r/MangaRarity

For me it would have to be my Naruto volume 1 English first print. Before they started popping up on eBay this year, I spent almost all of 2025 trying to find a copy. I went through dozens, if not hundreds, of listings looking for one until I accidentally stumbled on one of the copies I have now. That feeling of finding something I’d been hunting for so long was amazing and definitely restarted my love for collecting manga!

Hello, I have a bunch of WSJ I bought from Mandarake in the 2010s, mostly Dr Slump, Dragon Ball and a few JoJo covers (1st JoJo chapter is there).

I like them but considering the current market, selling some might be a valuable income.

I live in Europe, they are not graded, I looked about that that but it seems the grading service is down.

Do you have some advice about where/how to sell ? I'm not in a hurry or anything, only selling them if it's really worth it.

Thx

Hey everyone! I’m pretty new to collecting and looking to get into grading manga with BGS. Since hitting a 9.8 is so tough, I wanted to reach out to people with experience to ask a few questions:

Grading Standards and Inspection: What are the main things BGS looks for when evaluating a book? Aside from obvious defects like bent corners or spine ticks, what subtle flaws usually knock a volume down from a 9.8 to a 9.6 or 9.4?

Original Sealed Shrink Wrap: Does buying a volume that comes factory-sealed give you a significantly higher chance of hitting a 9.8? Or do factory seals often hide factory defects (like crushed corners, cover scuffs under the wrap, or uneven trimming)? Also, does BGS require you to unseal factory-wrapped manga before submitting, or do they remove/grade through it?

Sourcing Minty First Prints: What strategies or sources do you rely on to find immaculate, gem-mint 1st printing volumes? Is it best to inspect copy-by-copy in physical bookstores, or are there specific online retailers/import sellers known for careful shipping and mint inventory?

Would appreciate any advice, tips, or personal experiences you all have with the submission process! Thanks!