Archie ##194
Archie Comics • Archie (Vol. 1)
Writer
Frank Doyle
Interior Artist
Dan DeCarlo
Cover Artist
Dan DeCarlo
Publication Date
September 1969
Cover Variant
Regular/Direct Edition (15 cent price point)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
A classic Silver Age humor comic featuring Archie Andrews and Jughead Jones. The cover story involves Archie and Jughead visiting a bank with beach inflatables to ask for 'vacation money' for gas and the beach. Typical teenage antics and slice-of-life humor of the era.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Good/Very Good (3.0)
Condition Details
Visible heavy spine roll and multiple color-breaking spine stresses. Significant corner blunting on all corners. Noticeable soiling/staining on the white areas of the cover, particularly the bottom right. Creasing is evident across the cover surface. The left edge shows significant wear and minor tearing.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $5 - $15 | Graded: $35 - $50 (though unlikely to be graded in this condition)
Recent Sales
Recent raw copies in low-to-mid grade generally sell for under $20. Higher grade copies (VF or better) can reach $40-$60 due to silver age Archie collectors.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading. The cost of the grading service (approx $25-$40) would likely exceed the final market value of a 3.0 grade copy.
Notable Features
15 cent price variant. Iconic Dan DeCarlo cover art. Notable for being from the late 1960s era of Archie which is highly collected for its fashion and pop culture references.
Authentication Notes
Appears to be an authentic original 1969 copy. The paper aging (tanning on edges), staple placement, and ink saturation are consistent with Archie publications from this period. No signs of reproduction or counterfeiting are visible.