When grading a comic book, the first thing youll see is the cover. Deciding to grade the next level in the world of comic collecting you have just left your local comic shop with a book signed by your favorite comic book writer robert kirkman. 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. Join me for a discussion about comic book grading with two representatives from cgc. We all know that graded comics sell for much higher prices than equivalent raw copies. Comic grading 101 with cgc live stream comic books. 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.
Deciding to grade the next level in the world of comic collecting you have just left your local comic shop with a book signed by. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide. For books that have a signature witness, they are sealed with a special label. Dark colored pages that exhibit a uniform tint from edges to middle. Comic book grading basics what you need to know by admin on thursday, october 15th, 2009 4 comments the grade or condition of a comic book is the most important determination of value outside of the actual title and issue number. I have been pressing and cleaning comic books for about 3 years now. If you have a question that is not answered here, it might be addressed in one of those two guides or from cbcs canadas faq, from which a lot of this. Sep 30, 2018 learn about graded comic book labels, grading company options, pressing and secrets to the business. A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade. The comic summary also includes a dropdown providing the grading tiers available based on the age and value of the comic. Either option looks pretty good to me, better use your speculative echolocation to find a copy at your local comic book retailer. Dealer status has to be approved by cbcs and quotas met to maintain status.
A professional grading company that decides the grade of a particular comic book sent to them before sealing the comic in a plastic case, keeping it safe from further harm. It is the first cameo of yukio and the first appearance of shingen harada. The sub mariner 1, looking for 315 shipped, want both 590 shipped. Cbcs is offering two different programs to our customers that offer a powerful opportunity to save money and grow their collections, an optional membership program and a rewards program. Whether youre flipping through the comics in your collection or at the dollar bin at your local comic shop lcs, everyone wonders what their comics are worth. The ultimate upside to getting your comics cgc graded is that it greatly enhances the value of your comics if they are in really good condition. This plastic case forever seals your comic, unless you destroy the case to extract the comic. This book may range anywhere from poor to near mint and there is no obligation to clarify its condition. Comic book grading 101 for lapsed comic book collectors. Pgx also offers a comparable service and directly competes with cgc in the comic book grading market.
Comic grading is the process of encasing a comic book in a plastic case. Like coins, stamps, trading cards, or any collectible comic books have graded conditions from poor to mint. As we match the sale we record the comic grading company, holderlabel type and the assigned grade. Hey guys, im sorry, double checked the top staple and the cover is detached from the top staple. Discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor to moderate soiling is allowed. Comics are graded using both descriptive categories and a 010 rating system. Grading, in short, simplifies the buying and selling of books. There are other factors such as scarcity, character popularity and demand that also play a part but those will be covered in the. Comics from cgc tend to be more valuable than their ungraded counterparts, or even from other grading companies as cgc is a better known brand, theyre the ones. How to grade your comics comic book grading labels. A comic must be relatively complete to be successfully restored. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. We closely monitor and calibrate our staff to maintain adherence to our established standards. Professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade misrepresentations by providing a professional assessment of condition and quality.
Similar to light tan to offwhite pages, but the edges of the pages are darker. Jun 21, 2017 the term grading refers to finding the condition that a comic book is in. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a grade on a report card. In fact, stephen is the creator of the 10 point numeric grading scale used throughout the comic collecting and investing community. These guys formed around the time i got out of comic collecting and. 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. If you discover an old collection full of batman comics. 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.
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. So anyone interested i will sell the 101 for 290 shipped. Learn about graded comic book labels, grading company options, pressing and secrets to the business. 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. Comic book value packs comic book value packs are a great way to pick up a lot of comics cheaply. This condition applies to perfectly flat comics with supple paper, a glossy cover, and no obvious wear. If your comic is in flawless or nearly flawless condition, it might merit a grade of mint or near mint. The largest online source for comic book pricing in the world. A comic books condition is one of the key factors in determining its value. Both are very valid reasons to get books graded but its critical that you know what that book is realistically valued at in its exact condition to. The same as tan to offwhite, but the center of the pages are darker. The term grade is used to describe what condition a comic book is in. In this article, we will describe the basics of what comic book grading is, why you would get your comics.
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. The most difficult, contentious and eternally frustrating aspect of comic collecting is grading. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. Jan 07, 2016 a professional grading company that decides the grade of a particular comic book sent to them before sealing the comic in a plastic case, keeping it safe from further harm. It is the first solo comic book series for wolverine, kind of like the limited series punisher. A fr is the lowest grade a comic book can receive as long as the story and art are complete. However, grading is an inherently subjective process and there. 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. The term grading refers to finding the condition that a comic book is in. Comic book grading company the affordable and reliable.
Take a close look, ideally with a magnifying glass, and make careful notes of any apparent damage, including. Mar 27, 2020 when grading a comic book, the first thing youll see is the cover. You then hand the book over to them, and it gets sent off to be graded. Vault grading provides grading, pressing, encapsulation, valuation, and screening services to comic book collectors. I hope you enjoy and please subscribe and like this video.
Mar 06, 2017 comic book grading 101 for lapsed marvel collectors updated 22817 posted by george koroneos mar 6, 2017 geek culture 0 tl. The comics guaranty company, or cgc, is a business that grades collectible comic books for a fee. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale. When you go to buy a car, an antique, house, or other purchases, you want to know what kind of shape it is in. Over the years people have asked me to press their comic books for them and every so often, i would do pressing and cleaning for them. 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 ultimate upside to getting your comics cgc graded is that it greatly enhances the value of. Grading comics 101 a comic bookss condition directly affects its value.
New comics newest cover scans story arcs genres creators characters beta grading guide recent value changes report missing issues. The book is very firm against the cover, so when i pulled on it, it didnt move. Another popular reason for grading comics is signature authentication. Aug 12, 2014 some comic book stores even have authorized vendors who can send your books in for you. A fr copy will have virtually no eye appeal and will display major damage.
We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. Cbcs comic book certification service comic grading cbcs. 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. Submit your books pgx comics pgx comic grading services. Comic grading company has a simple and affordable pricing structure without any clubs to join. The comic book price guide for great britain a guide to grading. 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.
The best grade a comic book can achieve with this page quality is 7. How to grade comic books yourself comic books 101 tutorial. The higher the grade, the better the condition the comic book is in. The grade of a comic book is very similar to a report card grade. Useful for when you are unsure of the grade of a book or do not wish to grade the comic. I started pressing and cleaning my own comics, to increase my grades at cgc. Then they grade them and return them to you in a sealed bag with an official score. A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great. Each pack is grouped around a particular character or theme, and there is no duplication within any pack. Cgcs restoration grading scale is a transparent system that is much more descriptive and accurate than before. The caped crusader and his sidekick, robin, have been around since the late 1930s.
Not all comics will be worth the cost of the grading, especially if you have a large collection. Ive been collecting comic books, in one form or another, ever since i was 10 years old. Some comic book stores even have authorized vendors who can send your books in for you. Have professional grading services overinflated the price of. This comic book was created in 1982 by a collaboration of chris claremont and frank miller. Are you wondering who to use for your comic grading. For one, if you have a really valuable book, it offers a form of protection.
Cover shows significant wear, and may be loose or even detached at one staple. Apr 03, 2020 this comic book was created in 1982 by a collaboration of chris claremont and frank miller. Grading comics 101 a comic books s condition directly affects its value. Comic grading 101 with cgc live stream comic books youtube. The rookie collector time to grade your comics, who to choose.
Furthermore, every cgccertified comic book undergoes. 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. It contains the grade of your book and a bar code to look up additional information on your comic. Jan 30, 2019 join me for a discussion about comic book grading with two representatives from cgc. Finally, we gather supportive information about the individual sale including when and where it was sold, how the sale can be identified at the. Apr 20, 2019 grading comics is very subjective so the cgc gives a prospective buyer more faith in their purchase. Amazing spiderman is the blue chip stock of the comic buying and selling world.
Heres a short guide highlighting the specifics of submitting your comics for grading using cbcs canada and is meant to complement the newbies guide to submitting and the newbies guide to tracking your order. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. All this being said, having your comic graded by cgc is a transaction. This is a primer for anyone that collected comics in the late 80searly 90s and amassed a large amount of comics that they dont know what to do with. 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. Both founders of comicconnect, stephen fishler and vincent zurzolo, are internationally recognized experts in comic book evaluation. Preventative restoration, widely used and accepted by collectors, consists of nonadditive restoration on a book with one or two major defects. Comic book grading 101 for lapsed marvel collectors updated 22817 posted by george koroneos mar 6, 2017 geek culture 0 tl. Cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics. My first comic book was actually a pack of marvel comics. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. Different tiers have different turnaround times and prices to match and are limited by the age and value of the book.