The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. One area we focused on is the way you submit comics and access your account information. 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. Comic book storage best way to store graded comic books.
This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a. Comic book grading the basics of grading comics superworld. With rare exception, comic books considered for the grade of 9. Each book is placed within protective mylar that has affixed to it a label bearing the invoice and line item numbers, information which is duplicated on the label in a barcoded inscription for quick reading by the computer. Mint we do not offer to sell comics in mint condition. Submit your books pgx comics pgx comic grading services. We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. Grading is the term used for the assessment of the condition of a particular comic book. We are currently migrating data to our new system and conducting tests, and we are really excited for you to try it out. Grading catagories our site submission grading policy has been created to better serve those who are concerned about the content, navigation, accessibility, traffic, and safety of each website represented in the comic book elite list. 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. Some collectors consider this the lowest collectible grade because comic books in lesser condition are usually incomplete andor brittle. Take a close look, ideally with a magnifying glass, and make careful notes of any apparent damage, including. The overstreet guide to grading comics latest edition.
This company was started by steve borock, the former president of cgc so he definitely has some clout in the industry. A fr is the lowest grade a comic book can receive as long as the story and art are complete. 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. I just want to get the most out of what is probably my best comic.
Who is the most reputable to help get the most value. Located in florida, cgc, which claims to grade over 100,000 comic books annually, is unique among grading services because it doesnt allow its employees to commercially buy or sell comic books. A european agent for cgc comics with full advice on submitting your comics and handling the complete service. The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics, original and animation art. The newest and second most popular comic book grading company.
How to grade your comics comic book grading labels. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Join cgc to get direct submission privileges, 247 order tracking and more. 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. In it, i walk you step by step through 27 comics at every grade level from 0. Cover may be detached, and inks have lost all reflectivity.
Comic grading is the process of encasing a comic book in a plastic case. 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. Last week i received my overstreet guide to grading comics 2015 edition from amazon. The most commonly used grading standard for comics is the overstreet standard one overstreet numerical equivalency grading system. That issue means that the book got knocked down a bit from its apparent grade in the holder. 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.
In these rare cases, a check mark will be placed on the label by the numerical grade. 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. 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. What are the comic book grades sparkle city comics. Cream to offwhite paper that appears white or offwhite in the middle with aged outer edges, or exhibits an overall aged color that is more close to brown than white. For one, if you have a really valuable book, it offers a form of protection. Since 1970, the name overstreet has symbolized a vast knowledge of american comic books. A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great.
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 collecting community. Preventative restoration, widely used and accepted by collectors, consists of nonadditive restoration on a book with one or two major defects. 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. While the overstreet comic book price guide helps you learn about comic values, this third book in our new how to line teaches you the importance of condition a factor that is often the key to real collectability and how to grade accurately the overstreet guide to grading comics includes. In this installment we will take a look at comic book certification services cbcs. How to submit for cgc grading, submission center uk. 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. Oct 31, 2017 somewhere along the process my books all got damaged in the same spot. Comic book submission cbgc provides the only easy to use, online comic submission form. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. Cgc is an independent member of the certified collectibles group of companies. There are eight major grades in the comic book grading scale.
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. Once restored, a comic s value depends upon several factors. Raw grading labels shown below with grading descriptions. This book may range anywhere from poor to near mint and there is no obligation to clarify its condition. 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. Mar 27, 2020 when grading a comic book, the first thing youll see is the cover. The learn to grade comic books course is the most comprehensive course of its kind. I was wondering why the comic books on ebay with a cgc grading and case were worth more than the ones that only came in a plastic sleeve. Egs european grading service halo certification pgx professional grading experts vault 60 day comic grading mcg midwest comic grading. Comic book grading company the affordable and reliable.
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. We will go into depth with the overstreet grading system. Standard turnaround time is approximately 30 business days or you can choose a faster service. Any amount of wear to the cover of the book must be factored into the condition and grading of the comic.
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. 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 comic book price guide for great britain a guide to grading. The higher the grade of a comic book the higher the value. Due to the nature of paper, discoloration is expected over time. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book.
Useful for when you are unsure of the grade of a book or do not wish to grade the comic. Avery comic pressing llc is fully insured by collectibles insurance services. 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. Blumberg, has set the standard for grading the condition of comic books. 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. These are the important catagories to grade the effectiveness of submissions to the comic book elite list. The grading in existing cloud security architectures seems.
The cover of a comic is what typically takes the most abuse. One of our goals for the new website is to offer an easier online experience for our customers. Certified guaranty company, also known as cgc, is a sarasota, florida comic book grading service. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. One of the bottom corners was smashed on every book very frustrating. 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. In general, the more restoration has been performed, the less the comic is worth compared to its apparent grade value. To grade a comic, you need to take in to consideration a number of factors before being able to assess the correct grade. Cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics. Vault grading provides grading, pressing, encapsulation, valuation, and screening services to comic book collectors. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. Professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade misrepresentations by providing a professional assessment of condition and quality.
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 has made a major impact on the market since 1997. These records are from an impartial 3rd party source gp analysis. Comic grading company has a simple and affordable pricing structure without any clubs to join. Comic book grading screenshots, images and pictures comic vine. Furthermore, every cgccertified comic book undergoes a thorough restoration check by leading professionals during the certification process. The best way to understand why a specific comic book received a check mark designation is to refer to the graders notes. A fr copy will have virtually no eye appeal and will display major damage. The standard comic book grading system that is widely used today is the one developed in the official overstreet comic book grading guide. 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. Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. Grading websites comic book elite sites best comic sites.
A lightly restored book will be valued higher than a book with heavy restoration in the same apparent grade. Top websites about how to grade comic books accurately. When initially looking at a comic book the first thing one will notice is the cover of the book. Like the qwerty keyboard, it doesnt matter if there are better systems out there, this one has been around the longest and is what the vast majority of comic retailers use. Jan 21, 2015 yes, i missed the light moisture waves through book. Safely package your comics for secure shipment to cgc. This allows it to provide impartial and accurate valuations of comic books without the concern of. 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. Graphic books present informational text in a visually engaging and entertaining format, while the comic and humor books use the comic strip format and photos with humorous. This plastic case forever seals your comic, unless you destroy the case to extract the comic. I am new to many of these kinds of aspects of collecting comic books. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. The term grade is used to describe what condition a comic book is in.
That checkmark indicates that the book looks better than the numerical grade. Furthermore, every cgccertified comic book undergoes a thorough restoration check by. College bulletin pdf bmcc the city university of new york. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. Josh is a cgc, cbcs dealer, and a cbcs facilitator. The best possible existing condition of that comic book. Gp analysis lists us as a cgc the comic book grading authority online auction firm. 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. Like the qwerty keyboard, it doesnt matter if there are better systems out there, this one has been around the longest and. Mark berninger 30 may 2010 in his book comics as a nexus of cultures. The most difficult, contentious and eternally frustrating aspect of comic collecting is grading.
We are open during this difficult time but we are running on a different schedule to best protect everyone. Is getting the comic professionally graded up its price, or is it just nice to have it in a fancy. Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. One of the most important factors is first to count the interior pages. This issue of comic update will define each individual grade followed with an analysis of that grade category. There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easytofollow comic grading. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a grade on a report card. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale. Nov 09, 2012 comic book grading part 1 certified guaranty company duration. We closely monitor and calibrate our staff to maintain adherence to our established standards.
First, is the use of a forward slash to denote a book. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. A comic must be relatively complete to be successfully restored. A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade. Once certified by cgc, a comic book is encapsulated in a stateofthe art, tamperevident holder, providing superior protection and stability for longterm preservation. In rare cases, a comic book will look much better than the given grade. Avery comic pressing professional comic book pressing. The ultimate authority delivers the right grade every time grading comic books is the key to successful comic book collecting, and now the leading expert on comic books, robert m. Which means the book got a checkmark on the cbcs holder and an asterisk in the graders notes and invoice. Comic book certification service cbcs was started by professional comic book hobbyists and provides certification and grading services for collectors and. An incomplete book missing pages will have significantly less value then a complete counterpart. We are a comic seller, comic buyer, grader and advisor and locator of rare comics. Discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor to moderate soiling is allowed. Before any grading is performed, each book is examined by a.
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