Very fine comic book grade

Dark colored pages that exhibit a uniform tint from edges to middle. Its necessary to determine an accurate appraisal value. 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. The tenpoint grading scale assigns grades ranging from 10. These grades allow for some more defects than higher grades. A very fine comic book appears to have been read a few times and has been handled with care.

Thus a very fine with a missing part should grade no more than a vg at best. Ng no grade reserved for art or single comic book pages 0. Frequently, a fine copy with an unusual flaw is lowered to vgf. The grade of a comic book is based on its physical condition. Clicking a text link or image marked check live prices will take you to ebay. In order for a buyer to have confidence that theyll be getting what they paid for, its absolutely essential that you. Unless, of course, the bronze age book is a very important key issue and in mint condition.

An accumulation of binderyprinting defects is allowed. A very wellpreserved collectible with good eye appeal. A small coupon or story panel by at least a couple of grades, a half page out by perhaps three overall grades. A comic book is this grade has the appearance of having been carefully handled. Free delivery and returns on ebay plus items for plus members.

Good g describes the condition of an average used worn book that is complete. A very fine comic book is considered high grade for older books not modern comics. A fine book approaches the condition of as new, but without being crisp. Mar 27, 2020 assess whether it might deserve a fine grade.

Some of the above defects along with a small fold or crease in the cover. Poor, fair, good, very good, fine, very fine, and near mint to mint. Its necessary to know if the way youre storing it is appropriate. Grade them yourself via assistance from the book overstreets comic book price guide. Take your comic books to a comic book store and ask for someone to help you. 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. A fr copy will have virtually no eye appeal and will display major damage. Grading guide pgx comics pgx comic grading services. An extremely exceptional comic with only very minute printing or bindery defects. The book may have been opened and read, but there are no defects to the book, jacket or pages. The book includes additional information on comics such as if a comic has the first appearance of a particular comic book character. Comic book grading labels collectors condition comic.

There are eight major grades in the comic book grading scale. Very fine to near mint vfnm back to top general wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc a beautiful book. I have been a comic book fan, collector, publisher pocket comicsmars attacks 1988 and graphic artist for years necessity is the mother of invention. Many well kept books from the 1970s and early 1980s are in this condition. If a comic, british or american, appears otherwise very high grade, a missing coupon or panel would devalue it. People who are new to the hobby often mistakenly grade their very fine books as near mint. Due to the nature of paper, discoloration is expected over time. Back to top an aboveaverage copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with outstanding eye appeal.

Here are some tips and guidelines to help you through the process. A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade. After buying a few graded comics on ebay and starting my. Within the grades, there might also be descriptive notes because comics with the same technical grade may have different reasons for that grade and many collectors have their own biases of what flaws are more acceptable than. How to determine your comic books condition sparkle city. Books in this condition pre1980 are virtually nonexistent.

The same as tan to offwhite, but the center of the pages are darker. The cgc is a company that offers impartial ratings of comic books. Fits the criteria for fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the book s appearance by a perceptible amount. 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. Slip the comic book onto the backing board and into the protective sleeve, or place label over the comic book sleeve. Apr 04, 2016 welcome to the world of 3rd party grading. Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. The next major grade you need to know is very finevf. Truly rare comic books may come along once or twice in a lifetime. A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great. 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. Describes a book that shows some small signs of wear but no tears on either binding or paper.

Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. We use ebay to provide references to live prices of comic books. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. In addition, there were no quality standards for comic book grading, which meant there was much discrepancy amongst collectors about the condition of various books. How to determine your comic books condition sparkle.

The term grade is used to describe what condition a comic book is in. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. 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. Similar to light tan to offwhite pages, but the edges of the pages are darker. If exceptional in other areas, could have nine of the following at least three must be 116 or less in size and the remaining must be must be 18 in size or less, small spine stress, slight corner blunting. A very minor spine roll on an otherwise clean and uncreased copy is permitted in this grade. The best grade a comic book can achieve with this page quality is 7. There is a large difference between a low grade fine comic book and a high grade very fine comic book. A few very fine spine stress lines are allowable in this grade. Advice for those who dont know how to grade comics the majority of sellers we deal with are experienced graders, either long time collectors or comic retailers.

Before cgc comics, collectors were at the mercy of vendors to determine the grade and value of a comic book. For many collectors this is the minimum acceptable condition for all but the rarest items. Back to top fits the criteria for very fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the book s appearance by a perceptible amount. In order for a buyer to have confidence that theyll be getting what they paid for, its absolutely essential that you fairly and accurately grade the comics you. Thus a very fine with a missing part should grade no. Jul 14, 2016 the mid grade books can be broken into two categories very fine and fine. A limited accumulation of minor binderyprinting defects is allowed. The majority of sellers we deal with are experienced graders, either long time collectors or comic retailers. It is very rare especially in older comic books pre1990 to discover a comic in either mint or gem mint condition.

Determining a comic books condition is very subjective and more of an art than a science. However, the very fine near mint book will have no more than 6 total defects. It has just enough small flaws to drop it out of the near mint category. Another way is on a tenpoint grading scale from 10. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a grade on a report card. Very good vg describes a book that is worn but untorn. This step is taken to ensure that graders do not know whose books they are grading, as a further guarantee of impartiality. A comic book in fr condition may have nonstory elements such as.

After being examined by a restoration detection professional, the comic books are placed in barcoded mylar sleeves, and separated from their original invoice. Organize your collection the way you want it to be. Fits the criteria for fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the books appearance by a perceptible amount. The mid grade books can be broken into two categories very fine and fine. In recent years, grading criteria have become even tighter, especially in silver and bronze age books, due to their higher survival rate. Overall an above average copy and still very collectible.

A comic which is well preserved but not mint is typically described as fine or very fine. These are comics that have been read and enjoyed, but with care. Back to top fits the criteria for very fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the books appearance by a perceptible amount. This is the typical condition of a nice newstand mint comic book. Introduction to cgc grading for new comic book collectors. Comic book grading labels collectors condition comic book.

I got tired of using standard labels, cutting, taping, searching, and wasting time. Have someone who is knowledgable about comic books, preferably a friend, help you. The comic book price guide for great britain a guide to grading. A very fine comic book appears to have been read a few times and has been handled with some care. You can now take pride in showingoff your comic book collection to your friends at home, dealers. 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. 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. They may have some discoloration, but pages should still be supple and the cover should still be glossy and attractive. There will be a number of minor handling andor manufacturing defects. The best possible existing condition of a comic book. Very fine grade copy, some nonhorrible edgewear and interior tannning, otherwise super nice, minor wear common to this grade.

Back to top an aboveaverage but well used comic book. We deal with hundreds of such sellers who have done thousands of transactions with us since we began buying online in 2002. Comic collectors have established standard grades to describe the condition of the comics theyre buying and selling. Advice for those who dont know how to grade comics. Mint mt near mint nm very fine vf fine fn very good vg good gd fair fa poor po this comic book grading scale has been used for several decades, during which time the scale has been expanded to more accurately describe a book s condition. Grading rare and classic comics, marvel, dc, and dark.

Very fine minus vf back to top general wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc. The other less standardized rating system uses terms like fair and very good. Oct 02, 2017 knowing your comic books condition is very useful. A fr is the lowest grade a comic book can receive as long as the story and art are complete. The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. Comic book grades are given out through a company called the certified guaranty company also known as the cgc.