Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #No. 303
Archie Comics Group • Betty and Veronica Vol. 1
Writer
Frank Doyle
Interior Artist
Dan DeCarlo
Cover Artist
Dan DeCarlo
Publication Date
March 1981
Cover Variant
Regular/Newsstand Edition
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Betty and Veronica No. 303 features typical high school romantic comedy plots centered around the Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Reggie love square. The cover depicts a humorous basketball-themed scene where Archie and Betty are kissing while Reggie and Veronica play in the background. Key stories usually revolve around fashion, competition between the girls for Archie's affection, and Riverdale High antics.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Good/Fine (CGC 5.0)
Condition Details
Visible color-breaking spine ticks and stress lines along the length of the spine. Bottom right corner exhibits blunting and minor creasing. Significant non-original red sticker attached to the bottom right of the front cover affecting the art near Archie's leg. Subtle surface scuffing and minor edge wear. Bag is wrinkled, making fine surface detail difficult to confirm, but general wear puts it in the mid-grade range.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $5.00 - $12.00; Graded: $30.00 - $45.00 (though grading cost likely exceeds value).
Recent Sales
Comparable mid-grade copies of similar late Bronze Age Betty and Veronica issues typically sell for approximately $3.00 to $10.00 on secondary markets. High-grade (NM 9.4+) copies can reach $50+.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading. The market value for this specific issue is relatively low, and the cost of CGC/CBCS grading would outweigh the potential financial gain. The presence of the red price sticker significantly impacts the grade and appeal.
Notable Features
Features cover art by legendary Archie artist Dan DeCarlo. Includes a newsstand UPC barcode in the lower-left corner. Bronze Age 50-cent price point.
Authentication Notes
The item appears to be an authentic 1981 printing based on the newsstand UPC, color registration, and the typical aging of the paper stock visible at the edges. No signs of restoration are evident from the photo provided, though the red sticker is a notable post-production defect.