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. 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. For those who might not be in the know, certified guarantee company cgc, comic book certification service cbcs, and professional grading experts pgx are all comic book grading and encapsulation services that take. In recent years, grading criteria have become even tighter, especially in silver and bronze age books, due to their higher survival rate. 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. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. Grading is the term used for the assessment of the condition of a particular comic book.
Grading is an inherently subjective process and there will always be small differences in opinion. A couple of key steps are near mint, which is nearly perfect in every way and very good, which is an average wellread comic books with several defects. Aug 25, 2015 this one might end up even more wordy than usual, but then again, there is much to be said on the topic. I know this is a religious debate, however i am hoping it can stay objective. Such as pgx, which has come under controversy in the past. This is a fairly common trait in the very good category. This book may range anywhere from poor to near mint and there is no obligation to clarify its condition. Predating todays commonly used 10point numerical grading scale by about 10 years, the 100point scale was an unsuccessful early attempt to apply a more scientific standard to the comic book grading process. Gp analysis lists us as a cgc the comic book grading authority online auction firm. Cgcs restoration grading scale is a transparent system that is much more descriptive and accurate than before.
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. We need to emphasize, however, that not more than two of the above mentioned flaws can appear in the same comic. To those who were asking about the scandal with pgx, here. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it.
Comic book submission cbgc provides the only easy to use, online comic submission form. Gradingskala comics nach land grading ist unsere leidenschaft. A fr copy will have virtually no eye appeal and will display major damage. I just want to get the most out of what is probably my best comic. But only when the book is otherwise quite beautiful, and the tape does not in any way mar the appearance of the book.
You then hand the book over to them, and it gets sent off to be graded. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. A nice comic with a piece up to the size of a standard postage stamp torn from one corner. World class, proven, professional comic grading experts. 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. Books are carefully handled and tracked through the grading process, and always fully insured while on our premises. 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. Our grading increases the value of your collectibles, protects the condition, and improves their display quality. Comic book grading the basics of grading comics superworld. Mint we do not offer to sell comics in mint condition. A highly consistent, descriptive and illustrated extensively grading guide on the web which will be a free service to the collecting community.
These records are from an impartial 3rd party source gp analysis. Grading standards are based on the standards laid out in the overstreet grading guide with additional experience gained from our years in the comic industry. One area we focused on is the way you submit comics and access your account information. 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. The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. Inside the mind of a master procrastinator tim urban duration. Nov 09, 2012 comic book grading part 1 certified guaranty company duration. When grading gets to fine, you start operating on a point system. Discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor to moderate soiling is allowed. Useful for when you are unsure of the grade of a book or do not wish to grade the comic. Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. 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 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.
We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. 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. Naturally, where there is a market originator and leader, there will be competition. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. Comic grading company has a simple and affordable pricing structure without any clubs to join. This company was started by steve borock, the former president of cgc so he definitely has some clout in the industry.
Vault grading provides grading, pressing, encapsulation, valuation, and screening services to comic book collectors. 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. Cgc census detailed report of the comics, magazines and lobby cards graded by cgc, with the total number of cgccertified examples in each grade. There are eight major grades in the comic book grading scale. Comic book certification service cbcs was started by professional comic book hobbyists and provides certification and grading services for collectors and. Even professional grading services like cgc, cbcs, and pgx acknowledge that the same book may not always receive the same grade if it is. That way, anyone can compare their raw or slabbed books to consistent grading standards. Of course it would depend on the overall condition of the book as well. Comic book grading has made a major impact on the market since 1997. In this installment we will take a look at comic book certification services cbcs. To those who were asking about the scandal with pgx, here is. 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. Like the submitting the same book to both companies, or two books with same grade from both companies same book, same grade, two copies.
Comic book restoration services hero restoration llc. Cgc is the leading comic book collector grading and slabbing service. The comic book grading scale runs from mint down to poorincomplete with several steps in between. By requesting prescreen and specifying a minimum grade on your invoice, you will be charged grading fees only for comic books that. 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. Originally produced in conjunction with the first edition of the overstreet comic book grading guide, the owl or overstreets whiteness level card is a comic book grading tool used to evaluate paper color on the reverse side is the one or overstreets numerical equivalent card, which translates the traditional letter grades into their equivalent values on a 100point numerical. The graders should be given more flexibility in adjusting the grade for the general feel and appearance of the book. How to grade your comics comic book grading labels. The comic book price guide for great britain a guide to grading. Grading process certified guaranty company, llc cgc comics. Preventative restoration, widely used and accepted by collectors, consists of nonadditive restoration on a book with one or two major defects. 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. A comic creator is claiming he bought a fantastic four comic in pgx 7.
Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale. Cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics. A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great. 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. Verify cgc certification a database of every comic book certified by cgc with grade and label description. The lower the paper grade is, the less flaws or other defects that the book can have to receive a grade on the higher end of the spectrum. Comic book grading has evolved over the past several decades from a much looser interpretation of standards in the beginning to the very tight professional scrutiny in use by the market today. 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. With our comic book restoration services you can take your lowgrade investment and transform it into something with fantastic eye appeal. A couple of minor flaws might be allowable, but no more. For books that have a signature witness, they are sealed with a special label. Jun 20, 2014 comic book grading part 1 certified guaranty company duration.
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. Grading your comic books guide revel in the detail comics. Comic books are sent to cgc for grading and encapsulation either directly by the owner through cgcs website or through an authorized. Submit your books pgx comics pgx comic grading services. A fr is the lowest grade a comic book can receive as long as the story and art are complete. Choose a tier based on comic value and turnaround time. I think its fair to grade a book as if a mark like that is not there, then state the condition, but also state something like comic in vf condition, however there is a pen mark vc 15 front cover below hobgoblin, then the potential buyer can make up there own mind. We will go into depth with the overstreet grading system. In rare cases, a comic book will look much better than the given grade. Grading your comic books guide revel in the detail.
One of our goals for the new website is to offer an easier online experience for our customers. Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. Visitors to the cgc website can access these valuable research tools. And in some instances even a second flaw can drop a. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a. Comic book grading screenshots, images and pictures comic vine. We are currently migrating data to our new system and conducting tests, and we are really excited for you to try it out. 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. A comic must be relatively complete to be successfully restored. Comic grading professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade misrepresentations by providing a professional assessment of condition and quality.
The most difficult, contentious and eternally frustrating aspect of comic collecting is grading. 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. Restoration on your comics is done not only to make it more desirable to collectors, but also for the sake of our hobby where many of these great treasures are decaying and falling apart due to age and mishandling. Cover shows significant wear, and may be loose or even detached at one staple. Our company has sat well over 600 world record prices selling vintage comic books at auction. The company was founded by alec born and steve borock, the latter earning a reputation in the community while working many years at. The cpg team has put together our grading standards based upon market standards in the hobby as well as included extensive research into cgc grading. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade.
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