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* * * COMIC BOOK GRADING GUIDE * * *
The grading standards I use are the Overstreet standards, the most recognized grading standards in the comics industry.
When you review the possible defects a comic may have for the purpose of grading, please keep the following in mind.
A single defect may not reduce a comic's grade. Defect if repeated and / or combined with other accumulated defects, may push the grade down by one or more grades.
I grade Comic Books conservatively, some have said too conservatively. However, this only inproves the values I offer to buyers and collectors.
I use the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.
MINT CONDITION - MT - (Overstreet 100 - 98):
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 and clean with no rust. Cover is generally centered and firmly secured to interior pages. Paper is supple and fresh . Spine it tight and flat.
NEAR MINT - NM - (Overstreet 97 - 90):
A almost perfect copy with only minor imperfection allowed. A comic falls into this condition range if it meets all the following standards...
- NM - Centerfold: Must be fully and properly attached to staples.NM - Corner Bends : Only if hardly noticeable.
- NM - Cover Scuff Marks: Must be very, very limited and hardly noticeable.
- NM - Cover Detached at Top or Bottom Staple: Reduces an otherwise NM copy to FN.
- NM - Browning of Paper: No browning is acceptable except for older comics--generally those with cover prices 20c or older. Even then, only a modest color change is acceptable.
- NM - Fingerprints: If they can be seen, condition drops to Fine or Very Good.
- NM - Off-Center Printing: Acceptable if only to a minor degree.
- NM - Pieces Missing: No pieces missing except for tips of pages nicked during the production process.
- NM - Rolled Spine: None.
- NM - Staples: Must be tight, clean, and centered without rust.
- NM - Spine Stress Marks: Only is very minor/hardly noticeable and very few.
- NM - Tape: None of any type.
- NM - Tears and Water Stains: None.
VERY FINE - VF - (Overstreet 89-75):
Sharp, bright and clean with supple pages. Pages and covers can be yellowish / tannish (at the most), but not brown, and will often be off white to white. Light spine wear is acceptable. An exceptional copy with outstanding eye appeal. A comic falls into this condition range if it meets all the following standards...
- VF - Centerfold: Must be fully and properly attached to staples.
- VF - Corner Bends : Slightly noticeable allowed.
- VF - Cover Scuff Marks: Only allowed if very limited and hardly noticeable.
- VF - Cover Detached at Top or Bottom Staple: Reduces an otherwise VF copy to VG.
- VF - Browning of Paper: No browning is acceptable except for older comics--generally those with cover prices 20c or older. Even then, only a modest color change is acceptable.
- VF - Fingerprints: If they can be seen, condition drops to Fine or Very Good.
- VF - Off-Center Printing: Acceptable if only to a minor degree.
- VF - Pieces Missing: No pieces missing except for tips of pages nicked during the production process.
- VF - Rolled Spine: None.
- VF - Staples: May be a bit loose, but must be clean, centered without rust.
- VF - Spine Stress Marks: Slightly noticeable allowed.
- VF - Tape: None of any type.
- VF - Tears and Water Stains: None
FINE - FN - (Overstreet 74-55):
Above average copy that show minor wear but still is relatively flat, clean and glossy. No subscription crease or brown margins. Defects include: light spine wear, minor surface wear, a light crease, minor yellowing / tanning to interior pages. Compared to a VF the cover inks are beginning to show a significant reduction in reflectivity, but the comic remains highly collectible anddesirable. A comic falls into this condition range if it meets all the following standards...
- FN - Centerfold: May be loose or detached at one staple if comic is otherwise VF or better. An otherwise FN copy with a centerfold loose or detached at one staple drops to VG.
- FN - Corner Bends : Minor noticeable bends allowed.
- FN - Cover Scuff Marks: Light scuffing is allowed, but only minor.
- FN - Cover Detached at Top or Bottom Staple: Reduces an otherwise FN copy to VG.
- FN - Browning of Paper: Very slight browning is acceptable, but there can be no brittleness in paper.
- FN - Fingerprints: There can be finger prints, but if excessive or distracting, they drop their grade to Very Good.
- FN - Off-Center Printing: Slight deviance is acceptable.
- FN - Pieces Missing: No pieces missing except for tips of pages nicked during the production process.
- FN - Rolled Spine: None.
- FN - Staples: May be a bit loose, but must be clean, centered without rust.
- FN - Spine Stress Marks: Minor noticeable stress marks allowed.
- FN - Tape: None of any type.
- FN - Tears and Water Stains: None
- FN - Writing: No writing except for autographs on cover. Very minor pencil note on interior OK
VERY GOOD - VG - (Overstreet 54 -35):
In general, this represents a used comic book that has not been taken care of. These comics show moderate wear but eye appeal has not been reduced to the point that the comic ceases to be collectible . One or two minor markings on the cover or minor spine roll are allowed. These comics may be lightly creased along the spine or other edges, or have a minor piece or pieces missing. A comic falls into this condition range if it meets all the following standards...
- VG - Centerfold: May be loose or detached at one staple.
- VG - Corner Bends: Allowed if not excessive.
- VG - Cover Scuff Marks: Must be minor.
- VG - Cover Detached at Top or Bottom Staple: Reduces an otherwise VG copy to GD.
- VG - Browning of Paper: Browning is acceptable, but there can be no brittleness in paper.
- VG - Fingerprints: There can be finger prints.
- VG - Off-Center Printing: Allowed.
- VG - Pieces Missing: No pieces missing except for tips of pages nicked during the production process.
- VG - Rolled Spine: Only if very minor.
- VG - Staples: Clean, centered without rust, may be loose, but still must be joined to all pages. No tearing at staples acceptable.
- VG - Spine Stress Marks: Always allowed and can be very visible.
- VG - Tape: None of any type.
- VG - Tears: Several minor tears or one major tear up to an inch in length.
- VG - Water Stains: Allowed only if barely noticeable. Area effected must be as smooth and flat as the rest of comic.
- VG - Writing: Minor marking on cover acceptable if copy is otherwise FN or better. Marker writing is not allowed.
GOOD - GD - (Overstreet 34 - 15):
Comics in this condition have all pages and covers, although there may be small rips or tears. These still very readable copies are commonly creased, scuffed, abraded, and soiled. Paper quality is low, but not brittle. A comic falls into this condition range if it meets all the following standards...
- GD - Centerfold: May be loose or detached at one or both staples.
- GD - Corner Bends : Allowed and fairly to very evident.
- GD - Cover Scuff Marks: Allowed.
- GD - Cover Detached at Top or Bottom Staple: Allowed.
- GD - Browning of Paper: Browning is allowed, but paper may be only slightly brittle.
- GD - Fingerprints: There can be finger prints.
- GD - Off-Center Printing: Allowed.
- GD - Pieces Missing: May have a postage stamp-sized piece missing from cover and/or interior piece missing of same size.
- GD - Rolled Spine: Allowed.
- GD - Staples: Staples may be loose and may show some rust.
- GD - Spine Stress Marks: Spine can have some tears, usually occurring around the staples. These tears must be less than 1/4 inch.
- GD - Tape: Only if a very small piece or two. Must be clear tape.
- GD - Tears: Extensive tear acceptable, or several that together equal a major tear.
- GD - Water Stains: Acceptable if not excessive and comic remains smooth.
- GD - Writing: Most writing acceptable, even on cover, but not if excessive (i.e. Marker Pen, as example), or otherwise distracting from story readability.
FAIR - FR - (Overstreet 14-5):
Comics in this condition are very heavily read and / or soiled, but still complete. Damaged beyond collectible for many collectors but not all. A comic falls into this condition range if it meets all the following standards...
- FR - Centerfold: May be loose or detached at one or both staples.
FR - Corner Bends : Can be very obvious.
FR - Cover Scuff Marks: Allowed
FR - Cover Detached at Top, Bottom or Both Staples: Allowed.
FR - Browning of Paper: May be both brown and brittle.
FR - Fingerprints: There can be finger prints.
FR - Off-Center Printing: Allowed
FR - Pieces Missing: Pieces of cover and even interior, including a coupon, may be missing so long as story remains readable.
FR - Folds: Allowed
FR - Staples: Staples may be loose and may have rust.
FR - Spine Stress Marks: Spine can have some tears, usually occurring around the staples. Tears must be less than one inch.
FR - Tape: May be taped, but not excessive, or tape with wrong type of tape such as masking tape.
FR - Tears: Very extensive tear acceptable, or multiple tears that together equal one or two major tear.
FR - Water Stains: Acceptable and there may be some warping / wrinkling.
FR - Writing: Most writing acceptable, even on cover, but not if excessive or otherwise distracting from story readability.
POOR - PR - (Overstreet 4-1):
Poor comics are often stained, abraded, defaced, or otherwise damaged. May have a page or centerfold missing (see Pages Missing). A comic falls into this condition range if it meets all the following standards...
- PR - Centerfold: May be loose, detached at one or both staples, or missing altogether.
- PR - Corner Bends : Can be very obvious.
- PR - Cover Scuff Marks: Allowed.
- PR - Cover Detached at Top, Bottom or Both Staples: Allowed.
- PR - Browning of Paper: May be both brown and / or brittle.
- PR - Fingerprints: There can be finger prints.
- PR - Off-Center Printing: Allowed
- PR - Pieces Missing: Pieces of cover and even interior may be missing so long as story remains readable. Coupons may be clipped out.
- PR - Folds: Allowed
- PR - Staples: Staples may be loose or disconnected from book to some degree and may have rust.
- PR - Spine Stress Marks: Spine can have some tears, usually occurring around the staples. These tears must be less than one inch.
- PR - Tape: May be taped, but not excessive, or tape with wrong type of tape such as masking tape.
- PR - Tears: Allowed, short of the comic being torn in half.
- PR - Water Stains: Acceptable May be moderate warping / wrinkling, comic remains entirely readable.
- PR - Page Missing: Allowed. One or two pages may be missing in interior or back cover.
- PR - Writing: Most writing acceptable, even on cover, but not if excessive or distracts from story readability.
- PR - Rolled Spine: Allowed.
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