How to price classic illustrated comics our pastimes. A grade represents the condition of a book in a way that collectors can understand. Hi, i cant find any definitive answer regarding stains on comics and cgc grading. Bowed a condition of the covers or boards of a hard cover book. Sometimes books with water damage have a strong, musty odor. 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. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. In rare cases, a comic book will look much better than the given grade. Brittle almost to the point of turning to dust with a touch, and usually incomplete. While we cannot guarantee that a book graded twice will receive the same grade.
Comic grading is the process of encasing a comic book in a plastic case. Submit your books pgx comics pgx comic grading services. Does it make a difference if its on the back cover. It costs a bit more than a bag and board, but prevents the book from damage or creasing if it is dropped and keeps the pages from bending. Only the very lightest of humidity yellowing foxing would be allowed in this grade. Unfortunately, signs of water damage is evident as light stain, and despite having been. The best possible existing condition of that comic book. At the nostalgia zone we have an established process for grading comics that interprets the usual price guides conservatively. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide.
In this video youll see the before and after of some extreme cases of what comic book pressing can and cant fix. The pressing most certainly improved the appearance of this low now midgrade comic. Bowed covers may turn inward toward the leaves or outward away from the leaves. Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. The comic book price guide for great britain a guide to grading. I say may as the grading process is not a checklist. Tolkien 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.
We closely monitor and calibrate our staff to maintain adherence to our established standards. 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. Prescreen we screen comic books to make sure they are good candidates for our pressing services. For books that have a signature witness, they are sealed with a special label. A spine split of up to 23 the length of the book, a. The best way to understand why a specific comic book received a check mark designation is to refer to the graders notes. Generally causes structural damage or damage to ink. How to grade your comics comic book grading labels. Water damage, glue, paints, or indelible dyes may cover the interiors andor cover as well. Before you ship your comics, please read the shipping information below. Comic staining water damage comic book grading and. When grading gets to fine, you start operating on a point system. We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry.
Oftentimes books that are wrinkled due to water damage can also be repaired. Comic book pressing is an affordable way to remove many physical defects such. Again, the severity of the water damage dictates the grade it will receive. When grading a comic book, the first thing youll see is the cover. Join us there is a dedicated facebook group called kaptainmyke comic book pressing for anyone to join and contribute ideas open for discussion. While a casual collector might not need to bother, its vitally important to have your comics graded if you ever plan to sell them, because the value of a comic varies widely depending on the grade it receives. Major flaws such as water damage, significant paper tears, and missing. Comic book pressing and spine roll fix rocket comics.
This page gives you the basic comic book grading definitions and 10 point scale, and a glossary of grading termslingo. 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. If a comic has minor water damage, but is otherwise in excellent condition, ill usually grade it vgf, but im sure ive rationalized myself into a higher grade here and there. Theoretically, the higher the grade of the book, the more desirable the book will be. Covers may have been defaced with paints, varnishes, glues, oil, indelible markers or dyes, and may have suffered heavy water damage. 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. Examine the physical condition of each classics illustrated comic book. It can also be propped up for display like a picture frame. I researched the overstreet grading guide and the first mention of water stains was in a 1.
Paper quality both cover and pages if exceptional in other areas, slight change of paper color is allowed light yellowing paper at worst. Dry cleaning is a process used to remove dirt and pencil marks from both the interior and cover a comic book, particularly in the white areas of the comic. Many of the early strip reprint comics, as well as many modern graphic novels and collections, were published with hard covers and dust jackets, which can also suffer damage common to comic book covers and may even be absent on some copies if removed by a previous owner or lost. Can also have extensive amateur repairs such as laminated covers. We are open during this difficult time but we are running on a different schedule to best protect everyone. About the best comic book store online or anywhere else. Somewhere along the process my books all got damaged in the same spot. But if a comic has been wet and has dried out nice and clean, we classify it as a good. I find the grading system posted by shark in the how to grade comic books thread useful when im grading books. How can i tell if my comic is a good candidate for grading. 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.
We allow extensive water damage in the good category. Pressing represents nonrestorative methods of improving the overall appearance of the comic. Some comics just need a little love and a cleaning. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. Books that have seen water damage or just even some humidity may have.
If its moderate or slight enough it could still reach an 8. Ccs offers its services in conjunction with certified guaranty company cgc, a leading thirdparty comic book grading service, creating a streamlined process. Apr 10, 2016 comic book pressing and spine roll fix rocket comics. Damage to a comic book that was caused by gnawing rats andor mice. The pages were swelled and the front and back covers were wavy and riddled with wrinkles. How to restore comics fixing damaged comic books, repair. A tiny, near invisible water stain is allowable in this grade.
The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics, original. The cgc comic shop, we are a buyer and seller of comics, cgc submission center, professional grader and valuer,cgc european agent, comic locating service. The most difficult, contentious and eternally frustrating aspect of comic collecting is grading. Cgc is the most trusted authority on third party grading of comic books since 2000. The condition generally results from a rapid change in. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or. In this video youll see the before and after of some extreme cases of what comic book pressing can. 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.
Insurance is required on all orders and should be purchased based upon the fair market value of your books as determined by you. Egs follows the guidelines overstreet comic book grading guide in the evaluation of its comic books, as well as for definitions of condition as condition evaluation and restoration detection experts, egs inspects a wide variety of comics from every era. Water stains, foxing, or other signs of environmental damage are not allowed. Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. A fr copy will have virtually no eye appeal and will display major damage. A guide to book conditions the hobbit first edition by j. 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. We offers both cgc and cbcs submission services as a convenient way of getting your books graded and encapsulated.
Corners got wet and curled but majority of book was dry. Damage that occurs to a book when sharp pressure is exerted. Comic book grading company the affordable and reliable. Paper quality both cover and pages if exceptional in other areas, slight change of paper color is allowed light yellowing paper at. In these rare cases, a check mark will be placed on the label by the numerical grade. But for collection purposes, comic book restoration continues to be a congenial option for collectors. If the water damage is severe enough it could warrant a 1. Impressive comic books pressing service about us contact us.
This is an exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. Josh avery works with the industry leading cgc and cbcs to offer a discount to his customers. Cbcs comic book certification service grading company by steveinthecity apr, 2020 23. Why would water damage prevent you from having a book pressed. This plastic case forever seals your comic, unless you destroy the case to extract the comic. Wave damage database sorted by grade date microchamber paper mcp outline from pressure. One of the bottom corners was smashed on every book very frustrating. 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. A fr is the lowest grade a comic book can receive as long as the story and art are complete. Independent grading companies such as cgccbcs do not consider. Useful for when you are unsure of the grade of a book or do not wish to grade the comic.
This is because comic book grading depends mainly on a comic books original condition. A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great. Pgx was created to meet the growing demand for professional, thirdparty comic book grading. Grading opinion about mold and stains newbie comic collecting. 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, mold, and paper deterioration due to oxidation. However with that said, an argument could be said for a 4. First, we check to make sure the back issue comic is complete, containing all pages and any possible premiums such as stickers, 3d glasses, posters, etc. How to store a comic book collection like a superhero.
Take a close look, ideally with a magnifying glass, and make careful notes of any apparent damage, including. 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. Grading isnt a simple scale where you subtract x points for water damage, x points for missing page, etc. I realize a fair amount of water damage or staining will drop a grade to fine or vg. Cbgc provides the only easy to use, online comic submission form. Comic book certification service grading company by. Grading is the term used for the assessment of the condition of a particular comic book. Whether youre a comic collector or investor, keeping your comic books in. Many collectors wont buy a book thats been damaged by water. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Less severe than mildewfull color runningbadly damaged pages.
When should a collector consider having a comic book pressed. Then, simply register or login to start the submission process. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. 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. Sean, scott and sean get into a box that turns out to be, once upon a time anyway, a damp squib. We have an industryproven system in place that emphasizes an attention to detail in every book we grade. 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. 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. Bends, folds, or dents that warp the shape or surface of the book, but dont affect the color. Also, pressing is a very delicate process, so please be aware that it may add time to the express and next day grading services. If exceptional in other areas, could have a 14 bit of off center printing.
Most comic books in this grade have been sufficiently degraded to the point where there is little or no collector value. Minor flaws such as small paper tears, worn binding, and faded coloring will slightly affect the value of the comic book. But what about a small faint stain or very light water mark. The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. Pressing gallery the comic doctor comic book pressing. Oct 31, 2017 somewhere along the process my books all got damaged in the same spot. Defects that an experienced presser can repair include bends, folds, indentations and creases that do not break the color of the book. An accumulation of binderyprinting defects is allowed. Major flaws such as water damage, significant paper tears, and missing pages will greatly affect the value of the comic book. Before a comic books value is determined, the comic book needs to have an accurate grade assigned to it. The total area of the book damaged is what determines the grade of the book. Other descriptors used in conjunction with the above grading scale. Avery comic pressing comic book pressing and cleaning. Josh avery uses only the best tools and techniques to press andor clean your comic book.
How to keep your comic books in perfect condition catawiki. This service includes placing books under colorcorrected lighting to check for fixable defects. The graders should be given more flexibility in adjusting the grade for the general feel and appearance of the book. Bends, folds, or dents that warp the shape or surface of the book. Online comic book restoration sites offers to restore your comics to its once exemplary forms. Water damage is always serious but like anything else, it depends on exactly what was damaged. For one, if you have a really valuable book, it offers a form of protection. You then hand the book over to them, and it gets sent off to be graded. We draw the line at the point where the comic looks like its been left out in the rain or read in the shower. Its tough, though, because the highest grade allowable on that system for water damage is vg, and thats just for a single drop.
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