Like the qwerty keyboard, it doesnt matter if there are better systems out there, this one has been around the longest and is what the vast majority of comic retailers use. We closely monitor and calibrate our staff to maintain adherence to our established standards. Fits the criteria for fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the books appearance by a perceptible amount. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. Many atlas and marvel comics have chipping along the trimmed edges marvel chipping, which reduces the number of surviving high grade copies even more. To decide if your comic book is in mint condition take a look at it and decide if it fits these criteria.
For this reason, high grade copies are extremely rare. Everything you need to know about submitting comic books to. Actors who played more than one comic book character in their careers. Embassy moscow and the russian ministry of sport, supported a bilateral ice hockey exchange program that sent 24 americans 10 boys, 10 girls, and 4 coaches to moscow, russia from october 6 14 for ice hockey diplomacy.
A comic book that has enough positive qualities to make it better. Cbgc has developed a proprietary comic book grading system with over 550 separate grading characteristics, covering over 20 grading categories. Below are the universally recognized comic grade definitions. Comic book grading the journal of antiques and collectibles. 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 uses a proven, multistep process to certify comic books, magazines, concert posters and related collectibles. Our grading methods are based upon factual and measurable observations. However, grading is an inherently subjective process and there will always be small differences in opinion. Overstreet founded the overstreet comic book price guide in 1970. Youth hockey in novogorsk the bureau of educational and cultural affairs sportsunited division, together with u. With rare exception, comic books considered for the grade of 9. Pgx was created to meet the growing demand for professional, thirdparty comic book grading. Some people will state that comic book grading is an art.
Pgx utilizes the overstreet comic book grading guide in its definitions of condition. An accumulation of binderyprinting defects is allowed. The cgc comic book grading scale numerical mint mt 9. Several factors should be considered before a grade is assigned to a comic book magazine. Comic book grading labels raw collectors condition starter kit buy now. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Feb 15, 2021 when grading a comic book, the first thing youll see is the cover. Fits the criteria for fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the book s appearance by a perceptible amount. Jan 14, 2003 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 comic books, robert m.
Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading comic. Minor to moderate cover wear apparent, with minor to moderate creases andor dimples. Comics can be thoughtprovoking, boundarybreaking, emotionally complex, and all the things that books without pictures can be. Apr 20, 2019 this is the rarest grade for comic books, and the highest grade on the comic book grading scale.
Zapkapow comics uses this scale to show raw prices for comics, grading services such as cgc, cbcs, and pgx use the same scale and criteria when slabbing comic books in their protective cases. While cgc is the most popular company that grades and certifies comic books, there are two other companies that offer this service as well. Comic collectors have established standard grades to. The most commonly used grading standard for comics is the overstreet standard one overstreet numerical equivalency grading system. The comics in our premium auctions have been graded by our experienced team. Here, you can explore the key stages of the cgc grading process. An incomplete book missing pages will have significantly less value then a complete counterpart. Stickers on comic books page 2 comic book grading and. 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. Still a desirable copy that has been handled with some care. Grading guide pgx comics pgx comic grading services. Whether youre into marvel or dc, discover information about your favorite characters original lore, nemesis, and alterego. The basic grading scale, also known as letter grades, uses the grades. Its especially important for first graders because theyre still learning langua.
The collectible must have no evidence of any manufacturing or handling defects. Grading factorsbefore a comic book s true value can be assessed, its condition or state of preservation must be determined. The higher the grade of a comic book the higher the value. Back to top fits the criteria for fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the book s appearance by a perceptible amount. Find out about the steps the major comic book publishers go through in creating a comic book and how you can too. This book has nice eyeappeal and deep rich color on this alltimeclassic jerry lewis as superman bizarro cover. This is an exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. Fine fn, overstreet 7455 an exceptional, above average copy that show minor wear but still is relatively flat, clean and glossy with no subscription crease or brown margins. See how your favorites stack up with links to fan sites, lists of favorites, and comparisons of enemies. The number 1 free online comic book community featuring a comic book price guide database, friends, lists, blogs, and more. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. As comic book sales continued to drop during the 1950s, production values were lowered resulting in cheaply printed comics. 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. Any kid whos ever devoured a title like anyas ghostor invisible emmieor a wrinkle in time.
Comic book cgc grading scale captured collectibles. The grading labels fit on top of backing boards, or can be placed over sleeves. A comic falls into this condition range if it meets all the following standards. The cgc grading process is designed to ensure consistency, accuracy and integrity while safeguarding your valuable collectibles.
Authentic signature yellow a comic book signed by someone of significance to the comic, as witnessed by an employee of cbcs, and the signature certified as authentic. Creating a comic book is a much more complicated process than people expect. 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. It quickly established itself as the bible of comic book dealers, collectors, and historians. I have been a comic book fan, collector, publisher pocket comicsmars attacks 1988 and graphic artist for years necessity is the mother of invention. Customer testimonials our customers have some nice things to say about us. If i have a fn book with a sticker on it, and i take. These films rake in huge bucks at the box office, and the stars in them have padded their bank accounts and become household names. Raw grading labels the preprinted labels are colorcoded using the standard 10 pt. In general, the eye appeal is somewhat reduced due to. We have adjusted the grade accordingly on this otherwise vfnm beauty snif snif. May 08, 2016 there are eight major grades in the comic book grading scale. A slightly aboveaverage collectible with several moderate defects.
A comic in fn condition is considered above average but. A fr is the lowest grade a comic book can receive as long as the story and art are complete. The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics, original and. Boulder, colorado somerville, massachusetts clearwater, florida chicago, illinois norfolk, virginia denton, texas mesa, arizona goodyear, arizona. Back to top an aboveaverage but well used comic book. 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.
Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands affordable prices. Comic book grading company the affordable and reliable. For example, fine very fine or abbreviated fn vf denotes that book is. Back to top fits the criteria for fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the books appearance by a perceptible amount. 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.
Fair, good, very good, fine, very fine, near mint to indicate the condition and consequent value of a comic book. Books with brittle pages cannot grade higher than 3. The tenpoint grading scale assigns grades ranging from 10. Cloud 9 grades comics based on the overstreet price guides grading structure in combination with the standards set by cgc. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. Nov 01, 2017 the value of your comic book is heavily dependent on its condition. Very slight browning is acceptable, but there can be no brittleness in paper.
Comic book grading our grading standards are based on the standards laid out in the overstreet grading guide. Dec 19, 2002 grade overall condition of a comic book as measured, presumably, against a standard. The slightest bindery defects andor printing flaws may be seen only upon very close inspection. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it.
Comics listed for sale on comic books today are listed with one or both of two types of grades. These are some of the best stores to scratch your comic book itch year round. A comic in fn condition is considered above average but still displays some wear. To grade a comic, you need to take in to consideration a number of factors before being able to assess the correct grade. An aboveaverage copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean. 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. 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.
The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. Comic book grading definitions the jokers child, inc. Iconic comics grading follows but is not solely based on the overstreet grading guide. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a grade on a report card. 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. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade. The tenpoint grading scaleassigns grades ranging from 10. Cgc grades comic books, magazines, concert posters and lobby cards using a.
Please note that grading will always be an extremely subjective process and there will always be small differences in opinion. Cbcs comic book certification service pgx professional grading experts. Jun 14, 2018 for a more detailed look into each grade, consult the overstreet guide to grading comics, available at comic book shops, bookstores and online vendors. There are a couple ways to accomplish this, but if you are looking for title specific searches, this is what you would do. May 22, 20 comic book grading and restoration issues. A nice collectable copy, that may show a few signs of wear.
The term grade is used to describe what condition a comic book is in. A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade, like an f or poor, is bad. Collectors condition comic book raw grading labels. First, is the use of a forward slash to denote a book as being between grades. Gunfighters 1966 charlton comic books in grade fn or lower. Customer testimonials mailing list join our mailing list for news and sales. Below is a brief explanation of the overstreet grading structure. Even professional grading services like cgc and cbcs acknowledge that the same book may not always rec. 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. Collectors condition comic book raw grading labels stickers.
There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easytofollow comic grading. Authentic signature yellow a comic book signed by someone of significance to the comic, as witnessed by an. One of the most important factors is first to count the interior pages. Ill personally evaluate your comic using realtime market information and provide you with a detailed report via email. 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. And please excuse any shadows or reflections from my cell phone camera. 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. The collectible is nearly indistinguishable from a 10. Therefore it is very important to be able to properly grade your books. We use overstreet price guide grading criteria and descriptive grades e.
A fr copy will have virtually no eye appeal and will display major damage. Feb 23, 2021 the overstreet comic book price guide, published annually, is widely considered a primary authority on the subject of american comic book grading and pricing. Books that have been encapsulated and certified by an objective thirdparty grading service take the guesswork out of the grading process for both collectors and dealers. All comics are fn or better in the absence of other grading indication. While there is a standard industryrecognized grading system in place, it is ultimately a qualitative process. I got tired of using standard labels, cutting, taping, searching, and wasting time. In all comic books, the better the condition, the more desirable and valuable the book. Blumberg, has set the standard for grading the condition of comic books. The basic grading scale, also known as letter grades, uses the grades from near mint highest to poor lowest. At arms length it should look nearly new, but on closer inspection. Take a close look, ideally with a magnifying glass, and make careful notes of any apparent damage, including. Blunted corners are increasingly common, as is minor to moderate.
A comic book which looks much better than the given grade will receive a checkmark current or asterisk retired placed on the label by the numerical grade. A larager amount of tape is also allowed in this grade. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. Here are tips on how you can grade the condition of your comic books, including info on grading terms and definitions.
There are eight major grades in the comic book grading scale. Landing a role in a comic book movie is a big deal in hollywood today. Everything you need to know about submitting comic books. The most accepted terms and grading method are published in the overstreet comic book grading guide. Some comic books dont just have science in them, but actually go so far as to teach science concepts. What are the comic book grades sparkle city comics. An otherwise fn copy with a centerfold loose or detached at one staple drops to vg. Mar 02, 2019 the term grade is used to describe what condition a comic book is in. You can expect accurate grading, fast, secure shipping and the highest standards in customer service each and every day. How to determine your comic books condition sparkle. For the similar 10point scale used by cgc trading cards, click on trading cards above. See condition and whiteness level see also msts grading faq grease pencil a wax based marker commonly used to write on cardboard.
Cgc grades comic books, magazines, concert posters and lobby cards using a highly accurate 10point grading scale. Books in this grade are almost always creased, scuffed, abraded and soiled, but readable. Even professional grading services like cgc and cbcs acknowledge that the same book. May be loose or detached at one staple if comic is otherwise vf or better. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a g.
1274 986 89 1263 71 110 962 985 20 493 214 690 598 1166 159 170 1376 86 1430 1243 1097 460 108 898 1052 51 1296 274 704 370 357 17 742 320 952