comic gradings explained

Comicsmagazines.com

the website for collectors who still enjoy comics and actually still enjoy reading them

COMIC GRADINGS - AN EXPLANATION OF GRADES USED ON THIS WEBSITE
Gradings given to comics on this website are based on Overstreet gradings, but to keep things simple (as this site is used by collectors and non collectors) we have not adopted their 10 point numerical system on every comic listing and opted for the grade description instead.
The first thing you should notice is that the grading spread runs from poor to mint. Non collectors should note that Very Good is actually only an average middle grade to comic collectors.
This point is as good a place as any to state clearly the position of this website on certain grading issues.
1. Age has no bearing on the grading of a comic. You are describing the condition of the comic and grades make no allowance for the age of the comic. There is no such thing as "very good or mint for its age" . The comic is simply in a condition that any defects allowed for allow you to attribute to it.
2. A comic must be graded as a whole and any interior defects taken into account too. You can not grade a comic by its cover alone. Having said that though, it is simply not possible to go through every comic you buy and sell page by page or you would never have the time to list it. A quick check of most comics will show up any noticeable defects. Some comics such as the D.C. 80 page giants from the 1960s are always difficult to find in high grades as they usually have some damage on the spines. Also difficult to find in high grade are 100 pagers, DC 52 pagers from the mid 1970s and mainly white or black cover issues. As a rough rule of thumb the more expensive the comic is the more time is spent describing it on this website.
3. Despite what anyone tries to tell you grading of comics is not an exact science. Most people will have a slight variance in how they grade some issues. I have in the past purchased comics from many of the larger American dealers and found even from these dealers that there is a fair variance in grades attributed to comics. Within certain parameters the grading of a comic is (and always will be ) a personal issue. While you would not expect any responsible seller to describe a Good copy as Fine it is also unrealistic to examine every tiny crease or blemish (unless you are told it is Mint or Pristine). What is important is that you find a seller who is consistent with their grading and supplies comics at an attributed grade that you are happy with. The only way (and even this is not perfect at times) to avoid any grading dispute whatsoever is for both parties to agree on accepting the grading on independent graded comics such as CGC slabbed issues.
4. Mint condition comics. A Mint condition comic should be exactly that and have no defects whatsoever. As even new copies suffer some handling getting distributed and onto store shelves it is the opinion of this website that mint is a very scarce grade for the type of comics on sale here and it should be used sparingly. If you look hard enough you will find a tiny defect in even a new comic. Remember that to be sold as Mint even a Golden Age comic would need to look like it had come off the store shelf today. Mint copies of older comics from the 60s or earlier are extremely scarce and anything approaching Mint is usually only found in old warehouse finds where the comic has never been in public circulation. Old very high grade comics are very scarce and that is why they command such a high price premium. Taking all these facts (and others) into consideration is the reason why NEAR MINT is usually as high as we will go for a grade. Mint is NOT a term that is used very often on this website.
5. Investor or comic collector. The vast majority of collectors collect comics for the simple reason that they like them , enjoy them, and read them. While slabbed CGC comics are eliminating possible grading disputes and providing a fixed reference point for investors and very high end collectors most of us actually want to buy our comics and read them (not look at it through a piece of plastic). For this reason alone this website concentrates on non slabbed comics.

Main American comics page
Homepage

Poor Fair Good V.G. Fine Very Fine Nr Mint Mint

comicsmagazines@aol.com

Please note that the gradings below are for American comics. British comics tend to use a slightly simplified system with less grades involved. On this website we still try to base the main grades such as Very Good and Fine around this USA grading system.

NOT A GRADING STOCKED

POOR

This is not a comic grade that we usually stock here. FAIR

GOOD
Despite the name this is still a fairly low grade comic. A copy in this grade has all pages and covers, although there may be small pieces missing inside; Small parts of the cover may be missing Books in this grade are commonly creased, scuffed, worn, soiled and may have large spine splits, but are still completely readable. Often, paper quality is low but not brittle. Cover reflectivity is low, and in some cases, completely absent.

VERY GOOD
This grade is always the surprise to non collectors as it is still only a mid graded comic.
The average used comic book. A comic in this grade shows some wear, can have a reading or center crease or a moderately rolled spine, but has not accumulated enough total defects to reduce overall visual appeal to the point that it is not a desirable copy. Some discoloration, fading and even minor soiling is allowed. Store stamps, name stamps, arrival dates, initials, etc. have no effect on this grade. Cover and interior pages can have some minor tears and folds and the centerfold may be detached at one staple. The cover may also be loose, but not completely detached. Common bindery and printing defects do not affect grade. Pages and inside covers may be brown but not brittle. Many VG condition comics have minor tape repair (although this should never be used in repairing comics).
Although this grade does allow for many defects this website usually will down grade to G-VG most comics with actual pieces missing.

FINE
An above-average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with no significant creasing or other serious defects. Visual appeal is somewhat reduced because of slight surface wear and possibly a small defect such as a few slight cross stress marks on spine or a very slight spine split . A Fine condition comic book appears to have been read a few times and has been handled with moderate care. Compared to a Very Fine , cover inks are beginning to show a significant reduction in reflectivity, but it is still a highly collectible and desirable book. Pages and interior covers may be discolouring slightly, but pages must still be fairly supple with no signs of brittleness.

VERY FINE
An excellent copy with outstanding visual appeal. Sharp, bright and clean with supple pages. Cover is relatively flat with almost no surface wear. Cover inks are generally bright with moderate to high reflectivity. Staples may show some discoloration. Spine may have a couple of almost insignificant transverse stress lines and is almost completely flat. A barely unnoticeable ¼ inch crease is acceptable, if color is not broken. Pages and covers can be yellowish/tannish (at the least, but no brown and will usually be off-white to white).

NEAR MINT.
Nearly perfect with only minor imperfections allowed. This grade should have no corner of impact creases, stress marks should be almost invisible, and bindery tears must be less than 1/16 inch. A couple of very tiny color flecks, or a combination of the above that keeps the book from being perfect, where the overall visual appeal is less than Mint drops the book into this grade. Only the most subtle bringing and/or printing defects allowed. Cover is flat with no surface wear. Cover inks are bright with high reflectivity and minimum of fading. Corners are cut square and sharp with ever so slight blunting permitted. Staples are generally centered, clean with no rust. Cover is well centered and firmly secured to interior pages. Paper is supple and like new. Spine is tight and flat.

NOT A GRADING OFTEN USED MINT
Near perfect in every way. Only the most subtle bindery or printing defects are allowed. Cover is flat with no surface wear. Cover inks are bright with high reflectivity and minimal fading. Corners are cut square and sharp. Staples are generally centered, clean with no rust. Cover is generally well centered and firmly secured to interior pages. Paper is supple and fresh. Spine is tight and flat.
As even new copies suffer some handling getting distributed and onto store shelves it is the opinion of this website that mint is a very scarce grade for the type of comics on sale here and it should be used sparingly. If you look hard enough you will find a tiny defect in even a new comic. Remember that to be sold as Mint even a Golden Age comic would need to look like it had come off the store shelf today. Mint copies of older comics from the 60s or earlier are extremely scarce and anything approaching Mint is usually only found in old warehouse finds where the comic has never been in public circulation. Old very high grade comics are very scarce and that is why they command such a high price premium. Taking all these facts (and others) into consideration is the reason why NEAR MINT is usually as high as we will go for a grade. Mint is NOT a term that is used very often on this website.

NOT A GRADING STOCKED	POOR
This is not a comic grade that we usually stock here.	FAIR
	GOOD Despite the name this is still a fairly low grade comic. A copy in this grade has all pages and covers, although there may be small pieces missing inside; Small parts of the cover may be missing Books in this grade are commonly creased, scuffed, worn, soiled and may have large spine splits, but are still completely readable. Often, paper quality is low but not brittle. Cover reflectivity is low, and in some cases, completely absent.
	VERY GOOD This grade is always the surprise to non collectors as it is still only a mid graded comic. The average used comic book. A comic in this grade shows some wear, can have a reading or center crease or a moderately rolled spine, but has not accumulated enough total defects to reduce overall visual appeal to the point that it is not a desirable copy. Some discoloration, fading and even minor soiling is allowed. Store stamps, name stamps, arrival dates, initials, etc. have no effect on this grade. Cover and interior pages can have some minor tears and folds and the centerfold may be detached at one staple. The cover may also be loose, but not completely detached. Common bindery and printing defects do not affect grade. Pages and inside covers may be brown but not brittle. Many VG condition comics have minor tape repair (although this should never be used in repairing comics). Although this grade does allow for many defects this website usually will down grade to G-VG most comics with actual pieces missing.
	FINE An above-average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with no significant creasing or other serious defects. Visual appeal is somewhat reduced because of slight surface wear and possibly a small defect such as a few slight cross stress marks on spine or a very slight spine split . A Fine condition comic book appears to have been read a few times and has been handled with moderate care. Compared to a Very Fine , cover inks are beginning to show a significant reduction in reflectivity, but it is still a highly collectible and desirable book. Pages and interior covers may be discolouring slightly, but pages must still be fairly supple with no signs of brittleness.
	VERY FINE An excellent copy with outstanding visual appeal. Sharp, bright and clean with supple pages. Cover is relatively flat with almost no surface wear. Cover inks are generally bright with moderate to high reflectivity. Staples may show some discoloration. Spine may have a couple of almost insignificant transverse stress lines and is almost completely flat. A barely unnoticeable ¼ inch crease is acceptable, if color is not broken. Pages and covers can be yellowish/tannish (at the least, but no brown and will usually be off-white to white).
	NEAR MINT. Nearly perfect with only minor imperfections allowed. This grade should have no corner of impact creases, stress marks should be almost invisible, and bindery tears must be less than 1/16 inch. A couple of very tiny color flecks, or a combination of the above that keeps the book from being perfect, where the overall visual appeal is less than Mint drops the book into this grade. Only the most subtle bringing and/or printing defects allowed. Cover is flat with no surface wear. Cover inks are bright with high reflectivity and minimum of fading. Corners are cut square and sharp with ever so slight blunting permitted. Staples are generally centered, clean with no rust. Cover is well centered and firmly secured to interior pages. Paper is supple and like new. Spine is tight and flat.
NOT A GRADING OFTEN USED	MINT Near perfect in every way. Only the most subtle bindery or printing defects are allowed. Cover is flat with no surface wear. Cover inks are bright with high reflectivity and minimal fading. Corners are cut square and sharp. Staples are generally centered, clean with no rust. Cover is generally well centered and firmly secured to interior pages. Paper is supple and fresh. Spine is tight and flat. As even new copies suffer some handling getting distributed and onto store shelves it is the opinion of this website that mint is a very scarce grade for the type of comics on sale here and it should be used sparingly. If you look hard enough you will find a tiny defect in even a new comic. Remember that to be sold as Mint even a Golden Age comic would need to look like it had come off the store shelf today. Mint copies of older comics from the 60s or earlier are extremely scarce and anything approaching Mint is usually only found in old warehouse finds where the comic has never been in public circulation. Old very high grade comics are very scarce and that is why they command such a high price premium. Taking all these facts (and others) into consideration is the reason why NEAR MINT is usually as high as we will go for a grade. Mint is NOT a term that is used very often on this website.