This is a fairly common trait in the very good category. Grading comic books, while not rocket science, is important in that the value of a comic book, like any collectible, can be dramatically impacted by its condition. Some comic book stores even have authorized vendors who can send your books in for you. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide. Please use a minimal amount of tape and try to use tape that is easily removable when securing the books with cardboard. The ultimate authority delivers the right grade every time grading comic books is the key to successful comic book collecting, and now the leading expert on. The comic book grading companies will offer witnesses, so a representative from the grading company will stand with you as you get a book signed. Cover shows significant wear, and may be loose or even detached at one staple. Many collectors send their books for grading, certification, and encapsulation to. Blastoff comics owner explains why most comic book stores barely stay afloat duration. Look for evidence of tape or glue or other attempts to repair the book. Grading is an inherently subjective process and there will always be small differences in opinion.
Good format and easy to use but i do think that some of the guidelines for grading in this book are not clear enough dimpling, subscription folds. Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading this is by far the largest glossary of comic book grading and description terms, i have found online. Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading this is by far the largest glossary of comic book gra. When initially looking at a comic book the first thing one will notice is the cover of the book.
Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. Grading is the second investigation a comic goes through, this time to evaluate the condition of the comic cover and pages. One area we focused on is the way you submit comics and access your account information. If your interested in viewing a comparison of page. Long time collector and comic book enthusiast looking to share my collecting hobby with like minded collectors.
Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. Here is the standard grading system used for all books available on. A single sheet of paper folded to form four pages of a story. For one, if you have a really valuable book, it offers a form of protection. Even professional grading services like cgc, cbcs, and pgx acknowledge that the same book may not always receive the same grade if it is. Visitors to the cgc website can access these valuable research tools. But only when the book is otherwise quite beautiful, and the tape does not in any way mar the appearance of the book.
How to grade your comics comic book grading labels. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Define them and explain their purpose and how they add value to your analysis. The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics, original and animation art. For collector and dealer alike, it is essential to grade the condition of a comic fairly and accurately in order to determine its true value and worth. We accept payment made by credit card, personal check, money order or we can send you an invoice via paypal using your paypal email address. Any amount of wear to the cover of the book must be factored into the condition and grading of the comic. Discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor to moderate soiling is allowed. Mint condition the comic is perfect in every way and has no damage or blemishes.
Nostomanias grading guide for comic books coin and comic. Thanks for the response batman007, if i understand you, you are saying spine roll is a function of use as in reader wear and tear and not a manufacturing issue. Comic book grading labels collectors condition comic book. As with grading all collectibles, there is a degree of subjectivity as there are many factors to consider and all of them must be weighed to determine an overall grade. Originally produced in conjunction with the first edition of the overstreet comic book grading guide, the owl or overstreets whiteness level card is a comic book grading tool used to evaluate paper color on the reverse side is the one or overstreets numerical equivalent card, which translates the traditional letter grades into their equivalent values on a 100point numerical. Mar 27, 2020 when grading a comic book, the first thing youll see is the cover. The ultimate upside to getting your comics cgc graded is that it greatly enhances the value of your comics if they are in really good condition. Aug 12, 2014 some comic book stores even have authorized vendors who can send your books in for you. Of course it would depend on the overall condition of the book as well. As grading is very much a subjective exercise, it is all too easy for the novice and indeed experienced collector to allow wishful thinking and optimism to influence the appearance of a comic and make it better than it really is. Therefore, mcg is acting both as a grading unit for mcb and trying to fill a void in both affordability and availability in the world of comic book grading. Special thanks to our comic grading advisor steve borock, president of cbsc comic book certification service, former heritage auctions consignment director and former cgc presidentprimary grader. The primary reason to grade a comic is that there is a direct correlation between the condition of the comic and the value of the book.
Comic book grading has made a major impact on the market since 1997. We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. The comic book price guide for great britain a guide to grading. The most difficult, contentious and eternally frustrating aspect of comic collecting is grading. I just want to get the most out of what is probably my best comic.
Originally produced in conjunction with the first edition of the overstreet comic book grading guide, the owl or overstreets whiteness level card is a comic book grading tool used to evaluate paper color. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. Comic book grading company the affordable and reliable. A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great. Raw grading labels the preprinted labels are colorcoded using the standard 10 pt. Cgc is an independent member of the certified collectibles group of companies. The online form will allow you to easily submit any number of comics, and then you can print a copy of the form to be included in your shipment. Introduction grading definitions scarcity of comics. Though comic book grading has been around for decades, it wasnt until 2000 that a new thirdparty grading service, cgc, burst onto the scene and revolutionized the comic book collecting industry. A spine split of up to 23 the length of the book, a missing back cover provided the front cover is still attached, severe water damage or residue damage.
For books that have a signature witness, they are sealed with a special label. Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. While we cannot guarantee that a book graded twice will receive the same grade each. Take a close look, ideally with a magnifying glass, and make careful notes of any apparent damage, including. This is an exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen.
The grading labels fit on top of backing boards, or can be placed over sleeves. Egs european grading service halo certification pgx professional grading experts vault 60 day comic grading mcg midwest comic grading. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. Fine to very fine fvf back to top general wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc a beautiful book. In general, the more restoration has been performed, the less the comic is worth compared to its apparent grade value. An exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen.
Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading comic. Letter col or letter column a feature in a comic book that prints and sometimes responds to letters written by its readers. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. Comic grading company has a simple and affordable pricing structure without any clubs to join. Note that any defects such as missing pages, loose pages. This book may range anywhere from poor to near mint and there is no obligation to clarify its condition. Packaging tips pgx comics pgx comic grading services. Removal of the tape improves the value and appearance of the book.
Bag and board each individual book and place each book in a toploader for maximum protection. Certified guaranty company, also known as cgc, is a sarasota, florida comic book grading service. In this installment we will take a look at comic book certification services cbcs. It is the first independent and impartial third party grading service for comic books the company was launched in early 2000 and has since gone on to become a notable part of the comic book collecting community. Aaron albert, a collector of and an expert on comic books, has studied, taught, and written about the comic book genre for more than 20 years. We will go into depth with the overstreet grading system. In rare cases, a comic book will look much better than the given grade. Use sturdy cardboard to protect the edges and corners. There are eight major grades in the comic book grading scale. The cover of a comic is what typically takes the most abuse. Pgx utilizes the overstreet comic book grading guide in its definitions of condition. Note that more sophisticated efforts to restore a comic book, such as color restoration or reglossing are often undetectable by amateur graders and sometimes even professionals, but can also have a negative. Though at times controversial, its proven grading system has become a gold standard for those looking to have their collection appraised.
The official overstreet comic book grading guide, 3rd. One of our goals for the new website is to offer an easier online experience for our customers. Ill be bringing a mixed bag of content and hope to meet some fellow comic fans along the way. Who is the most reputable to help get the most value. Grading guide pgx comics pgx comic grading services. The company was founded by alec born and steve borock, the latter earning a reputation in the community while working many years at cgc, and was recently purchased by beckett media. Grading standards are based on the standards laid out in the overstreet grading guide with additional experience gained from our years in the comic industry. As condition evaluators and restoration detection experts, the professionals. Because mint is a standard that is too difficult to define. A fr is the lowest grade a comic book can receive as long as the story and art are complete.
Gp analysis lists us as a cgc the comic book grading authority online auction firm. Comic book grading guide and cheat sheet comicache. Before you ship your comics, please read the shipping information below. Draft comic grading definitions your comments and suggestion welcome as we work to finalize the grading definitions. Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading. The term grade is used to describe what condition a comic book is in. A lightly restored book will be valued higher than a book with heavy restoration in the same apparent grade. Cbgc provides the only easy to use, online comic submission form. Vault grading provides grading, pressing, encapsulation, valuation, and screening services to comic book collectors. I think its fair to grade a book as if a mark like that is not there, then state the condition, but also state something like comic in vf condition, however there is a pen mark vc 15 front cover below hobgoblin, then the potential buyer can make up there own mind. A few weeks ago, i attended a local comic convention here in vancouver and i heard about the new company comic book certification service. As condition evaluators and restoration detection experts, the professionals at pgx have spent decades inspecting multiple copies of a wide variety of comics from every era. Grading is the term used for the assessment of the condition of a particular comic book. Pgx also offers a comparable service and directly competes with cgc in the comic book grading market.
A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade. Comic book grading and restoration may 19, 2016 scott robertson 25 comments comic book grading is one of the most important parts of speculating. A comic book in fr condition may have nonstory elements such as coupons, ad pages, or marvel value stamps cut or torn out of the book. Then, simply register or login to start the submission process. The 2 reputable thirdparty professional grading services both begin with c use the same scale, but not exactly the same criteria, but overstreet has collaborated with them for their newest grading guide. While a casual collector might not need to bother, its vitally important to have your comics graded if you ever plan to sell them, because the value of a comic varies widely depending on the grade it receives. It is always worth reevaluating your own grading criteria from time to time in order to become the more expert. All professional graders, whether grading coins, currency, or comics are charged with placing your items under a microscope see logo to determine their condition and therefore value. These generally have a negative effect on the value.
For any questions, please contact our site administrator. Once restored, a comic s value depends upon several factors. Comic book grading terms i dont really go into the collecting side of comics on this website, but if youre looking to purchase comics online then it is good to know what these terms mean. This plastic case forever seals your comic, unless you destroy the case to extract the comic. Only the slightest bindery or printing defects are allowed. All sellers listing items on this site are required to use this grading system for a standard method understood by all. This company was started by steve borock, the former president of cgc so he definitely has some clout in the industry. As a result of the search i came up with the following site. I just bought a near mint issue of marvel spotlight, with a son of satan story im particularly affectioned to, and the copy would have been better than mine, if not for some production crease, not on the cover, but on the inside pages, which breaks slightly the printed images, but is a lot more annoying. A comic book cover overlaid with a ridged plastic sheet such that the special artwork underneath appears to move when the cover is tilted at different angles perpendicular to the ridges. A fr copy will have virtually no eye appeal and will display major damage.
Cgc census detailed report of the comics, magazines and lobby cards graded by cgc, with the total number of cgccertified examples in each grade. This issue of comic update will define each individual grade followed with an analysis of that grade category. Comic book grading screenshots, images and pictures comic vine. The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a grade on a report card. Our staff of friendly and dedicated employees offer over 250 years of experience in the comic book market place, and look forward to assisting you. A nice comic with a piece up to the size of a standard postage stamp torn from one corner. These records are from an impartial 3rd party source gp analysis. The process is cheap and quick, and nothing is added to the comic, such as japan paper or color touch see the glossary for definitions. Sep 15, 2012 i would rather be more interesting in the overall quality of printing on the insides.
The professionally graded comic books often referred to as slabbed books for sale on this site have been graded by the comic guarantee corporation cgc or one of the other. At mycomicshop, we use the basic grading scale for most of our comics priced up to. This book is actually less helpful than the 2nd edition in my opinion but its a useful tool if you want to do a lot of comic grading. You then hand the book over to them, and it gets sent off to be graded.
Verify cgc certification a database of every comic book certified by cgc with grade and label description. Useful for when you are unsure of the grade of a book or do not wish to grade the comic. We are currently migrating data to our new system and conducting tests, and we are really excited for you to try it out. Comic grading is the process of encasing a comic book in a plastic case. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale. Our company has sat well over 600 world record prices selling vintage comic books at auction.
A grader must comb over a book in very minute detail, looking for myriad imperfections like wear, tears, rounded corners, marks, page color e. This page gives you the basic comic book grading definitions and 10 point scale, and a glossary of grading termslingo. The newest and second most popular comic book grading company. Cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics. Supply the definitions you use to grade your comic books for consideration and possible incorporation into the definitions to appear at this site and you will be considered a charter contributor and receive a free email or web link on this site once the final definitions are published.
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