How to sell your comic collection: a step-by-step guide

Thinking about selling your comics? Whether it’s one short box or a basement full of long boxes, it’s easier than it looks. Here’s everything we ask, in the order that makes it easy, from collectors who look through boxes like yours every week.

• 5 easy steps, from shelf to answer
• ~150 comics in a short box
• ~300 comics in a long box

Step by step

1. Sort what you have. Group your books by title and issue number. Set graded books aside, and keep full runs together so nothing gets split up.
2. Count your boxes. For a big collection there’s no need to list every issue. Tell us how many short boxes and long boxes you have, and the series you know are in them.
3. Take a few clear photos. Daylight, a flat table and front covers straight on. Add one photo of each open box from above, or a short video flipping through.
4. Send them to us. Email your photos and short list to montrealcomicbuyers@gmail.com with your city and the best way to reach you. One email starts everything.
5. Get our honest opinion. We’ll get back to you, often within 24 to 48 hours depending on the collection. If we make an offer and you say yes, bring your books to our Montreal office, by appointment only. We pay by cash, Interac e-Transfer or wire transfer.

Short box or long box?

Counting boxes is the fastest way to tell us the size of a collection. These are the two standard comic boxes:

	Short box	Long box
Length	About 15 in (38 cm)	About 27 in (68 cm)
Holds about	150 comics	300 comics
Good for	Smaller collections, easy to carry	Big collections, fewer boxes

Counts are for bagged and boarded comics. Loose comics, magazine boxes or a shelf of trades? Just tell us roughly how many and send a photo.

Photos that help

Your phone is all you need. Clear photos mean a faster answer.

• Use daylight and switch off the flash, so covers don’t shine.
• Shoot front covers straight on, on a plain table.
• Take one photo of each open box from above, with the spines showing.
• For books graded by CGC or CBCS, the front of the slab with its label is perfect.
• A short video flipping through a box works great too.

Keep them safe until you sell

A few simple habits keep your books in the shape you’ve kept them in.

Do

• Keep books in bags and boards.
• Store boxes upright, dry and out of the sun.
• Leave graded books in their slabs.
• Keep series and runs together.

Don’t

• Tape, clean or press books yourself.
• Stack heavy things on loose books.
• Write on covers or bags.
• Open slabs to take books out.

New to storage? Our bags and boards guide covers the basics, and the Library of Congress has helpful advice on caring for paper.

What goes into an offer

It depends on the collection itself. Every collection is different, and we’ll gladly give you the details of how we came to our offer. A few things we always look at:

• Condition: how each book has been kept, from spine and corners to colours and pages.
• Complete runs: series kept together are easier for us to pass on to readers.
• Graded or raw: both are welcome. Grading is never needed to sell to us.
• A clear list: titles, issue numbers and box counts help us answer faster.

Questions sellers ask

Do I need to grade my comics before selling?

No. Most of the collections we see are raw. We look at every book ourselves, so there’s no need to pay for grading first.

Do I have to list every comic?

No. For a big collection, tell us how many short boxes and long boxes you have and the series you know are in them, then send a photo of each open box. We’ll take it from there.

How long does it take to hear back?

Often 24 to 48 hours after you send photos and a short list, depending on the collection.

Do you come to my home?

No. Office visits in Montreal are by appointment only. You can always start by sending photos or a video.

How do I get paid?

Cash, Interac e-Transfer or wire transfer, depending on the size of the collection.

Can we talk in French?

Oui! We serve collectors in English and French, from the first email to payment.

Ready to sell? Send a few photos today.

Email montrealcomicbuyers@gmail.com or call 438-228-8286. For what we buy and where, see our We Buy Comic Books page.