There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easy. The price guide will help you do just that and is an indispensabl. 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. Cgc grading process cgc uses a proven, multistep process to certify comic books, magazines, concert posters and related collectibles. Complete descriptions sell more books grading book. There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easytofollow comic grading guide for the novice.
These films rake in huge bucks at the box office, and the stars in them have padded their bank accounts and become household names. 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. Knowing how to use a price guide is a simple but important thing. You might be familiar with general grading terms like mint mt, very good vg, and poor pr. Oct 02, 2017 when comics are first printed, the edges are crisp and the corners are sharp. Only the slightest bindery or printing defects are allowed. Mint we do not offer to sell comics in mint condition.
May 08, 2016 comic book grading comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. Some collectors consider this the lowest collectible grade because comic books in lesser condition are usually incomplete andor brittle. A limited accumulation of minor binderyprinting defects is allowed. If an entire ad page is missing that would drop the grade to poor.
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 books standard. Make a mistake by sending in a book that isnt in top condition, and that drop in grade can be drastic enough where you could end up losing money. This is nothing fancy, but is the standard grading system for most collectors and comic book shops alike. Storing your comic books correctly can significantly slow down the normal wearandtear process. Collectors condition comic book raw grading labels stickers. Cgc uses a standard 10point grading scale to grade comic books. A comic book is this grade has the appearance of having been carefully handled. 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. Find out how to use a comic book price guide, which is used to determine the monetary value of a comic book. Comic book grading is the most difficult component of the comics collecting business side of the equation. A fine book approaches the condition of as new, but without being crisp. Pressing it applies that grade to the selected comic.
Many of the comics we sell as near mintmint would qualify as mint, but we will not try to separate them as a category. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. Whether youre flipping through the comics in your collection or at the dollar bin at your local comic shop lcs, everyone wonders what their comics are worth. Youve got boxes and boxes of comic books and think theyre all worth big money, and they might be, but not every comic is equal. Everything you need to know about submitting comic books to. Useful for when you are unsure of the grade of a book or do not wish to grade the comic. The condition of the issue has a huge influence on its value. Book club copies must always be designated as such no matter what the condition of the book. Here are tips on how you can grade the condition of your comic books, including info on grading terms and definitions. Mar 02, 2019 the term grade is used to describe what condition a comic book is in. To grade a comic, you need to take in to consideration a number of factors before being able to assess the correct grade.
At the moment, there are two different types of grading that you will find. An a would be considered mint while an f would be given the grade poor. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. Cover is relatively flat with minimal surface wear beginning to show, possibly including some minute wear at corners. Comic book grading mint mt near mint nm very fine vf fine fn very good vg good gd fair fa poor po. Often, due to their condition and how subjective comic book grading can be, you can acquire mid grade books for a significant discount. Sep 20, 2019 this process, also known as slabbing in the comic book community, exists to remove any subjectivity and ambiguity in judging a book s actual condition. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a grade on a report card. Comic book grading comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. This condition applies to perfectly flat comics with supple paper, a glossy cover, and no obvious wear. One or two minor markings on the cover or minor spine roll are allowed. It is very similar to trying to find the state of the car you want to buy or any other purchase you might want to make.
The advantages of the collectors condition comic book raw grading labeling system is. Boulder, colorado somerville, massachusetts clearwater, florida chicago, illinois norfolk, virginia denton, texas mesa, arizona goodyear, arizona. Those comics that do, especially cgc graded books, can attain the highest possible market value that is out there. Creating a comic book is a much more complicated process than people expect. Its especially important for first graders because theyre still learning langua. In all cases, the lack of a dust jacket is noted if the book was issued with one. A standard color coded raw grading tool that is exclusively designed for you the comic book collectorinvestor. Lots of factors, and a healthy dose of subjectivity, are at play and exact grades often vary some from person to person. Landing a role in a comic book movie is a big deal in hollywood today. Subjective interpretation lends disparity between any 2 peoples grades, but the more experience that you have, the better equiped that you are to make qualified decisions about a book s grade. Please note that midtown comics does not grade or consider any type of numbered grading scale when determining a comic books condition. Grading comics 101 a comic bookss condition directly affects its value. How to determine your comic books condition sparkle city.
An exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. Jun 14, 2018 as with most collectibles, with comic books condition is king. The collectors condition is offering free for a limited time only to nostomania members an exclusive opportunity to signup and receive actual working samples of our revolutionary comic book raw grading labels to try out. The real freakin comic book mengreg eide has been selling comic books as his livelihood for over 42 years. Comic book grading definitions the jokers child, inc. Overstreet grading definitions please note that midtown comics does not grade or consider any type of numbered grading scale when determining a comic books condition. These are some of the best stores to scratch your comic book itch year round. Grading standards near mint nm condition very fine vf condition fine fn condition very good vg condition good gd condition fair fr condition. Describes a book that shows some small signs of wear but no tears on either binding or paper. Nostomanias grading guide for comic books as longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Grading, particularly by a reputable source is often used to gauge the value of a particular book, and grading by certain companies that authenticate and certify comics books for condition and. Cgc comic grading ultimate guide to certifying your comics.
Binding copy describes a book in which the pages or leaves are perfect, but the binding is very bad, loose, off, or nonexistent. This book may range anywhere from poor to near mint and there is no obligation to clarify its condition. Jun 28, 2019 grading is the process through which we define the condition of the comic. A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade, like an f or poor, is bad. Cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics. For all of you that the would like to purchase comic books online but are unfamiliar with their grading system, we have set up a quick reference sheet. These describe comics that have no detectable imperfections. Comic book grading the journal of antiques and collectibles. These comics show moderate wear but eye appeal has not been reduced to the point that the comic ceases to be collectible. Collectors condition comic book raw grading labels. So if youre interested in having your comics graded because you want to sell them at a profit, you need to be confident that any new book that you want to have graded will come back a 9. Feb 15, 2021 if your comic is in flawless or nearly flawless condition, it might merit a grade of mint or near mint.
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. Here, you can explore the key stages of the cgc grading process. Many people want their comic book to be better than it is, but few attain this high of a mark. Mar 17, 2017 this grade is the most misused of all the comic book grades.
The fact that the comic is only nearly flat wasnt critical to the grade that particular defect is allowed on books up to very fine in grade. 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. When grading a comic book, common sense must be employed. Find out about the steps the major comic book publishers go through in creating a comic book and how you can too. Higher grading means the better condition, and as with all other things it implies higher value. Jul 14, 2016 if the total number of defects is greater than 5 and less than 14 then you have a mid grade book. These grades describe comics that are in somewhat worse condition. Dick ayers celebrates 64 years as a comic book artist at albany comic con attention nostomania members. Grading comics 101 a comic books s condition directly affects its value. Jul, 20 buying and selling comic books is more complicated than one would expect.
Some comic books dont just have science in them, but actually go so far as to teach science concepts. Actors who played more than one comic book character in their careers. But knowing the condition of the edges helps determine the overall condition of the comic book. Comic book grading part 1 certified guaranty company. The higher the grade of a comic book the higher the value. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale. If your comic is in flawless or nearly flawless condition, it might merit a grade of mint or near mint. A comic book is given a grade depending on its condition.
Generally, this condition represents the average used comic book, one that has not been taken care of. Taking into account the capricious nature of cgc grading, comics in this grade can be expected to grade out with cgc at 6. Comics can be thoughtprovoking, boundarybreaking, emotionally complex, and all the things that books without pictures can be. This is an exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. As a result, we do not guarantee that any specific book will come back as a certain number grade should any customer choose to grade comics ordered from midtown. The overstreet grading standards have been developed over decades with input from comic book dealers, collectors, historians and preservation experts. How far do cgc average grades drop as comics get older. Below are the grading standards that are published in the overstreet comic book price guide. Minor to moderate cover wear apparent, with minor to moderate creases andor dimples.
An accumulation of binderyprinting defects is allowed. How to determine your comic books condition sparkle. Any kid whos ever devoured a title like anyas ghostor invisible emmieor a wrinkle in time. The cgc grading process is designed to ensure consistency, accuracy and integrity while safeguarding your valuable collectibles. The term grade is used to describe what condition a comic book is in. Inks are generally bright with moderate to high reflectivity. The buyer needs to know exactly what condition each book is in, as the slightest imperfection can have a major impact on value. A comic with torn pages and a bent cover is unlikely to get a very good grade. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. The book may have been opened and read, but there are no defects to the book, jacket or pages. Cover may be detached, and inks have lost all reflectivity.
In this multipart series, ill do my best to breakdown everything you need to consider when deciding to grade a book. 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. Everything you need to know about submitting comic books. A comic book in fr condition may have nonstory elements such as coupons, portions of ad pages, or marvel value stamps cut or torn out of the book, but all story and art will be complete. A complete glossary of comic book condition abbreviations. Because mint is a standard that is too difficult to define. If you had a comic selected when brining up the grading wizard, the apply grade button is available. Apr 20, 2019 a comic book is given a grade depending on its condition. 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. 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. 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. Paper is no worse than offwhite to cream, supple and fresh.
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