After buying a few graded comics on ebay and starting my own certified. Its only been within the last 15 years or so that the problem of bias in comic grading was amended, and it took the form of commercial grading. Egs european grading service halo certification pgx professional grading experts vault 60 day comic grading mcg midwest comic grading. Restoration is meant to preserve deteriorating comics, taking an ugly pile of. When grading a comic book, the first thing youll see is the cover. For most modern books, if you cant guarantee the book is a minimum 9. The grade can literally mean a gain or loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars for a particular issue. Professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade misrepresentations by providing a professional assessment of condition and quality. The comic book price guide for great britain a guide to grading.
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. A comic must be relatively complete to be successfully restored. The latter is common to the point of having little or no value. What matters is the condition of the comic before it was stored. A european agent for cgc comics with full advice on submitting your comics and handling the complete service. Comic book grading screenshots, images and pictures comic vine. In this installment we will take a look at comic book certification services cbcs. One last thing, their form estimates a 4 week turn. Take your comics to a local retailer comic store, used book store, antique shop and get a firm offer that includes the buyers estimate for the average grade of the comics in your lot. The newest and second most popular comic book grading company.
The company was founded by alec born and steve borock, the latter earning a reputation in the community while working many years at cgc, and was recently purchased by beckett media. I have been researching the various companies and found four here in the us. Digital imaging for comic books submitted under any of cgc grading and service tiers. This company was started by steve borock, the former president of cgc so he definitely has some clout in the industry. 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. Oct 31, 2017 somewhere along the process my books all got damaged in the same spot. How does the comic book marketplace view cbcsgraded books vs. 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.
This book may range anywhere from poor to near mint and there is no obligation to clarify its condition. 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. Who is the most reputable to help get the most value. Before you ship your comics, please read the shipping information below. Back in 2012 or so, i discovered graded comics from cgc comics guaranty corporation an independent third party that professionally grades a comic book and securely encapsulates said comic in a sealed plastic slab with a label that details key information and the actual grade of the comic whew, thats a mouthful. And in some instances even a second flaw can drop a. Cbgc provides the only easy to use, online comic submission form. Both of these requirements were lacking for much of comic book history, and in the absence of a reliable method of achieving this, access to the culture was stifled and progress was delayed. When handling a book, you need to take some precautions. A grader must comb over a book in very minute detail, looking for myriad imperfections like wear, tears, rounded corners, marks, page color e. A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade. I got tired of using standard labels, cutting, taping, searching, and wasting time. An incomplete book missing pages will have significantly less value then a complete counterpart. Comic grading company has a simple and affordable pricing structure without any clubs to join.
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. Impressive comic books pressing service about us contact us. How to grade your comics comic book grading labels. If you were to receive a grade on a book you purchased from us, after january 1, 2003, that was graded as nm that came in below 8. The offcentered staple by itself is a printing defect. 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. The online form will allow you to easily submit any number of comics, and then you can print a copy of the form to be included in your shipment. It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books, to discover a comic in these grades as they are virtually nonexistent. There are eight major grades in the comic book grading scale. Is cgc really that bad at grading comics comic vine. A thing to remember with cgc, unless one of their people is there to witness the signature, they wont consider it a valid signature series comic.
By purchasing a thirdparty graded comic you accept that mycomicshop is not. The higher the grade, the better the condition the comic book is in. Contact us impressive comic books pressing service. A few weeks ago, i attended a local comic convention here in vancouver and i heard about the new company comic book certification service. Gary kendra, who has been pressing books for six years, explained that pressing offers the opportunity to restore some of the appeal of the book that might have been lost to age or mishandling. However, grading is an inherently subjective process and there. Specialising in back issues and finding that sought after comic, we have a large world wide base of customers and contacts through being in the comic. You then hand the book over to them, and it gets sent off to be graded.
The notes help future purchasers of a comic book because they notate any hidden defects that are factored into the final grade. Grading your comic books guide revel in the detail comics. 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. Comic book grading labels collectors condition comic book. For instance, take a look at a recently featured comic book, action comics 1. Then tell the buyer you will keep his offer in mind. Jun 21, 2017 the term grading refers to finding the condition that a comic book is in. The best grade a comic book can achieve with this page quality is 7. Mar 27, 2020 when grading a comic book, the first thing youll see is the cover. On many brand new books the inks are already unstable and we have seen that the inks by the staples, from the pressure, also gets stuck to the mylar.
Comic book grading labels collectors condition comic. When grading, if you really really care that much then yes, note the staples positions but i think its a bit excessive to get out the ruler and measure the millimeters. How does the comic book marketplace view cbcsgraded books. Grading your own comic books is fun and doesnt take that much time. I have recently heard some poor business practice complaints about cgc so i am hesitant to go with them, even if they are the oldest and best established. A couple of minor flaws might be allowable, but no more.
The most difficult, contentious and eternally frustrating aspect of comic collecting is grading. It contains the grade of your book and a bar code to look up additional information on your comic. Comic grading is the process of encasing a comic book in a plastic case. Also, pressing is a very delicate process, so please be aware that it may add time to the express and next day grading services. The same factors that determine car value likewise govern the value of comic books. Somewhere along the process my books all got damaged in the same spot. 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. Though at times controversial, its proven grading system has become a gold standard for those looking to have their collection appraised.
Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. Clicking a text link or image marked check live prices will take you to ebay. How long would my comic take to get graded through cgc. I just want to get the most out of what is probably my best comic. The term grade is used to describe what condition a comic book is in.
Hello all, im new to the community and have finally got to the point where i want to get some of my comics graded. The best possible existing condition of that comic book. Jul 16, 2014 a few weeks ago, i attended a local comic convention here in vancouver and i heard about the new company comic book certification service. Take a close look, ideally with a magnifying glass, and make careful notes of any apparent damage, including. Useful for when you are unsure of the grade of a book or do not wish to grade the comic. How to grade comic books yourself comic books 101 tutorial. Considered the authority on grading comics, the cgc will take you submitted books, grade them and then seal them in a thick plastic case also known as a slab. Preventative restoration, widely used and accepted by collectors, consists of nonadditive restoration on a book with one or two major defects. 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. Please note that we can only ship up to 30 books in one box so you will need to take this into account when submitting larger orders. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. You can easily identify a slabbed comic because the grades will include the. Furthermore, every cgccertified comic book undergoes.
Pgx was created to meet the growing demand for professional, thirdparty comic book grading. 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. The evolution of grading, using the 10 point scale, diagram of a comic book and definitions. Introducing the collectors condition comic book raw grading labeling system. The owner of the book would never know by looking at it, but once taken out of the holder, would see that the comic book would not just become a lower grade, but that has been ruined. One of the bottom corners was smashed on every book very frustrating. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. We closely monitor and calibrate our staff to maintain adherence to our established standards.
But i can teach you to quickly assess about what your comic book grades at, and. Comic book grading and restoration may 19, 2016 scott robertson 25 comments comic book grading is one of the most important parts of speculating. You can now take pride in showingoff your comic book collection to your friends at home, dealers, at trade shows or in the shop. Similar to light tan to offwhite pages, but the edges of the pages are darker. The term grading refers to finding the condition that a comic book is in. It is considered tamper proof and what you see is what you get.
In rare cases, a comic book will look much better than the given grade. The same as tan to offwhite, but the center of the pages are darker. Therefore, mcg is acting both as a grading unit for mcb and trying to fill a void in both affordability and availability in the world of comic book grading. May 04, 2016 comic book grading part 1 certified guaranty company duration. For books that have a signature witness, they are sealed with a special label. A fr copy will have virtually no eye appeal and will display major damage. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. Cover shows significant wear, and may be loose or even detached at one staple. When you go to buy a car, an antique, house, or other purchases, you want to know what kind of shape it is in.
Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. To grade a comic, you need to take in to consideration a number of factors before. After the fiasco that is known as pgx grading, i think collectors are very cautious about accepting a new grading authorities claim to rigor, transparency and honesty with the marketplace. For collector and dealer alike, it is essential to grade the condition of a comic fairly and accurately in order to determine its true value and worth.
Dark colored pages that exhibit a uniform tint from edges to middle. Discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor to moderate soiling is allowed. A fr is the lowest grade a comic book can receive as long as the story and art are complete. 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. To grade a comic, you need to take in to consideration a number of factors before being able to assess the correct grade. A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great. The company was founded by alec born and steve borock, the latter earning a reputation in the community while working many years at. This plastic case forever seals your comic, unless you destroy the case to extract the comic. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics, original. Comic book grading part 1 certified guaranty company duration. Pressing represents nonrestorative methods of improving the overall appearance of the comic. 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.
The evolution of grading gives the novice an overview about how the comic book hobby got to where we are now in grading. For one, if you have a really valuable book, it offers a form of protection. The grade or condition of a comic book is the most important determination of value outside of the actual title and issue number. Comic book grading company the affordable and reliable. We are a comic seller, comic buyer, grader and advisor and locator of rare comics. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a grade on a report card. In these rare cases, a check mark will be placed on the label by the numerical grade. The grading notes are available here to help a submitter understand how we came to the consensus of the grade on the cbcs label. When grading gets to fine, you start operating on a point system. Grading is the second investigation a comic goes through, this time to evaluate the condition of the comic cover and pages.
Grading your comic books guide revel in the detail. The best way to understand why a specific comic book received a check mark designation is to refer to the graders notes. I have been a comic book fan, collector, publisher pocket comicsmars attacks 1988 and graphic artist for years necessity is the mother of invention. The grade of a comic book is very similar to a report card grade. Consists of accurate highresolution images of the front and back of the book, shown encapsulated in its cgc holder. Furthermore, what a comic book is stored in does not have any bearing on the grade of that comic book. The higher the grade of a comic book the higher the value. In the case of comics in vg or higher grades, the book is already an attractive. An incomplete book missing pages will have significantly less value then a complete. We need to emphasize, however, that not more than two of the above mentioned flaws can appear in the same comic. One of the most important factors is first to count the interior pages. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide.
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