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. The first saturday in may thats may 6 this year is always free comic book day, when participating comic book shops around the world give away comic books for free. It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books, to discover a comic in these grades as they are virtually nonexistent. The standard comic book grading system that is widely used today is the one developed in the official overstreet comic book grading guide. Join me for a discussion about comic book grading with two representatives from cgc. 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.
Consists of accurate highresolution images of the front and back of the book, shown encapsulated in its cgc holder. So i asked my local shop if they thought cgc grading was worth the cost, and i got mixed responses from multiple shop employees along with other customers waiting in line. In it, i walk you step by step through 27 comics at every grade level from 0. 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. We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. 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. We closely monitor and calibrate our staff to maintain adherence to our established standards. Cgc grades most comic books that fit within the following dimensions. Though at times controversial, its proven grading system has become a gold standard for those looking to have their collection appraised. Its impossible to slab this since neither grading company will allow the bagged copy to be graded. There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easy.
You may submit comics through a cgc authorized dealer, who can help screen your books and answer any questions you may have. Current 1980s to today, size 6 78 x 10 12 silver age 1950s to 1980s, size 7 18 x 10 12 golden age pre 1950, size 7 34 x 10 12. How to grade your comics comic book grading labels. Some comics just need a little love and a cleaning. The best possible existing condition of that comic book. Indepth look at the new cgc comic book restoration grading. Since 1979 iconic comic shop located in hollywood, california on melrose ave. Society for magazine appreciators of super heroes aka smash. Professional sports authenticator psa is the worlds largest thirdparty sports card authentication service the experts in grading cards, sports autographs and memorabilia.
The mylar protects the comic, while our case protects the mylar. Comic book grading company the affordable and reliable. Youre here to decide if having your comics graded by cgc or another grading. Sketch out your favorite characters while learning some fundamental drawing concepts.
Books that have been encapsulated and certified by an objective. Or read our free, online comic book price guides, focusing on each character, to determine their current market value. Draw familiar comics or invent your own cartoon characters. 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.
If you always wanted to become a cartoon artist this beginners class is for you. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. You then hand the book over to them, and it gets sent off to be graded. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. When grading a comic book, the first thing youll see is the cover. A grader must comb over a book in very minute detail, looking for myriad imperfections like wear, tears, rounded corners, marks, page color e. Overstreet guide to grading comics 2015 overstreet comic book grading guide by robert m. The learn to grade comic books course is the most comprehensive course of its kind. Bag sizes depend on what year your comic book was published. Cover shows significant wear, and may be loose or even detached at one staple.
Some said its totally worth it, while others said that its not. Onsite comic grading, signature authentication price. Comic grading company has a simple and affordable pricing structure without any clubs to join. The official overstreet comic book grading guide 2nd edition by robert m. How to store a comic book collection like a superhero.
Its not superpowers that make comic book heroes untouchable today. Asp books can be submitted for onsite grading, however, artist availability can impact the timeliness of signature submissions. 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. In rare cases, a comic book will look much better than the given grade. Silicon valley comic con san jose, california san jose convention center. The best way to understand why a specific comic book received a check mark designation is to refer to the graders notes.
Comic book certification service cbcs was started by professional comic book hobbyists and provides certification and grading services for collectors and. These books will be certified and encapsulated according to tier, and those grading below your specified grade are returned uncertified. A comic must be relatively complete to be successfully restored. Pgx was created to meet the growing demand for professional, thirdparty comic book grading. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book.
Share historic pike comic book making team with your friends. Magazines cgc grades most magazines that fit within the following dimensions. Comic grading 101 with cgc live stream comic books. Preventative restoration, widely used and accepted by collectors, consists of nonadditive restoration on a book with one or two major defects. While collectors have been restoring rare comics for ages, the certified guaranty company cgc has reconditioned their grading scale for the classification of. 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. Collectors wishing to submit comic books that are signed in the presence of an authorized witness and therefore eligible for the asp yellow label should plan on submitting books early during the day on saturday. Grading is the second investigation a comic goes through, this time to evaluate the condition of the comic cover and pages. We buy your collectibles and offer consignment services. Digital imaging for comic books submitted under any of cgc grading and service tiers. Whether youre a local, new in town, or just passing through, youll be sure to find something on eventbrite that piques your interest. Is this an oldschool, comic books and comic art show.
We insert your comic in a mylar bag and then it is encased in a. 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. Bring drawing and color pencils, eraser and pad of. The store is located across from the safari inn, in a building. For books that have a signature witness, they are sealed with a special label. The majority of comics people find in their attic or basement, at an auction, storage unit, or. If i were to give an award to the bestdecorated comic book shop, it would go to burbanks house of secrets.
Our case is also tamperevident and tamperproof unlike the other slabs which can easily be cracked open, allowing someone to replace the comic with a lower grade and then reseal. 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. Choose a tier based on comic value and turnaround time. His friends cordelia chase, his exgirlfriends corky rival from sunnydale, and doyle, his halfdemon conduit to the powers that be are there to help him in his mission. Only very minute printing and bindery defects or the most barely noticeable handling defects present. We offers both cgc and cbcs submission services as a convenient way of getting your books graded and encapsulated. Take a close look, ideally with a magnifying glass, and make careful notes of any apparent damage, including. 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.
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