Value Check-in: Star Wars #1

Ah, Star Wars #1. Written by Roy Thomas, based mostly on a screenplay and story by George Lucas, and illustrated by Howard Chaykin, this icon gave us the primary appearances of Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, C-3PO, R2-D2, AND Darth Vader. With a comic book title this beloved, it could actually solely rise in worth, proper? Let’s see.

Very few collectors are unfamiliar with this basic, resulting in loads of graded copies in the marketplace. Of the 14,978 Universal Label graded copies listed on the CGC census, the most well-liked is the 9.4, with 2,411 registered copies. are 9.4s, in order that’s what we’ll be having a look at.

This grade involves public sale fairly steadily, already showing (9) occasions in October (as of 10/16). You’re more likely to return throughout it listed on eBay than on different public sale homes, nevertheless it does seem at Heritage each on occasion.

Sales have been comparatively regular, not often falling exterior a median vary that’s held robust for over a yr. There has positively been a touch of elevated curiosity these days, sending the typical up by practically $40 due to a couple higher-dollar gross sales this month.

Here’s a look at the newest gross sales: $504 (10/15/23, eBay), $608 (10/15/23, eBay), $528 (10/10/23, Heritage Auctions), and $777 (10/08/23, eBay).

If we examine in with gross sales from a yr in the past, we see one thing totally different than the brand new standard. Newsual? These values have been decrease a yr in the past than they’re at present. On 10/17/22, this grade bought for $408 at Heritage. On 10/25/22, a duplicate realized $520 and on 10/22/22, one other introduced in $500 – each gross sales by way of eBay.

The ebook positively noticed the next increase in 2021, however since then it’s held its floor and even discovered its approach again up the chart. Any predictions about the place it’ll be this time subsequent yr?

In case anybody is unfamiliar… in the course of the time Star Wars #1 was being launched, Marvel was experimenting with a 5-cent worth enhance. 35-cent copies landed in a choose few cities, however not for lengthy. This makes these variants MUCH extra uncommon than their normal counterpart. It’s no shock, then, that the values are inflated to match.

There’s not a obvious “most popular” grade within the CGC census, as there are solely 314 whole copies listed throughout all grades and labels. There are (35) CGC 8.5s, which wins the title of ‘Most Populous Grade’ by solely 10 books.

This grade has appeared at public public sale a complete of (4) occasions this calendar yr, averaging simply over $9k. The report excessive for this ebook is $11,500, set within the coronary heart of the 2022 Covid restoration. The excessive sale of practically $11,000 from earlier this yr isn’t removed from that quantity – and a testomony to the devotion to this uncommon gem.

If you come throughout this within the wild, seize it. Grab it and run.

There is not any scarcity of gross sales on the subject of the 30-cent Reprint (1977), although the worth tags received’t make you maintain your breath practically as a lot as a number of the others on this listing.

There are 948 graded copies registered on the CGC Census, with the commonest grade touchdown between the 9.6 (103) and 9.4 (100). The 9.6 set an enormous new report for itself simply this previous summer time when a duplicate set a staggering new excessive of $780 at Heritage Auctions (8/29/23). The earlier excessive for the grade was $400, set the month prior by way of eBay.

The 9.4 seems at public sale barely extra steadily than the 9.6, bringing in a 365-day common of $254. Whether that quantity will probably be bumping up is but to be seen, however 9.4s have introduced in $300 (eBay, 9/21/23), $335 (eBay, 8/13/23), and $295 (eBay, 1/4/23) in 2023. Of course, copies have additionally realized under $150 on eBay throughout the identical time interval, so it’s positively one to have a watch on.

In 2020, Marvel printed a Facsimile Edition, which makes the rounds on eBay extra usually than you’d anticipate for a ebook with solely 175 copies listed on the Census. Interestingly, this ebook began out 2023 solidly within the $60 vary, however its final (4) gross sales have every surpassed the $100 mark.

As copies of the dear authentic grow to be held an increasing number of tightly, I anticipate we’ll start to see this Facsimile Edition popping up an increasing number of usually.