Overview

Have you found a selection of items in the attic that you want to cash in on? Are you a collector looking to sell a scarce, single item or an extensive collection? Read on to find out how we can help...

phil-comics auctions commission the sale of item/s on behalf of their owner (the vendor). We auction items on eBay, the largest online and fastest growing marketplace. Your items will be open for bidding by hundreds of collectors searching eBay daily. Why not utilise the knowledge and reputation we have built up in our five years of business and let us do all the work of grading, imaging, marketing, advertising, customer service, banking, packaging and posting. Sit back, have fun watching the bidding live on your screen and receive payment in instalments or as a final total.

To accompany our live auctions we also sell items at set prices on our Sales page. We list items when we feel they are better suited to a private sale than the auction format. New acquisitions are regularly updated to satisfy a high volume of collectors who revisit the site.

If you would prefer to sell your items directly to us, instead of letting us auction them on your behalf, we can make an offer to buy them and can travel to you to view significant collections.

Our services are detailed here and for your convenience the menu below takes you directly to each section; to return to it simply click any ‘TOP’ icon.

Key Features

Why commission phil-comics?

• 100% feedback record spanning six years
• Large worldwide customer base
• High quality, customer focussed service to the vendor and buyer
• The personal touch
• Consistently high prices
• Regular auction sales; fast turnaround time
• Extensive time and effort devoted to each item, including researching background information, contacting interested parties and presenting auctions in an eye-catching manner.

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Auction Results

Prospective vendors and collectors alike are welcome to browse our auction results, since 2003, here.

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Accolades

• eBay users who have commissioned us to sell their items/collections through us have left the following feedback:

thelatinkid0

“Great service, excellent communication, a great seller you can rely on”

so6277

"I was delighted with the friendly and professional service I received from phil-comics. Just as when I've bought comics through them in the past, they proved a model of efficiency, honesty and good communications - excellent service combined with low charges. For anyone who wants a hassle-free, fairly-run, profitable and dependable way of selling comics, this is the one to go for."

koyce2005

"Service was first class and prices I got were terrific. I highly recommend phil-comics to anyone who wants to sell items. Phil does all the hard work and keeps you updated on everything throughout the bidding. Thanks again for everything."

andy_mc2

"phil-comics sold a near complete collection of Victor and Commando Comics on my behalf on eBay over a four month period in 2007. Throughout this time I was kept regularly informed on auction progress and received regular payment cheques with a detailed breakdown of the figures. I have sold a fair number of items myself on eBay and found the phil-comics approach to be thoroughly professional and very friendly. I believe that their high reputation amongst comic buyers boosted the final auction values achieved. I would have no hesitation in recommending their services to others considering selling their comic collections."  

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Items sought

We actively seek most pre-1975 British comics, annuals, books, memorabilia and artwork. No collection is too large or small, but in any doubt please contact us. The titles we seek include:

Beano, Beezer, Broons, Dandy, Eagle, Film Fun, Giles, Hotspur, Knockout, Lion, Marvelman, Mickey Mouse, Oor Wullie, Rupert Bear, Radio Fun, Rover, Superman, Topper, Victor, Wizard and more.

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Items bought

We also buy items and collections. If the auction format is not what you are looking for, please send us a detailed list of the items you wish to sell including a description of their condition (grade) and, if possible, a series of images. To assist you with assigning grades, please refer to our Grading Guide below. We feel our offers are very competitive with any other trader and, for significant collections, will travel to you to view.

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Consignments

Please send us a detailed list of the items you wish to auction including a description of their condition (grade) and any minimum price that you would like to attain. To assist you with assigning grades, please refer to our Grading Guide below. If possible, a series of images would be beneficial. To discuss items in further detail please drop me a line, send an email or ‘phone for an informal chat. Our contact details can be found here.

For consistency with auction layout including descriptions and images, all items for auction must be held by phil-comics auctions prior to any work commencing.

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Fees

We deduct a seller’s commission of 20% of the final bid price.

Associated eBay and PayPal fees (kept to a minimum; between 10 and 15% collectively) are paid by the vendor.

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Contract

Upon agreement of business and receipt of items, two copies of a contract will be supplied. Please sign both copies and return one to us, whereafter work will commence.

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Payment

Payment to vendors can be in regular instalments as items are sold, or as a final total. Our payment methods include cheque, PayPal and bank transfer. Please note that PayPal deduct a fee of approximately 4% from the total.

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Delivery

We are based in Brighton and can receive personal delivery of items upon prior arrangement.

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Postage

If posting items to us, please ensure they are well packaged (see below). A service that requires a signature, that is, Recorded or Special Delivery, is advised for the majority of items, as the parcel is tracked en route and protects both parties against loss. It is strongly advised that sufficient compensation cover is taken out.

The following section summarises Royal Mail postal services. It should help you to decide which service is best suited to your consignment, but in any instance we can offer further advice. For postage rates, please visit the Royal Mail website.

First & Second Class carriage offers compensation cover of up to £34 in the event of loss or damage. Second class applies only to parcels up to 1kg. Royal Mail aim to deliver First Class mail the next working day and Second Class mail within three working days.

Recorded Delivery is available for an additional 70p on top of First and Second Class rates. The service requires a signature on delivery and covers the item to £34 in the event of loss or damage. Delivery times are as above for First and Second Class.

Special Delivery offers standard compensation cover of up to £500 in the event of loss or damage and requires a signature on delivery. Additional compensation cover of up to £2,500 is available for a small extra charge. Two services are available, guaranteeing delivery by 9am or 1pm the next working day.

Standard Parcels Service is an economic service for parcels weighing from 2kg to 20kg. Standard compensation cover for loss or damage, of up to £34, is available and additional cover of up to £500 can be bought for a modest charge. The service takes between three and five working days.

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Packaging

Although known to comic book collectors, due to the fragile nature of old printed material it is worth mentioning packaging. We highly recommend sandwiching comics between thick, rigid cardboard with at least an inch clearance on all sides from the edge of the comic to the edge of the packaging. Books should be packaged within bubble wrap and tightly contained within a cardboard box.

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Grading Guide

Over the years we have seen several grading guides but feel most comfortable with the following. As such, it is subjective yet consistent. All items sold by phil-comics auctions are graded strictly and fairly using this guide - in fact we tend to slightly undergrade to avoid any disappointment. Grading starts with ‘reader’ and, spanning six categories, ends with ‘near mint’. The prefix + or – can be used to define a more specific grade, for example, Very Good+ lies between Very Good and Fine. This grading guide is independent of any writing (mainly inscriptions) and price clippings; any such faults are stated in all cases. “A picture paints a thousand words”; the description of an item with grade is best accompanied by at least one picture.

Reader Sometimes known as a research copy, in terms of page number and covers the item will be complete unless otherwise stated. Extensive wear can include tears, creases, folds, foxing, light to heavy tanning and pieces torn away.

Fair General, medium to heavy overall wear. Ideal as low cost gap fillers or general reading purposes.

Good General medium wear throughout, ideal for those wanting something affordable, yet reasonable.

Very Good Middle of the road, books and comics often appear in this grade having experienced light general wear over the years. Sound overall, displaying light signs of wear including some creasing, nicks, small tears and page tanning.

Fine The ‘Fine’ grade will generally cause a flutter in the heart of the collector and will satisfy the majority. The item shouts condition at you. Minor wear to include light page tanning, the odd small tear and/or crease and light scuffing.

Very Fine Speaking personally as a collector, ‘Very Fine’ is as high as I realistically aim to achieve. With white/off-white pages, the item will be clean, bright and sharp with close inspection revealing only very minor wear.

Near Mint The item is as close as one can imagine it to be when new. Clean, bright, tight, sharp, crisp. The cream of the crop and truly outstanding.

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