Comic book grading labels collectors condition comic. Comic book grading part 1 certified guaranty company. From our humble beginnings, we have grown to the largest, most complete comic book price guide with well over 1,000,000 comics in our database. The premier online comics price guide free comic book values. Comic grading professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade misrepresentations by providing a professional assessment of condition and quality. The definitions provided below are simply guidelines for what you should look for when purchasing comics.
The grade of a comic book is based on its physical condition. Cgc will slab pages of a comic book in this manner. Some collectors consider this the lowest collectible grade because comic books in lesser condition are usually incomplete andor brittle. The higher the grade of a comic book the higher the value. The basic grading scale, also known as letter grades, uses the grades from near mint highest to poor lowest. 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. 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. Cbgc has developed a proprietary comic book grading system with over 550 separate grading characteristics, covering over 20 grading categories. A copy usually in poor to fair condition that includes all text presented in a legible fashion. We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. When you submit a comic book to cgc, it is inspected before grading actually begins. Mint we do not offer to sell comics in mint condition. 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.
Then, check the spine for small tears or folds, or spine break, which is a tear near the staples. Ill be bringing a mixed bag of content and hope to meet some fellow comic fans along the way. 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. 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. Comic book value packs comic book value packs are a great way to pick up a lot of comics cheaply. The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. There are different systems used by different price guides and grading companies. Each pack is grouped around a particular character or theme, and there is no duplication within any pack. Dec 24, 20 the real freakin comic book men greg eide has been selling comic books as his livelihood for over 42 years. These grading services assign grades on the tenpoint grading scale.
In rare cases, a comic book will look much better than the given 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. A grade represents the condition of a book in a way that collectors can understand. A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great. Some people will state that comic book grading is an art. Theoretically, the higher the grade of the book, the more desirable the book will be.
The best way to understand why a specific comic book received a check mark designation is to refer to the graders notes. Every type of restoration found on each book will be individually graded for quantity and quality, with a cumulative score determining the final restoration grade assigned. 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. Aug 30, 2017 comic book grades are given out through a company called the certified guaranty company also known as the cgc. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. The fair grade category signifies a heavily worn comic book. Jan 21, 2017 if you want to learn how to do basic grading on vintage comic books then here is a simple tutorial for you. Some people will not grade a comic missing its cover, but some give incomplete comics a score between 0. For the most part, all the pages and most of the cover remains, however the book is aesthetically unattractive heavy creases, spine split, missing staples, rounded page corners. Grading is the process of evaluating the condition and consequent value of a comic book.
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. Nm near mint vf very fine fn fine vg very good gd good fr fair pr poor the tenpoint grading scale assigns grades ranging from 10. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing. Another way is on a tenpoint grading scale from 10.
Comic book grading the basics of grading comics superworld. Submit comics to cgc for grading there are four ways for collectors to submit their comics for grading. We have values for any marvel, dc, image, idw, darkhorse, or dell comic book that is in your collection. A fr copy will have virtually no eye appeal and will display major damage. The comic may be brittle and defaced by other materials such as paint and glue. Pgx was created to meet the growing demand for professional, thirdparty comic book grading. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide.
A fr is the lowest grade a comic book can receive as long as the story and art are complete. Conserved bluepurple a book that has specific repairs done to improve the structural integrity and. There are eight major grades in the comic book grading scale. Cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics. Mid grade comic books july 14, 2016 scott robertson 9 comments one of the most important aspects of investing in comics is the ability to spot a midgrade comic book that has the potential to become a high grade comic book. The notes help future purchasers of a comic book because they notate any hidden defects that are factored into the final grade. In addition, there were no quality standards for comic book grading, which meant there was much discrepancy amongst collectors about the condition of various books. Most comics graded using the tenpoint grading scale also have cover scans, so when youre considering purchasing a comic you can see the front and sometimes back cover scans of the exact comic being offered. Comic book grading, certification process cbcs comics. The same general ideas apply when dealing with comic books and the cgc grading scale. Grading certified guaranty company, llc cgc comics. Once restored, a comic s value depends upon several factors.
Before cgc comics, collectors were at the mercy of vendors to determine the grade and value of a comic book. In general, cgc is set up the same way as ngc and pcgs as far as the grading process. A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade. I just want to get the most out of what is probably my best comic. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. Some grading companies have actually devised a numeric or scale grading system see table. Taking into account the capricious nature of cgc grading, comics in this grade can be expected to grade out with cgc at 6. There are numerous variables that factor into the grade of a comic book. Whether you are an avid comic collector, a repeat offender one who once collected but fell by the wayside, are new to the industry, or someone who came across some old comics, welcome to the world of comics. Cgcs restoration grading scale is a transparent system that is much more descriptive and accurate than before. To grade a comic, you need to take in to consideration a number of factors before being able to assess the correct grade. In it, i walk you step by step through 27 comics at every grade level from 0. The learn to grade comic books course is the most comprehensive course of its kind.
Our grading methods are based upon factual and measurable observations. A standard color coded raw grading tool that is exclusively designed for you the comic book collectorinvestor. Due to the nature of paper, discoloration is expected over time. Jan 09, 2017 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 best possible existing condition of that comic book. You can easily identify a slabbed comic because the grades will include the name of the grading service, such as cgc 9. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale. In these rare cases, a check mark will be placed on the label by the numerical grade.
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. The comic book price guide for great britain a guide to grading. 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. There may be exceptions for comics that are unusually heavy, even though they may fit into the size parameters. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a grade on a report card. Lets show you some examples, so you can understand what your books grade on this scale.
You then hand the book over to them, and it gets sent off to be graded. After being examined by a restoration detection professional, the comic books are placed in barcoded mylar sleeves, and separated from their original invoice. Bowed a condition of the covers or boards of a hard cover book. He opened his first brick and mortar store in march of 1972. You can now take pride in showingoff your comic book collection to your friends at home, dealers. Last week i received my overstreet guide to grading comics 2015 edition from amazon. Organize your collection the way you want it to be.
Other descriptors used in conjunction with the above grading scale. One way comic books are graded is on the basic grading scale, which runs from mint the highest, through near mint, very fine, fine, very good, good, fair, and poor the lowest. Comic book grading labels collectors condition comic book. Mail submissions to cgc headquarters paid collectors society members and authorized dealers can complete submission forms online and send collectibles directly to the cgc headquarters. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. Nov 01, 2017 the fair grade category signifies a heavily worn comic book. The two basic systems consist of a number scale from one to ten such as the cgc uses and. Cover shows significant wear, and may be loose or even detached at one staple.
Mar 27, 2020 to grade a comic book, start by examining the cover through a magnifying glass for things like folds or fingerprints. Comic book grades are given out through a company called the certified guaranty company also known as the cgc. Comic book grading guide and cheat sheet comicache. A lightly restored book will be valued higher than a book with heavy restoration in the same apparent grade. The overstreet guide to grading comics latest edition. The advantages of the collectors condition comic book raw grading labeling system is.
For any questions, please contact our site administrator. These comic grading services will grade a comic and then seal the comic in a hard plastic case that displays the assigned grade. A detailed explanation of how to determine a comic books condition based on the established grades is generally included in a comic book pricing guide. Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. The overstreet guide to grading comics includes the 10point grading system including new grades 0. The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics. Certified guaranty company, also known as cgc, is a sarasota, florida comic book grading service. The standard comic book grading system that is widely used today is the one developed in the official overstreet comic book grading guide. Who is the most reputable to help get the most value. Comic book grading company the affordable and reliable. 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. This step is taken to ensure that graders do not know whose books they are grading, as a further guarantee of impartiality. 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.
Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. Most comics graded using the tenpoint grading scale have cover scans, so when youre considering purchasing a comic you can see the front and sometimes back cover scans of the exact comic being offered. Comics price guide was the first online price guide for comic books back in 1995. Long time collector and comic book enthusiast looking to share my collecting hobby with like minded collectors.
Comics that are submitted to cgc are graded by professional graders on a 10 point scale and then sealed inside a hard plastic cotainer to prevent tampering. Slip the comic book onto the backing board and into the protective sleeve, or place label over the comic book sleeve. Cover may be detached, and inks have lost all reflectivity. May 19, 2016 before a comic books value is determined, the comic book needs to have an accurate grade assigned to it. Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. In general, the more restoration has been performed, the less the comic is worth compared to its apparent grade value. 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. Comic grading company has a simple and affordable pricing structure without any clubs to join. What are the comic book grades sparkle city comics. Cgc is an independent member of the certified collectibles group of companies.
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