Wow...don't let anyone know of what you have if you have a decent collection of comics...

[SWBTATTReg]

This is a blurb I saw on someone's collection being stolen out of a storage unit...I didn't reproduce the entire article here, just the first 3 sentences or so, but I thought it was a reminder to the rest of us to be careful in letting others know of what you may have in the way of collections. Be careful!! You never know who exactly you're talking to (or those who know about the collection go talking to others you don't even know about. so sad. SWBTATTReg
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Over $100K in Comic Books Stolen From Storage Unit
By NICOLE DRUM - December 29, 2018

For one Las Vegas man, super villains don't just exist on the pages of comic books. They exist in real life as well and one is responsible for the theft of $100,000 worth of comic books. According to News 3 Las Vegas, two suspects broke into Daniel Ballard's Life Storage unit on Thursday, December 27 and stole 12 boxes of comic books totaling around 3000 individual books, including several valuable issues.

The crown jewel of it was the Amazing Spider-Man," Ballard said. "I had the entire run, 1-170, volume one and two. I had a lot of other issues. The first appearance of Venom, Death of Captain Stacy, and the first appearance of the Punisher."

etc.

Opps, missed original posting. Here's the DU address of first posting on DU..

https://www.democraticunderground.com/11951890

[lunatica]

1. That's terrible!

A lifetime of collecting just to have it stolen!

I have my deceased son’s collection in 5 large boxes which means a lot to me, and I don’t know what to do with it. I don’t have anyone to leave it to and I don’t know if I can trust anyone to see what it’s worth. I also don’t know what it’s worth or how to find out. And when I die is it worth it to leave the collection to someone.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Isn't it, though...a terrible shame, when one spends so much time and energy amassing ....

such a collection that they poured so much of their heart into. I have quite a few comics too, and it just shook me to the core. I do want to leave the collection to my SO, but they don't want to mess w/ it afterwards (should heaven forbid, something happen to me). I know that I have initially contacted a few dealers on disposing of the collection, but haven't really pursued 100%. Now I'm just simply documenting the collection and will eventually throw up for sale once all documented, but that's down the road somewhat.

My advice to you? Finish documenting, maybe pull out the low number editions of the comics you have and then shop around. You can kind of get an estimate online (and these range too widely in prices), so at least you'll have somewhat of an estimate going forth. On the other side of the fence, since they belonged to your son, it's like walking down memory lane, so they are worth probably far more to you in your procession.

Perhaps your son had a friend that he enjoyed collecting w/? I have a few people that I shared my obsession w/, and I'd rather let them have the collection than anyone else.

Take care!!

[lunatica]

4. Thank you for the advice

One of the things I can do is figure out who to leave it to. None of his friends collected or care about comics so I’m in a real quandary about it. I’ve wondered if libraries have any appreciation of the importance of comic books as a unique form of art and a societal impact and important socially relevant method of teaching morality. Since I’m not the collector I feel completely inadequate, but I do want to honor his reasons for collecting.

[TooManyDucks]

3. You Can Check Values At Here...

https://comicbookrealm.com/

The values listed here tend to be fairly inline with the 'official' 'Overstreet' price guide that is released every year.

Keep in mind that price guide values are what a customer would expect to pay in a store.

If you were to try to sell the comics to a store you would get a fraction, and a tiny fraction at that, of the posted values. Often this will be pennies on the dollar and that is assuming the store has any interest at all.

Unfortunately the odds are that in terms of monetary value those five boxes are going to be worth very little.

But you never know. There could be a treasure or two in the collection.

[lunatica]

5. Thank you for the advice!

I’ll look into it and gain some knowledge if nothing else. If it’s as you say then maybe it would be better to think of leaving them to someone who really cares. When I die there is no family to leave anything to.

[SWBTATTReg]

9. Thanks for providing the website! Take care. NT

[Cuthbert Allgood]

8. It could be scary to do let someone grade it.

I second comicbookrealm. I use that to keep track of every book I have. I think the price is, overall, pretty spot on. You would, maybe, get half if you sold it to a store. And make sure you have a good understanding of grading the books. The prices that come up are for a 9.4 which is pretty hard to get on most comics--old or new.

If you have a good local comic shop, they will give you an idea of what it's worth if you bring it in. But 5 boxes is a lot, and they will likely be unhappy if you aren't going to at least sell some of them.

[marked50]

6. I had an original copy of "Conan -The Barbarian" in good condition

in college-1973. Someone swiped it from me. Didn't every know who. Regret to this day that that happened. Wonder what it would be worth today....

[Cuthbert Allgood]

7. If it was a 9.4--$560

https://comicbookrealm.com/series/442/0/marvel-comics-conan-the-barbarian-vol-1

Unlikely it would be that high of a grade, though, unless it went right into a boarded bag unread.