CGC-certified Star Wars 35-cent Variants Lead Heritage Sale

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Topping the auction was a Star Wars #1 35-cent Price Variant graded CGC 9.4 (lot 81119), which realized $40,800, and a Star Wars #4 35-cent Price Variant graded CGC 9.8 (lot 81131), which realized $12,600. While most copies of these Star Wars comic books were priced at 30 cents, a limited number of issues were printed with a 35-cent cover price as part of a market test. As a result, these variants are significantly more valuable due to their limited distribution. They should not, however, be confused with the much more common 35-cent Whitman series, which are distinguished by their diamond-shaped price box on the cover.

While more than 17,000 copies of the Star Wars #1 standard version are listed in the CGC Census as of mid-August 2024, there are only 327 examples of the 35-cent Price Variant, and only three of those are graded higher. This sale of the Star Wars #1 35-cent variant is tied with a Heritage Auctions sale from 2021 as the third-highest sale of this comic.

Other CGC-certified comics sold in this auction included:

• a Star Wars #3 35-cent Price Variant CGC Signature Series (Roy Thomas) graded CGC 9.6 (lot 81127), which realized $4,320
• a Star Wars #2 35-cent Price Variant CGC Signature Series (Roy Thomas) graded CGC 9.4 (lot 81123), which realized $3,840
• a Star Wars #1 CGC Signature Series (Howard Chaykin and Roy Thomas) graded CGC 9.8 (lot 81117), which realized $2,880
• a Marvel Movie Showcase Featuring Star Wars #1 graded CGC 9.8 (lot 81052), which realized $2,640
• a Star Wars: The Clone Wars #1 Special Edition graded CGC 9.8 (lot 81286), which realized $2,520
• a Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge #1 Concept Art Edition graded CGC 9.8 (lot 81093), which realized $1,920
• a Star Wars: Jedi vs Sith #1 Dynamic Forces Gold Edition graded CGC 9.8 (lot 81110), which realized $1,560
• a Star Wars: Thrawn #1 Mattina Variant graded CGC 9.8 (lot 81292), which realizes $1,500
• a Marvel Comics Super Special #16 graded CGC 9.8 (lot 81340), which realized $1,440
• a Star Wars #42 graded CGC 9.8 (lot 81166), which realized $1,320

Prices realized include a buyer’s premium.

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. The newest division of CGC, CGC Home Video, provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of home media, including Betamax tapes, DVDs and Blu-ray discs.