I am the widow of a comic book collector. My husband loved his comics and took extremely good care of them. Watched me like a hawk when I had one in my hands! I estimate his little collection is between five and six thousand comics all boarded, bagged and in their special storage boxes. They're beautiful! I don't want to just leave them in the basement when I go--you know?--so I've decided to try to sell them. My questions: Is it necessary to have them graded by a professional? Will the comic be devalued (hope that's a word) if I don't? Will a picture serve as well as a grade? I'll have to rip tape off a lot of bags to do it myself and $50 per book . . . well. I have been learning about grading. The earliest comic I saw was a Batman, 1983, in near mint condition. Staples are in place, magazine is flat, still glossy, nothing missing and only a tiny fold on the right bottom edge with no loss of color. I think I understand, but is that good enough? Is the investment of this much work, time and studying worth the return I could get considering the age of the comics? One last question: I feel I should have a list of everything in those boxes, which I have been compiling. My local comic consignment shop says that's unnecessary, they'll do it for me if I hire them. But I'd still need my own list even if I hired them, wouldn't I? Please help me. I need advice and direction.
