This grading process details the exact condition and completeness of a comic, allowing the seller to get an idea of how much it is worth. 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. Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. There may be small creases on cover that break color, but the spine is still wellkept with only a few stress marks. Very fine near mint is on the threshold of being a high grade book and is the top of the pyramid for midgrade comic books. But knowing the condition of the edges helps determine the overall condition of the comic book. This is the equivalent of mint condition in numismatics. Any staple can be replaced on books up to fine, but only vintage staples can be used on books from very fine to near mint. There are different systems used by different price guides and grading companies. I purchased this book from a friend and the owner of redhoodcomics last yr. How do you know if a comic book is very fine condition. There are grades in between these basic grades such as fine very fine, but we want this to be a general easytofollow comic grading guide for the novice.
Determining a comic books condition is very subjective and more of an art than a science. A fine condition comic book appears to have been read a few times and has been handled with moderate care. Comic books, like coins, stamps, sports cards, movie posters, and everything else that people collect, are valued according to condition. Use these values as a guideline for evaluating the reasonableness of dealer prices, setting up trades with other collectors, and estimating the worth of your collection. Comics kept in damp environments like basements often degrade faster. Comic book grading labels collectors condition comic. Fine comics in fine are priced significantly less than those in very fine and for good reason.
Books in this condition pre1980 are virtually nonexistent. Raw grading labels shown below with grading descriptions. Major comics companies have titles with histories that span decades of publication, and if you are new to a particular arc, it can be hard to even decide where to start. We offer modern, bronze age, silver age, and golden age comics. An extremely exceptional comic with only very minute printing or bindery defects. This discoloration can be worsened by the storage condition of the comic. This is not a true grade, but a category for comics that fall anywhere between the very fine and near mint grades. Mint m, near mint nm, very fine vf, fine fn, very good vg, good g, and fair f. If youre looking for a hard to find back issue, we probably have it. The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Spectacular spiderman 14 comic book lot marvel vf punisher. Comiclink is the online vintage comic book and comic art auction destination featuring comic book auctions spotlighting the most desirable cgc graded examples of key comics, as well as comic art auctions featuring the biggest names in comic book illustration from the golden age to the present. The professionally graded comic books often referred to as slabbed books for sale on this site have been graded by the comic guarantee corporation cgc or one of the other.
The standard comic book grading system that is widely used today is the one developed in the official overstreet comic book grading guide. Fits the criteria for very fine but with an additional virtue or small accumulation of virtues that improves the book s appearance by a perceptible amount. Very fine to near mint vfnm back to top general wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc a beautiful book. Comic grading professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade misrepresentations by providing a professional assessment of condition and quality. This is the typical condition of a nice newstand mint comic book. Almost all of our issues are going to be in at least vg or better condition. Very fine vf back to top general wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc a beautiful book. The value of an individual comic book is dependent on its grade. A fr is the lowest grade a comic book can receive as long as the story and art are complete. Mid60s to late 70s books in high grade are more common due to the hoarding of comics that began in the mid60s. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes.
What does the term vf and vg mean when purchasing a comic. Comic looks as if it were just purchased from the store. I got tired of using standard labels, cutting, taping, searching, and wasting time. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. 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. Free delivery and returns on ebay plus items for plus members. They were adopted by the bookselling community and are still in use today. Please keep in mind that other factors can also determine the grade of the book. 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. Minor creases, a slight discoloration to its pages, small stains, and light spine wear are allowed. Read more for grading details for this books of magick. Most copies of early 60s marvels and dcs grade no higher than vf. Starting or even just expanding an existing comic book collection can seem a little daunting.
How to price classic illustrated comics our pastimes. 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. How to determine your comic books condition sparkle city. Remember its the art and story that make a comic, not the number of marks on it for sellers only, and everybody has a different grade. Grading comic books, while not rocket science, is important in that the value of a comic book, like any collectible, can be dramatically impacted by its condition. Aug 06, 2008 i guess when comic book fanatics talk. Only very minute printing and bindery defects or the most barely noticeable handling defects present. Very fine to near mint vf nm excellent condition but not guaranteed to be near mint. You may think your favorite comic is a very fine read but is it a very fine buy. Nice looking captain america comic, good condition for something made in the 70s. Very fine vf very fine comics may have a minimum amount of wear, but still looks clean and glossy. Comic book grades are given out through a company called the certified guaranty company also known as the cgc.
There are two rating system that give buyers and sellers use to grade the condition of comic books. Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. Cbcs comics comic book certification service cbcs was started by professional comic book hobbyists with the intent of protecting our fellow hobbyists when buying and selling comic books. How to determine your comic books condition sparkle. Comic link the online vintage comic book and comic art. Fine comics in fine are priced significantly less than those in very fine. Oct 02, 2017 knowing your comic books condition is very useful. Delivery time is estimated using our proprietary method which is based on the buyers proximity to the item location, the shipping service selected, the sellers shipping history, and other factors.
Marvel value stamp book series b marvel, 1970s condition. I have been a comic book fan, collector, publisher pocket comics mars attacks 1988 and graphic artist for years necessity is the mother of invention. It is very rare especially in older comic books pre1990 to discover a comic in either mint or gem mint condition. There may be small creases on cover that break color, but the spine is still wellkept with only a. Many early keys in nm or mt exist in numbers less than 1020 of each. Superworld is always looking to buy original comic book art, especially from the 1950s1970s. When selling your comics from comicbase, you have the option of automatically marking all vf or nm comics in your collection as vf nm, giving you an easy way to signify to buyers that the comics in question will be basically in fresh off the newsstand condition, without requiring you to painstakingly examine each comic for miniscule defects. Rate the physical condition of each classics illustrated comic book using a comics grading guide. They are rare comic books in high grade, but in lower grades, are still worth decent money. Sold by big robs books and ships from amazon fulfillment. Cbcs team members all share in the love of our hobby and the medium. As new means that the book is in the state that it should have been in when it left the publisher.
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. It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books, to discover a comic in these grades as they are virtually nonexistent. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. Grading process certified guaranty company, llc cgc comics. The younger a comic, the less likely the book will increase in value significantly from restoration. The book was bagged and boarded early and is well taken care of. Its necessary to determine an accurate appraisal value.
In some cases it is possible for a comic shipped brand new from the publisher, or purchased new from a comic stores shelves, to already be in less than near mint condition due to the way the comic was produced, shipped, stored, or handled prior to purchase. How much does the back cover condition weigh with the overall. Its necessary to know if the way youre storing it is appropriate. Each pack is grouped around a particular character or theme, and there is no duplication within any pack. Classics illustrated is an american comic book magazine series featuring adaptations of literary classics such as les miserables, moby dick, hamlet, and the iliad. Here are some tips and guidelines to help you through the process. The cover condition is more important than the interior. Pretty much any issues of marvel mystery comics have value. Due to the nature of paper, discoloration is expected over time. Early 60s comics are rare in near mint to mint condition. No creases, staining, soiling or other discoloration. Storing your comic books correctly can significantly slow down the normal wearandtear process.
This is an exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. 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. A guide to book conditions the hobbit first edition by j. The two basic systems consist of a number scale from one to ten such as the cgc uses and the other one.
Grading is the process of evaluating the condition and consequent value of a comic book. Huge online only comic auction, 600 lots, several key issues. Comiclink is the online vintage comic book and comic art auction destination featuring comic book auctions spotlighting the most desirable cgc graded examples of key comics, as well as comic art auctions featuring the biggest names in comic book illustration from the. First team of storm,night crawler to wolverine baby. Comic books in pr condition may be missing up to 4 pages two spreads of story pages or display severe damage that affects the readability of the book. The collectors condition is offering free for a limited time only to nostomania members an exclusive opportunity to signup and receive actual working samples of our revolutionary comic book raw grading labels to try out. The two basic systems consist of a number scale from one to ten such as the cgc uses and. Buy with confidence as the condition of this item and its timely. If we dont, add it to your want list and well notify you when its in stock. This applies mainly to silver age comics, as noted earlier. A very fine near mint book will lay flat but may have a small spine roll.
Because human beings prize things that glitter, the more like new the book is, the more collectors will pay for it. Grading rare and classic comics, marvel, dc, and dark. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. This is natural but also preventable with proper storage.
The best possible existing condition of a comic book. Contact us when selling your original comic book art. Collectors condition comic book raw grading labels. The set of terms below were proposed in 1949 by ab bookmans weekly. Armed with this knowledge and a good understanding of the market, you should be able to make an informed decision about restoration. An attractive collectible with a moderate defect or an accumulation of small defects.
A comic collector with comics that seem to have actually been read at some point, you naughty boy. Determining a comic book s condition is very subjective and more of an art than a science. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. Similar to light tan to offwhite, but the center of each page exhibits a cream color, while the edges are darker. Tolkien when considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value. Aug 30, 2017 comic book grades are given out through a company called the certified guaranty company also known as the cgc. Six values are listed here for each issue number based on the following grading criteria. A limited accumulation of minor binderyprinting defects is allowed. Page quality, staple integrity and condition, pieces missing from the interior, tape, tears, and writing are just some of the things that can also significantly impact the overall grade. Comic book value packs comic book value packs are a great way to pick up a lot of comics cheaply. Very fine to near mint vfnm back to top general wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc. The grade of a comic book is based on its physical condition.
A fr copy will have virtually no eye appeal and will display major damage. What are the comic book grades sparkle city comics. 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. Buy with confidence as the condition of this item and its timely delivery are guaranteed under the amazon atoz guarantee. Some collectors consider this the lowest collectible grade because comic books in lesser condition are usually incomplete andor brittle. The physical condition of comic books are rated as follows on a descending scale. The best possible existing condition of that comic book. Knowing your comic book s condition is very useful. Comic book grading labels collectors condition comic book. A comic book is this grade has the appearance of having been carefully handled. 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. I do not sell items 12 or so off my asking price all items sold asis 362869663047. The market value of comic books is partly determined by a grading process.