Comic book grading definitions

To grade a comic, you need to take in to consideration a number of factors before being able to assess the correct grade. The evolution of grading, using the 10 point scale, diagram of a comic book and definitions. Though at times controversial, its proven grading system has become a gold standard for those looking to have their collection appraised. Knowing the comic book grading terminologies and meanings will lead you to become conscious and more careful when handling comics. Nov 01, 2017 the value of your comic book is heavily dependent on its condition.

Comic grading company has a simple and affordable pricing structure without any clubs to join. The standard comic book grading system that is widely used today is the one developed in the official overstreet comic book grading guide. Back to top an exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. I have been a comic book fan, collector, publisher pocket comicsmars attacks 1988 and graphic artist for years necessity is the mother of invention. 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. Once restored, a comic s value depends upon several factors. Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading. 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. Take a close look, ideally with a magnifying glass, and make careful notes of any apparent damage, including.

Description universal blue a standard comic book universal blue no grade ng a comic book that is in such poor condition that cgc will not give it a grade, but merely verify that it is an actual original comic book. You can easily identify a slabbed comic because the grades will include the name of the grading service, such as cgc 9. 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. An exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. While there is a standard industryrecognized grading system in place, it is ultimately a qualitative process. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide.

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. The book pretty much summarizes all the checking points in determining the value of a comic book, and provides extensive comic book grading scale and descriptions for each grading level. 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. Raw grading labels the preprinted labels are colorcoded using the standard 10 pt. Not with most grading services though, perfect means perfect. Please note that midtown comics does not grade or consider any type of numbered grading scale when determining a comic books condition.

A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade, like an f or poor, is bad. In general, the more restoration has been performed, the less the comic is worth compared to its apparent grade value. We will go into depth with the overstreet grading system. Very fine to near mint vfnm back to top general wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc a beautiful book. Mint condition the comic is perfect in every way and has no damage or blemishes. There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easy. The term grade is used to describe what condition a comic book is in. I got tired of using standard labels, cutting, taping, searching, and wasting time. In these rare cases, a check mark will be placed on the label by the numerical grade. 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. We closely monitor and calibrate our staff to maintain adherence to our established standards. The most accepted terms and grading method are published in the overstreet comic book grading guide.

A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great. 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. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. 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. Below are the universally recognized comic grade definitions. Introduction grading definitions scarcity of comics. From movie and concert posters to gaming to cosplay to star wars and beyond, we. These grading services assign grades on the same tenpoint grading scale used by mycomicshop. Certified guaranty company, also known as cgc, is a sarasota, florida comic book grading service. Fits the criteria for very good but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the books appearance by a perceptible amount. 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. Comic book grading company the affordable and reliable. Bends, folds, or dents that warp the shape or surface of the book, but dont affect the color. Comic book grading has made a major impact on the market since 1997.

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. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. The overstreet guide to grading comics latest edition. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale. Fits the criteria for very good but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the book s appearance by a perceptible amount.

Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. That way, anyone can compare their raw or slabbed books to consistent grading standards. 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. The same general ideas apply when dealing with comic books and the cgc grading scale. Because mint is a standard that is too difficult to define. Terms and definitions in comic book grading if there is one important thing you should know immediately, then comic book grading comes first. Spoton grading systems, or sgs, is a series of short, multiple choice questions enabling you to grade your comic books onthespot and accurately, within seconds. Due to the nature of paper, discoloration is expected over time. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a grade on a report card.

The comic book price guide for great britain a guide to grading. The accepted grades of condition for comics are listed below. It is always worth reevaluating your own grading criteria from time to time in order to become the more expert. The overstreet guide to grading comics includes the 10point grading system including new grades 0. Cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics. Grading guide pgx comics pgx comic grading services. A highly consistent, descriptive and illustrated extensively grading guide on the web which will be a free service to the collecting community. 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. Grade overall condition of a comic book as measured, presumably, against a standard. When you submit a comic book to cgc, it is inspected before grading actually begins. Grading comics in this way is perhaps more applicable to american comics as they have the distinct advantage of all being more or less the same size. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes.

As a result of the search i came up with the following site. Be sure to browse our site and see what else we have to offer. The emblem of the cca is a white stamp in the upper right hand corner of comics dated after february 1955. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. For books that have a signature witness, they are sealed with a special label. 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. Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading this is by far the largest glossary of comic book gra. Comic book grading labels collectors condition comic book. Removal of the tape improves the value and appearance of the book.

The higher the grade of a comic book the higher the value. You then hand the book over to them, and it gets sent off to be graded. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. The best way to understand why a specific comic book received a check mark designation is to refer to the graders notes. Spoton grading systems is compiling the webs largest first appearance database. Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading comic. The value of your comic book is heavily dependent on its condition. 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.

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. Pgx utilizes the overstreet comic book grading guide in its definitions of condition. They tackle many topics including the history of grading, definitions, grading non traditional comics, third party graders, restoration, preservation, and more. 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. This issue of comic update will define each individual grade followed with an analysis of that grade category. The grading labels fit on top of backing boards, or can be placed over sleeves. The best possible existing condition of that comic book. What book did that officer mulligan first appear in. 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. If your interested in viewing a comparison of page. Comic book grading definitions classic comics, inc. When grading a comic book, the first thing youll see is the cover. However, grading is an inherently subjective process and there.

Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. For one, if you have a really valuable book, it offers a form of protection. Before we go over grading a book, there are a few definitions that you will need to know as they are typically mentioned when describing the grading process. In rare cases, a comic book will look much better than the given grade. 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.

We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. A lightly restored book will be valued higher than a book with heavy restoration in the same apparent grade. Cover shows significant wear, and may be loose or even detached at one staple. Cpg has researched the definitions and terminology used in our hobby and determined that. 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. Mar 27, 2020 when grading a comic book, the first thing youll see is the cover. This plastic case forever seals your comic, unless you destroy the case to extract the comic. 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. A comic that has not been slabbed is sometimes referred to as a raw comic. Only the slightest bindery or printing defects are allowed. In general, cgc is set up the same way as ngc and pcgs as far as the grading process. When considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value.

The book is very informative and i think its a must have for collectors. Sgs grades are comparable to the third party grading companies such as cgc, cbcs, etc. Furthermore, every cgccertified comic book undergoes. Brand gemstone publishing barcode 9781603601238 editing. 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.

This page gives you the basic comic book grading definitions and 10 point scale, and a glossary of grading termslingo. A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade. The overstreet guide to grading comics 2016 edition. The evolution of grading gives the novice an overview about how the comic book hobby got to where we are now in grading.

Draft comic grading definitions your comments and suggestion welcome as we work to finalize the grading definitions. Comic grading is the process of encasing a comic book in a plastic case. 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. While the overstreet comic book price guide helps you learn about comic values, this third book in our new how to line teaches you the importance of condition a factor that is often the key to real collectability and how to grade accurately the overstreet guide to grading comics includes. Discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor to moderate soiling is allowed. Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. Professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade misrepresentations by providing a professional assessment of condition and quality. Comic book grading labels collectors condition comic. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular books condition.