US versus Canadian Version

Hi I was wondering if anyone might have an opinion or thought on whether Canadian copies of comics might be a good long-term investment? It seems with the increase in interest with print runs (Newsstand vs Direct) that there may be less printed of Canadian copies?

I personally love CPVs (Canadian Price Variants) for investment purposes. A CPV typically commands more $ when compared to it’s US counterpart, newsstand or direct. And yes, the print run will be lower. Canada’s market is about 85% smaller than the US market (36 million in Canada, 320 Million in the US), so, I think it safe to assume that the distribution percentages would somewhat closely mimic the market numbers.

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I’ve always been intrigued by Canadian price variants, but haven’t dabbled in them yet.

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I’ve been buying Canadian price variants here and there when I find them for a good price. I think they are just going to grow in popularity. I think there are so many new collectors out there compared to decades ago that variants such as UPC, Canadian, Mark Jewelers will continue to rise in popularity. The more “rare” a comic no matter if it is a reprint or price variant collectors with more money to burn will want it over the easier to get US direct version.

Funny thing is when I first started collecting comics, Canadian variants were usually discounted when they showed up locally, direct was more desirable than newsstand and no one cared about Mark Jeweler inserts at a premium. Shortly after I started collecting 30 and 35 cent price variants just started to get noticed.

I still don’t see much love for UK/Pence variants. For silver age those are abut the only variants out there. I’m sure demand for them will grow as time goes on.

For me, I have been buying more MJ insert variants than Canadian price variants but that may change.

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I believe CPVs were only for a short period of time, 1982-1986 I believe. They generally command more…maybe 25-50% up to NM, but once you hot the 9.6/9.8 grades they can command more than 200% of a direct edition…sometimes 400%.

Take Transformers #1 for example. A comic that hovers around $1000 in 9.8 direct lately ($2000 newsstand).

By contrast us newsstands during that time frame may command about 50% more in the highest grades compared to direct copies. But that is trending upwards.

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The trend in desire for newsstands in highest grades can only propel the desire for CPVs in the highest grades.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #1 (1989 Archie Publications) $1.25 CPV.

Another more popular one is Thor 337.

You can see there really isn’t a price difference between direct and newsstand, but CPV 9.8 tops the us variants.

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Very cool information thank you guys!