This applies mainly to silver age comics, as noted earlier. Comic book grades are given out through a company called the certified guaranty company also known as the cgc. Comics graded using the either the basic grading system or the ten point grading scale are individually scanned and listed for sale, so when youre considering purchasing a comic you can see the front and sometimes back cover scans of the. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide. After being examined by a restoration detection professional, the comic books are placed in barcoded mylar sleeves, and separated from their original invoice. The grade of a comic book is very similar to a report card grade. Most comics graded using the ten point 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. Another way is on a ten point grading scale from 10. These grading services assign grades on the same ten point grading scale used by mycomicshop.
Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale. Both founders of comicconnect, stephen fishler and vincent zurzolo, are internationally recognized experts in comic book evaluation. When grading gets to fine, you start operating on a point. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. The grade of a comic book is based on its physical condition. Exhaustive descriptions of primary and split grades give you the right grade quickly.
It is not the practice, however, to use numbers other than those in this scale so you wouldnt see a book graded 6. The grader will also do another check for restoration and then choose a page quality and a grade from ranging from 0. 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. A key aspect of comic book collecting is the condition of the comic book. Most comics graded using the ten point 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. Additionally, some comics in our store are slabbed by cgc, cbcs, or pgx. Metropolis was founded in 1984 by stephen fishler, and merged companies in 1999 with vincent zurzolo, jr. Metropolis collectibles is a famous rare comic book dealer of vintage american comics, primarily known for its large collection of comic books originally published in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The thing that has changed most over time is how refined the grading scale has become. The grading scale used by the experts at cgc has a maximum of 10. The ten point grading scale assigns grades ranging from 10. Weve graded hundreds of thousands of comics over the last 35 years.
Being able to accurately grade could help you avoid some of the situations i ran into, or help you in spotting the differences from one. With the official overstreet comic book grading guide, you will learn all the information youll ever need to accurately grade your comic books. The learn to grade comic books course is the most comprehensive course of its kind. Predating todays commonly used 10 point numerical grading scale by about 10 years, the 100 point scale was an unsuccessful early attempt to apply a more scientific standard to the comic book grading process. The collectible is nearly indistinguishable from a 10. Raw grading labels the preprinted labels are colorcoded using the standard 10 pt. The evolution of grading gives the novice an overview about how the comic book hobby got to where we are now in grading. Exhaustive descriptions of primary and split grades over 200 fullcolor photographs a newly suggested restoration scale tips for evaluating comics from the 1800s to the. This is most visible on the lower end of the grading scale. Since i dont do this fulltime, i try to rely on knowledge gained over the years, and resources like the overstreet comic book grading guide or this 10 point grading tutorial on the heritage auction site. 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. 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. Cloud 9 grades comics based on the overstreet price guides grading structure in combination with the standards set by cgc. The evolution of grading, using the 10 point scale, diagram of a comic book and definitions.
In fact, stephen is the creator of the 10 point numeric grading scale used throughout the comic collecting and investing community. Though comic book grading has been around for decades, it wasnt until 2000 that a new thirdparty grading service, cgc, burst onto the scene and revolutionized the comic book collecting industry. You can easily identify a slabbed comic because the grades will include the name of the grading service, such as cgc 9. Its a concise history and good for some basic knowledge. Mild condition issues that are barely perceptible to the naked eye. Find the right grade a new 10 point grading system helps you determine the grade of all your comic books. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. Certified guaranty company, also known as cgc, is a sarasota, florida comic book grading service. Indepth look at the new cgc comic book restoration. The first and so far only grading service to enter our market was comics guarantee company aka cgc. The grading label can not be removed without destroying the slab.
Magazines are assigned a grade on a 10 point grading scale to efficiently communicate the assessment of the magazines condition. 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. Vincent, having appeared and been quoted on numerous television news programs, reality show appearances, newspaper, website and magazine articles has become the face of vintage comic collecting and investing around. 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. Once they have been graded, they are placed in a mylar comic book bag and then encapsulated in our acidfree encapsulation clamshell. This step is taken to ensure that graders do not know whose books they are grading, as a further guarantee of impartiality. Cgc is an independent member of the certified collectibles group of companies. 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. Some of the older collectors may recall this when i was a kid, as far as some oldschool dealers were concerned a book was either good, fine, or mint. Introducing the collectors condition comic book raw grading labeling system. The official overstreet comic book grading guide 2nd. It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books, to discover a comic in these grades as they are virtually nonexistent. Comics listed for auction or buyitnow are listed using the 10 point grading scale. But the comic itself cannot have been folded in its entirety.
Of course, back in 2012, cgc launched grader notes that discuss problems and indicate the condition of the pages with detailed grader notes. 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. Comic book grading company the affordable and reliable. 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. 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. Action figure authority collectable grading authority.
As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. This 10 point comic book grading scale is widely used now and you will often see people grade by simply putting the number value on the book with the classic descriptive grade. Additionally, the liner note process is still alive and actually enhanced a bit, as youll see later. Cgc employs a 10 point grading scale for concert posters that is based on the industry standard the company established for comics, magazines, photos and lobby cards. While there is some small degree of variation on the following grading scheme within the community, the following is a representative of the general. Comic book grading, certification process cbcs comics.
Like the sheldon scale, the cgc grading scale also skips exact grades where it makes sense to do so. The collectible must have no evidence of any manufacturing or handling defects. The grading labels fit on top of backing boards, or can be placed over sleeves. Though at times controversial, its proven grading system has become a gold standard for those looking to have their collection appraised.
There are different systems used by different price guides and grading companies. The grading scale is the same 10 point scale with 25 possible grades, ranging from 0. Cgc uses a 10 point grading scale to evaluate comics. It took a while for most dealers to be willing to pay someone other than himself to grade their books, but. To make sure one grader does not influence another grader, any grade chosen remains hidden from all.
When you go to buy a car, an antique, house, or other purchases, you want to know what kind of shape it is in. Mild or moderate condition issues visible under very close inspection or under raking light. A very pretty comic with a corner that was neatly folded over at some point is a fine. Armed with this knowledge and a good understanding of the market, you should be able to make an informed decision about restoration. Several factors should be considered before a grade is assigned to a comic bookmagazine. Based on the accepted industrywide standard 10 point condition, numerical grading scale system. The current system of grading a comic book is based on the 10 point scale defined in the current editions of the overstreet comic. Comic book grading labels collectors condition comic. Raw grade comic book grading labels introduction to. Only very minute printing and bindery defects or the most barely noticeable handling defects present. In addition to providing an introduction to the issues surrounding grading, this book is your key to learning the 10 point grading system. Pgx was created to meet the growing demand for professional, thirdparty comic book grading.
Mild or moderate condition issues that attract the eye under gallery. In it, i walk you step by step through 27 comics at every grade level from 0. So, our slabs will fit in most graded comic book boxes for long term storage. The condition is known as the grade of the comic book and its classification criteria has undergone many changes in the last hundred years. The overstreet guide to grading comics includes the 10 point grading system including new grades 0. The two basic systems consist of a number scale from one to ten such as the cgc uses and. The higher the grade, the better the condition the comic book is in. The younger a comic, the less likely the book will increase in value significantly from restoration. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. Iconic comics grading is based on the overstreet grading guide.
Guys a 100 point system is no different than a 10 point system. The best possible existing condition of that comic book. The ten point grading system was less confusing and was a better overlay of the old word grade system then the previous 100 point system. Grading your comic books guide revel in the detail. The comic book industry ten point grading scale ranges from 10. The cgc grade appears on one of a number of colored labels, which differentiate a cgc universal grade from cgc grades assigned with any qualifiers or special considerations. The overstreet guide to grading comics latest edition. The term grading refers to finding the condition that a comic book is in.
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