Back to top an aboveaverage copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with outstanding eye appeal. Abbreviated as vf beware if any older comic book is graded above this mark. Cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics. Comic collectors have established standard grades to describe the condition of. A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great. Cbgc has developed a proprietary comic book grading system with over 550 separate grading characteristics, covering over 20 grading categories. If you are serious about learning how to grade comics, i have to recommend the overstreet comic book grading guide. We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics, original and animation art. Our company has sat well over 600 world record prices selling vintage comic books at auction. Very fine vfn very slight wear beginning to show around the staples and stress points owing to the comic being opened and read carefully two or three times and stored away with some care. Comic book grading has made a major impact on the market since 1997. Join cgc to get direct submission privileges, 247 order tracking and more.
The grade can literally mean a gain or loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars for a particular issue. Gp analysis lists us as a cgc the comic book grading authority online auction firm. It looks the current market is ripe for a new challenger like cbcs. Grading is an inherently subjective process and there will always be small differences in opinion. 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. 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. In this installment we will take a look at comic book certification services cbcs. For example, fine very fine or abbreviated fnvf denotes. Fits the criteria for very fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the books appearance by a perceptible amount. 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. This is an attempt to show the inexperienced collector a rough idea of what constitutes good, fine, near mint etc using 90s amazing spiderman comics as a.
Bends, folds, or dents that warp the shape or surface of the book, but dont affect the color. These records are from an impartial 3rd party source gp analysis. Ive talked to collectors about slabbing comics and it seems there is a lot of discontent out there, directed primarily towards cgc. With rare exception, comic books considered for the grade of 9. Collectors condition comic book raw grading labels. The overstreet guide to grading comics 2016 edition. If exceptional in other areas, could have eight of the following at least three must be 116 or less in size and the remaining must be must be 18 in size or less, small spine stress, slight corner blunting, miniscule tear. Due to the nature of paper, discoloration is expected over time. For american comics, most of the cover lustre still remains and for british comics the cover should be flat, uniform creamy or offwhite with only a few very minor stress creases at the spine. A small accumulation of minor binderyprinting defects is allowed. Comic book collectors are picky, and since there is so much money at stake at the higher grades, even the almost imperceptible flaw takes away from the condition. Comic book grading company the affordable and reliable. Very fine vf back to top general wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc.
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. Consider using the list vf and nm comics as vfnm option when selling. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. Learn the basics of grading comic books so you can price yours accordingly. First, is the use of a forward slash to denote a book as being between grades. Most novice near mints end up being very fine at best. Im all for finding a great buy at a show or convention but i always worry that ill find some defect after the fact. In recent years, grading criteria have become even tighter, especially in silver and bronze age books, due to their higher survival rate. We will go into depth with the overstreet grading system. Cream to offwhite paper that appears white or offwhite in the middle with aged outer edges, or exhibits an overall aged color that is more close to brown than white. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. 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.
Vault grading provides grading, pressing, encapsulation, valuation, and screening services to comic book collectors. The best way to understand why a specific comic book received a check mark designation is to refer to the graders notes. Of course, when the newmen arrive, they believe that it was ripclaw who beat on their teammate and a fight ensues. Cbcs looks like an ambitious company as it is set to challenge the undisputed king of comic book grading services, cgc. 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.
The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. Mint mt near mint nm very fine vf fine fn very good vg good gd fair fa poor po this comic book grading scale has been used for several decades, during which time the scale has been expanded to more accurately describe a book s condition. I have been thinking a lot lately about grading some of my more valuable comic books. Newly updated, the overstreet guide to grading comics includes the 10point grading system, as well as exhaustive descriptions of primary and split grades, examples of each grade with more than 200 fullcolor images in all, articles on storage, preservation, and restoration, a look at the independent, thirdparty grading companies, and much more. An aboveaverage copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with outstanding eye appeal. Moreover, books listed as ungraded on atomic avenue can not be returned for. 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. Automated matching of wantlist and inventory items.
Comic book hot picks for 3420, cgc comment and some new vintage pick ups duration. There are grades in between these basic grades such as fine very fine, but we want this to be a general easytofollow comic grading guide for the novice. The company was founded by alec born and steve borock, the latter earning a reputation in the community while working many years at. Some people will state that comic book grading is an art. Lot of 14 vintage dc comic books comics original nice condition. A limited accumulation of minor binderyprinting defects is allowed. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book.
Our grading standards are based on the standards laid out in the overstreet grading guide. The highest grade any book can receive is a 10, which is labeled gem mint, or simply mint. This grade applies to the majority of the books in the set. Take a close look, ideally with a magnifying glass, and make careful notes of any apparent damage, including.
In rare cases, a comic book will look much better than the given grade. Something wild, script by eric stephenson plot, script. How to grade your comics comic book grading labels. This is a mustown key issue for any comic book collector. Comic book grading has evolved over the past several decades from a much looser interpretation of standards in the beginning to the very tight professional scrutiny in use by the market today. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Comic grading company has a simple and affordable pricing structure without any clubs to join.
Comic book grading the basics of grading comics superworld. We are currently migrating data to our new system and conducting tests, and we are really excited for you to try it out. Even professional grading services like cgc, cbcs, and pgx acknowledge that the same book may not always receive the same grade if it is. 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. In most cases, this means that the book is ineligible for grading because its missing pages or otherwise incomplete. Useful for when you are unsure of the grade of a book or do not wish to grade the comic. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands affordable prices. There are eight major grades in the comic book grading scale. One area we focused on is the way you submit comics and access your account information. This book may range anywhere from poor to near mint and there is no obligation to clarify its condition.
The best possible existing condition of that comic book. Back to top fits the criteria for very fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the books appearance by a perceptible amount. In these rare cases, a check mark will be placed on the label by the numerical grade. One of our goals for the new website is to offer an easier online experience for our customers. Cover is relatively flat with minimal surface wear beginning to show, possibly including some minute wear at corners. For instance, take a look at a recently featured comic book, action comics 1.
Get the best deals on ungraded comic book collections when you shop the largest online selection at. Grading your comic books guide revel in the detail. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. The grade or condition of a comic book is the most important determination of value outside of the actual title and issue number. Our grading methods are based upon factual and measurable observations. When grading a comic book, the first thing youll see is the cover. Cover pencils by jeff matsuda, inks by jonathan sibal.
Fine comics in fine are priced significantly less than those in very fine and for good reason. Grading is the term used for the assessment of the condition of a particular comic book. Choose a tier based on comic value and turnaround time. This is such a great investment comic in any condition, so grab yours today. Safely package your comics for secure shipment to cgc. Jeff matsuda plot, pencils by jeff matsuda, inks by jonathan sibal. An attractive collectible with a moderate defect or an accumulation of small defects.
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