There are two beautiful DB2 masks on the bay right now. One is a Colin Mayne converted kirk and the other a Colin Mayne re-worked Myers. Both are incredible copies with very similar finishing, the only big difference is 1,000. The Kirk copy is going for 1,800 and the Myers 800. Which makes me want to ask you guys, what is the current state of mask pricing? I feel like these high end masks are a bellwether for the resale market in general. The HMK’s for example have been resold far below their original asking price.
In my opinion mask prices have been on the decline for the past 16 months. Masks seem to be re-selling around 60-75% of their original price with Nightowl masks holding their value a little better. Is the mid range mask market growing and the high end market shrinking? This could be attributed to the economy and masks being sold “underground.” With mask sales being done out in the open again are prices going to climb back up again? Or will we see a temporary holiday bump?
What’s been everybody else’s resale experience lately?
A guy i know paid full whack for a HMK then sold it 2 weeks later for 380.go figure.The $1800 DBII you see was Colins #1 conversion and has been redone twice to my knowledge,so its a special piece for sure, not sure what # conversion the $800 copy is maybe a #3 or #4 but also comes with a display case.but yes mask prices in general have slumped big time nowadays. a friend of mine gave 4K for that #1 DBII Conversion in the past,that says all there is to say imo.the economy is at rock bottom not many people can afford to pay thousands of dollars these days which is why that $800 hasn’t even had a Bid go in.DBII’s are probably one of the best pieces to own and are highly sought after as far as serious collectors are concerned so that says it all for me.
That 800 DB is a steal and I still can’t afford it right now. A few months ago I would have snatched it up but the economy is in the crapper and a mask that was 2,400 in 2009 is still just as unattainable at 800 in 2011. Interesting times…
I think the “price slump” you’re talking about is happening to more of the “Luxury” type masks out there. Seems to me like the $200-$300 and below price range hasn’t changed much at all. If so it’s to a lesser extent.
I agree. I think that there really is no “market” or “value” - a mask will only sell for what someone is willing to pay and what the seller is willing to take. The era of flipping so easily for profit is over. Anything over a few hundred dollars for these masks is really absurd if you really think about it. All told, there is really nothing different in the time spent on each mask no matter who makes it. I could spend $400 and get a pull done up by JC and have something more accurate than anything that’s been out in years. Times are a changin’.
Well i personally would have been bidding on it myself as i really like that copy and it comes complete with the Display case which is all part of the History with the DBII, shame the signed card is missing though, but ive wanted a DBII for my collection for a while now but to my disappointment the seller clearly stresses he doesn’t ship international.what a Bummer
However, I don’t necessarily think it is true that the high end pieces are losing value more than the ‘mid-ranged’ pieces. KHDWs/KHSLE’s/DB2s (depending on the copy) and a few others have retained their values and actually even went up in resell prices. And no matter how well a mask is painted there are some pieces that the sculpt is superior, at least in my honest opinion.
I think masks that have “overflooded” the market such as the H78s/Warlocks have probably been hit the hardest or even Psycho’s and such outside the earliest copies.
The more common the mask, the less the value in most cases. Very early copies and/or exceptional copies sometimes break the rule.
How common or rare the mask is doesn’t solely decide its value either. It depends on how the particular mask has held up against newer sculpts that have came out since its release. A good example is the KHDW/KHSLEs. In my opinon NOTHING captures H2 quite like the KHs although a good 75K done up by JC is awesome. Still, the KH has its own look and good luck trying to find one at a “decreased” value.
Very well said! It is, has been and always will be about the sculpt and eyecuts. As long as the eye cuts are not bad, having a base of any rare mask is the key. Anything can be refinished by the artist of choice if you don’t like it but you still need the base. Hair, paint, weathering, etc…all can be reworked. Interesting topic
I agree on both accounts! The older masks will only continue to go up in value because of their history factor as well. The KH is the prime example, how many other masks were created when an artist had the actual SU Hero in hand for direct reference? Enough said.
Pretty good topic, I think a lot of masks are coming back to earth pricewise. Not many ever deserved to be in an astronomical price range to begin with in my opinion.
I used to be green with envy on a lot of people who could afford 400+ on a mask when I had a crappy job, now that I’m being paid much more and able to afford those I still find myself not wanting to pay much more than 200 for one and I’ve slowed down on my collecting in general because I’m still scared of the economy
The mid-range masks have also suffered a steep decline in prices. While these masks sell very well to buyers at the original price, resale values are a fraction of that. I’d venture to say that a NAG H78 can still sell quicker and at a better price than most other popular masks.
As far as Ebay goes, it looks to me as though the masks done in “The Green Room” are THE sought after masks(and rightfully so). Two masks with an average price of $500 ain’t bad. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems as though JC is the main reason why a mask sells so well. Don’t get me wrong, the maker has a lot to do with how a mask sells, but the artist is the one who makes the mask pop . Just my opinion. Please don’t scold me if I don’t know my :butthead: from a hole in the ground
I agree, most JC masks do resell very well. This certainly due ,in part, to his work as an artist. Also consider that people familiar with the hobby understand that JC’s work is an additional premium component to an already existing mask. If you were to buy a mask new, let’s say a H78 and send it to JC, the money invested in that mask would be approaching, if not exceeding 500. A second hand copy also has the value of not having to wait for the conversion.
I see certain Nightowl masks and JC masks holding their initial value (money invested) well. The KH, it should be said, was not a “luxury mask” upon it’s release. It was originally priced around 300 (I think). It has only risen in value because of the demand and is still selling at many times it’s original price.
As someone also mentioned to me in a PM, many of the higher end masks are sold and traded in private which makes it harder to track current market value. It could be assumed that people dropping a few grand on a mask are more economically secure and don’t need to low ball their masks. Which brings the “price slump” back down to the middle in my opinion. I think it’s a great time to be a buyer of masks at this level.
Thank you for everyone whose participated in this discussion. I find this kind of stuff fascinating. I know talking money and value, along with art and it’s perceived values, can be sensitive subjects but I think it’s important that we as a community can have these conversations openly. Much appreciated guys.
