Professional grading can increase what a comic sells for, but it costs money and time, and for most books in most inherited collections it doesn’t pay. Here’s how to think about it.
What professional grading is
Third-party grading companies, the best known being CGC and CBCS, examine a comic, assign a numerical condition grade from 0.5 to 10, check for restoration, and seal the book in a tamper-evident plastic holder with a label. Buyers trust the grade without having to inspect the book themselves, which is why graded copies of desirable issues often sell for more and sell more easily, especially online and at auction.
What grading costs
- Fees per book, which rise with the book’s declared value and with faster turnaround. Check the grading company’s current fee schedule, since tiers change.
- Insured shipping both ways, plus careful packing.
- Time. Turnaround can range from weeks to months depending on the service level.
- Membership or submission requirements. Some companies require a paid membership or submission through an authorized dealer.
- Pressing and cleaning, sometimes offered before grading to improve a book’s grade. These are additional costs, and amateur attempts can cause damage.
When grading tends to make sense
- The book is a recognized key issue, or is Golden Age or early Silver Age
- It appears to be in unusually good condition for its age
- You plan to sell it yourself online or through an auction house, where buyers can’t inspect it in person
- The likely value difference between graded and raw copies clearly exceeds the total cost, including shipping and time
When it usually doesn’t
- Common issues, or books from the late 1980s onward, which are often worth less than the grading fee
- Heavily worn, water-damaged, or incomplete books
- Large collections being sold as a group, where grading every book isn’t practical
- When you want to sell soon and with minimal effort
Selling raw (ungraded) is normal
Most vintage collections change hands ungraded. An experienced buyer can evaluate raw books in person and factor in condition. Many buyers, Keller Vintage Comics included, buy raw books with the intention of deciding for themselves which ones to grade. You don’t need to grade anything before asking for an offer, and it’s generally wise not to spend money on grading until someone knowledgeable has looked at the collection.
A middle path
If a collection contains a handful of significant books, one option is to sell the collection as a whole but get separate opinions, or an auction estimate, on the few books that matter most. For very high-value individual books, consigning them graded to a major auction house may bring the best net result even after fees. A good buyer will tell you when that’s the case.
A note on appraisal
A grade is a condition assessment, not a valuation, and it isn’t a formal appraisal. If you need a value for estate, insurance, or tax purposes, consult an independent qualified appraiser.
Keller Vintage Comics buys vintage collections in Central and Southeast Texas and is not an appraiser. This guide is general information, not a valuation of any particular book. When we think another route would serve you better, we’ll tell you. How selling to us works →