Everything you need to know about submitting comic books. 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. Additionally numeric grades now correspond with these grades on a 10 point scale. Im a fan of science fiction and even science fiction comic books, like iron man and fantastic four, but its the rare comic book which a. Another 829,255 comics have been signed in front of a cgc witness for the cgc signature series and have an average condition of 9. These films rake in huge bucks at the box office, and the stars in them have padded their bank accounts and become household names. 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. One way comic books are graded is on the basic grading scale, which runs from mint the highest, through near mint, very fine, fine, very good, good, fair, and poor the lowest.
With each number, move one notch down the grading scale. Easy grader the free and fastest easy grader for teachers. The seven point grading scale is the scale used by many colleges and college prep high schools to grade students academic work. Then they grade them and return them to you in a sealed bag with an official score. It doesnt publicly release how it grades its comics, but as it has graded over 5 million comics since its inception, there are plenty of examples in different grades to gauge a book s standard. The higher the grade of a comic book the higher the value. The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics. This comic book garnered the highest ever grade for the issue a 9. I thought i knew a lot about grading but he taught me things i had no clue about. One of the most important factors is first to count the interior pages. Comic book grading the journal of antiques and collectibles.
Comic book grading guide and cheat sheet comicache. Collectors condition comic book raw grading labels stickers. A copy usually in poor to fair condition that includes all text presented in a legible fashion. Long time collector and comic book enthusiast looking to share my collecting hobby with like minded collectors. Though at times controversial, its proven grading system has become a gold standard for those looking to have their collection appraised. While the overstreet comic book price guide helps you decide what comics to look for, this new, extensively updated edition of the overstreet comic book grading guide teaches you the telltale signs of condition that are the keys to real collectibility. Actors who played more than one comic book character in their careers.
We hope this has enlightened you as to what basic criteria we use and train our. Apr 20, 2019 the comics guaranty company, or cgc, is a business that grades collectible comic books for a fee. Cgc grades comic books, magazines, concert posters and lobby cards using a highly accurate 10point grading scale. We spend a lot of care and atention to the grading of comics and take this very serious. The advantages of the collectors condition comic book raw grading labeling system is. The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. Make grading easy by generating grades based on the number of possible questions. Feb 15, 2021 if your comic is in flawless or nearly flawless condition, it might merit a grade of mint or near mint. An incomplete book missing pages will have significantly less value then a complete counterpart. The term grade is used to describe what condition a comic book is in. The average cgc universal grade for comic books from 1962 is 5. Here are tips on how you can grade the condition of your comic books, including info on grading terms and definitions.
By requesting prescreen and specifying a minimum grade on your invoice, you will be charged grading fees only for comic books that meet or exceed your specified minimum grade. If a different grading scale is needed, then adjust the grade scale to reflect different levels. Using the 10 point grading scale in the comic book investmentcollectable field, the grading labels come in three level grade range. Jun 28, 2019 a 10point grading scale defines the evaluation of comics. Comics get marked depending on multiple factors, from gem mint at 10. The cgc uses 25 different definitions to label the status of the comic.
His videos are well worth your time, especially if you are considering investing in comics or sending comics to cgc to be graded. Comic book grading standards your new and collectible comic. Cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics. A grade is lowered for eve the seven point grading scale is the scale used by many colleges and college prep hi. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. Included in the report will be current market conditions specific to your issue including the last sale price, 90 day andor 12 month average selling price, the expected profit should you decide to sell your comic after grading and more. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on.
Indepth look at the new cgc comic book restoration. How to submit books to cgc stepbystep process comic. Cgc graded books comics to astonish, comics, magic cards. For any questions, please contact our site administrator. The comic book landscape is as diverse as any other medium when it comes to subject matter, narrative, and artistry often times the easiest way. Choose any comic in comicbase, then use the comics menus grade comic command to pull up the grading wizard. In this video i highlight the stepbystep process to submit comic books to cgc for grading.
The price guide will help you do just that and is an indispensabl. In it, i walk you step by step through 27 comics at every grade level from 0. We at covrprice like to take the following approach in assessing flaws and defects when determining a fair grade of your book. Sep 16, 2014 i found this guy on you tube and he really knows his stuff. Ill personally evaluate your comic using realtime market information and provide you with a detailed report via email. For the similar 10point scale used by cgc trading cards, click on trading cards above. Although we do a detailed grading of our products, grading will remain a subjective exersize. In general, the more restoration has been performed, the less the comic is worth compared to its apparent grade value. The grading labels fit on top of backing boards, or can be placed over sleeves. Find out how to use a comic book price guide, which is used to determine the monetary value of a comic book. Knowing how to use a price guide is a simple but important thing. See more ideas about comic book grading, comics, lesson. Using the 10 point grading scale in the comic book investmentcollectable field, the grading labels come in three level grade range sheets of 35 labels of sequential label grades per sheet. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale.
There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easy tofollow comic grading guide for the novice. Ill be bringing a mixed bag of content and hope to meet some fellow comic fans along the way. Cgc uses a standard 10point grading scale to grade comic books. Indepth look at the new cgc comic book restoration grading. Its especially important for first graders because theyre still learning langua. Once restored, a comic s value depends upon several factors. In the rare case where the buyer may be in disagreement, at least they may form this opinion based on the scans and make their purchase based on their own grading opinion.
However, if youre looking at top quality specimens, its good to remember that a certified 10 comic book is equivalent to a 70 grade coin. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Over 200 fullcolor photographs of every major comic book defect to help you easily find which grade reflects your own comic books. The comic book industry tenpoint grading scale ranges from 10. To grade a comic, you need to take in to consideration a number of factors before being able to assess the correct grade. Gradecalculates easy grader is built for teachers by teachers. This is an exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. Reading is important for kids of all ages, whether theyre reading on their own or hearing stories from teachers, parents and the other adults in their lives. Since 1970, the name overstreet has come to symbolize a vast array of intricate knowledge about american comic books. 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. The comics guaranty company, or cgc, is a business that grades collectible comic books for a fee.
The basic letter grade scale for comic books can be defined in simplified terms as follows. Thus, a quick and easy conversion between various numerical grading scales can be achieved. The learn to grade comic books course is the most comprehensive course of its kind. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. Then, just select which defects it has from dropdown menus and it will tell you what condition the comic is in. 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 books condition. May 08, 2016 there are eight major grades in the comic book grading scale.
This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide. Comic book grading keys to accurate results youtube. Name grades are printed in black ink on clear gloss seethrough labels that are easy peel, adhere and fit over the numerical graded square area of the cgc, cbcs and pgx slabbed comic book to match, so it doesnt obscure the numerical grade. Raw grading labels the preprinted labels are colorcoded using the standard 10 pt. 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 lightly restored book will be valued higher than a book with heavy restoration in the same apparent grade. About this time 1992 the first overstreet grading guide had been released using the now defunct 100 point system, this book was a great attempt to resolve some of the issues that were constantly coming up between the old timer with the older looser and less defined grading standards and the newbees that wanted nice books and were not willing. Learn what is the comic book rating system and how a comic book is graded with cbcs comics grading guidelines. If you have a comic book collection or youre thinking about starting one, you need this book. Comic book grading mint mt near mint nm very fine vf fine fn very good vg good gd fair fa poor po.
This condition applies to perfectly flat comics with supple paper, a glossy cover, and no obvious wear. Collectors will be typically less inclined to part with a rare book easily. Jun 06, 2002 100 point numerical grade so you can rest assured that all grading scales in common use will be assigned to the appropriate nomenclature grade. The overall eye appeal and beauty of the comic book must be taken into account along with its technical flaws to arrive at the appropriate grade. Fine to mint to the inexperienced grader, this range of grades will all look the same essentially like new despite having one or more minor defects. These grading services assign grades on the same tenpoint grading scale used by mycomicshop. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. Grades near mint nm very fine vf fine f very good vg good g fair f poor p. Using the standard grade as set up in the overstreet comic book grading guide and the 10 point grading system it corresponds with, the grades are as follows. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade. All the comics we receive that are in exceptional condition fall into this category. Find out about the steps the major comic book publishers go through in creating a comic book and how you can too. Now the guide has 6 line listings, as terminology has expanded over the years.
Below is a brief explanation of the overstreet grading structure. Cgc comic grading ultimate guide to certifying your comics. The basic grading scale, also known as letter grades, uses the grades from near mint highest to poor lowest nm near mint. This book has been requested a few times and i finally got aroun. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it.
There are a couple ways to accomplish this, but if you are looking for title specific searches, this is what you would do. It is not the practice, however, to use numbers other than those in this scale so you wouldnt see a book graded 6. Comics can be thoughtprovoking, boundarybreaking, emotionally complex, and all the things that books without pictures can be. Exhaustive descriptions of primary and split grades give you the right grade quickly. With the official overstreet comic book grading guide, you will learn all the information youll ever need to accurately grade your comic books. Name grades are printed in black ink on clear gloss seethrough labels that are easypeel, adhere and fit over the numerical graded square area of the cgc, cbcs and pgx slabbed comic book to match, so it doesnt obscure the numerical grade. In the case of comics in vg or higher grades, the book is already an attractive.
Gemstone publishing, inc the overstreet comic book grading. Top websites about examples comic book grading tool. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a g. Some comic books dont just have science in them, but actually go so far as to teach science concepts. Statistics are easy to calculate with the cgc census but may be harder to interpret or to apply to the comic book industry as a whole. You can easily identify a slabbed comic because the grades will include the name of the grading service, such as cgc 9. Any kid whos ever devoured a title like anyas ghostor invisible emmieor a wrinkle in time. This 10point comic book grading scale is widely used now and you will often see people grade by simply putting the number value on the book with the classic descriptive grade. 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. While the overstreet comic book price guide helps you decide what comics to look for, this new, extensively updated edition of the overstreet comic book grading guide teaches you the telltale signs of condition that are the.
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