sure I can legally use a graded value? Grading is going to be expensive. Grading amounts to an investment and upgrade of the actual comic, which it did not have at the time of death.
The other question - they want me to make a valuation declaration for the estate, but wanted a local auctioneer to sign off on it on his letter head. He declined.
I guess what I want to know is - for this kind of Golden Age comic - which goes to market somewhat infrequently - and usually without some fanfare...how does Comic Price Guide determine the "RAW" value? Are there actual sales of ungraded comics they are using - or is this an indexed number? I'm sure the GRADED number is good, but just wondering about the math on the ungraded.
This is Pennsylvania btw.
Thank you!
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Michael Posts: 275
9/29/2025
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The Guide's FAQ states "We average prices from sales and auctions online and around the world, and we factor in valuations from experts in different fields of the industry."
With the comic in your possession it sounds high value so the price (unless one of a kind) would have been determined from actual purchases and verified by experts. These prices can change with many factors such as popularity of character or various reasons tied to artist or writer.
People who own the comic like to see it at a high price and those who want it like to see a low number. With that in mind the prices check and balance themselves, keeping in mind its worth only what someone will pay.
Comics that are highly sought after usually have well know established prices (consider yearly inflation and my above statement on changing factors) that are known among serious collectors. These collectors keep a close eye on the "gems" so someone claiming too low or high a price would be easily noticed by top collectors.
You may want to have this comic graded. Shop around for grading companies and compare their prices. If self grading bring it to a local comic shop, I am sure they would love to see this in person.
This is all just my opinion as an average collector, though I do have over forty years of comic collecting experience. I am not admin just someone who likes to see questions answered
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