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. Death of superman comic book value price guide comics. The ultimate upside to getting your comics cgc graded is that it greatly enhances the value of your comics if they are in really good condition. 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. 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. The value can increase from 20 to 50 percent depending on the rarity of book. At mycomicshop, we use the basic grading scale for most of our comics. The most difficult, contentious and eternally frustrating aspect of comic collecting is grading. 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 grade of a comic book is based on its physical condition. A grader must comb over a book in very minute detail, looking for myriad imperfections like wear, tears, rounded corners, marks, page. The online form will allow you to easily submit any number of comics, and then you can print a copy of the form to be included in your shipment. This book has seen much better days and tends to be heavily worn and tattered. Lets show you some examples, so you can understand what your books grade on this scale.
Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. It includes the name of the condition, the symbol for the condition, and a numerical value. The comic book grading scale runs from mint down to poorincomplete with several steps in between. Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. Please note that grading will always be an extremely subjective process and there will always be small differences in opinion. A detailed explanation of how to determine a comic book s condition based on the established grades is generally included in a comic book pricing guide.
Comic grading is the process of encasing a comic book in a plastic case. Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. This book may range anywhere from poor to near mint and there is no obligation to clarify its condition. In general, the more restoration has been performed, the less the comic is worth compared to its apparent grade value. These books will be certified and encapsulated according to tier, and those grading below your. Comic book grades are determine by a special grading scale. 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. Not with most grading services though, perfect means perfect. Nostomanias grading guide for comic books as longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. You can easily identify a slabbed comic because the grades will include the name of the grading service, such as cgc 9. Vault grading provides grading, pressing, encapsulation, valuation, and screening services to comic book collectors.
Pgx was created to meet the growing demand for professional, thirdparty comic book grading. Remember, the prices paid for in the marketplace are recorded in numerous online services. The younger a comic, the less likely the book will increase in value significantly from restoration. The learn to grade comic books course is the most comprehensive course of its kind. 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. Useful for when you are unsure of the grade of a book or do not wish to grade the comic. We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. While there is a certain amount of subjectivity to this process, a reasonably accurate grade can be assigned by a careful amateur. Before cgc comics, collectors were at the mercy of vendors to determine the grade and value of a comic book. An exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. Similar to light tan to offwhite pages, but the edges of the pages are darker. Armed with this knowledge and a good understanding of the market, you should be able to make an informed decision about restoration. Of all the factors to consider, your comic s condition is key.
The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics, original and animation art. The comic book grading guide from your neighborhood shop. With new expanded information, it remains the definitive reference for industrystandard comic book grading. From our humble beginnings, we have grown to the largest, most complete comic book price guide with well over 1,000,000 comics in our database. The grade of a comic book is a shorthand description of the book s condition. Every type of restoration found on each book will be individually graded for quantity and quality, with a cumulative score determining the final restoration grade assigned. A copy of a comic in this grade has all pages and most of the covers. We closely monitor and calibrate our staff to maintain adherence to our established standards.
These grading services assign grades on the same tenpoint grading scale used by mycomicshop. The best grade a comic book can achieve with this page quality is 7. In comic books just a slight increase in grade can mean literally thousands of dollars in the value. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a grade on a report card. If you want to learn how to do basic grading on vintage comic books then here is a simple tutorial for you. The 10 point grading scale causes confusion in pricing, especially mid to lower grade comics. This is a fairly common trait in the very good category.
If youre looking for a hard to find back issue, we probably have it. A book in this condition is worn, ragged and unattractive. Whether youre flipping through the comics in your collection or at the dollar bin at your local comic shop lcs, everyone wonders what their comics are worth. Everything you need to know about submitting comic books. Determining the value of old comics involves five criteria that you need to mull over.
How to price classic illustrated comics our pastimes. 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. When buying or selling a comic book, or any collectible, it is important that both parties reach a level of agreement on that collectible condition or grade, as this will to a great extent determines its value. 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. Iconic comics grading is based on the overstreet grading guide. It has major defects to the point that there is almost no collector value. Then, simply register or login to start the submission process. Cbgc provides the only easy to use, online comic submission form. Jul 29, 2016 for avid comic book collectors, understanding the comic book grading system will help you determine the value of your comics. A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade, like an f or poor, is bad. Comic book value packs comic book value packs are a great way to pick up a lot of comics cheaply. The biggest and most popular third party grading company.
Only the slightest bindery or printing defects are allowed. A grader must comb over a book in very minute detail, looking for myriad imperfections like wear, tears, rounded corners, marks, page color e. The two basic systems consist of a number scale from one to ten such as the cgc uses and. The market value of comic books is partly determined by a grading process. There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easytofollow comic grading. In it, i walk you step by step through 27 comics at every grade level from 0. Comic book grading basics what you need to know by admin on thursday, october 15th, 2009 4 comments the grade or condition of a comic book is the most important determination of value outside of the actual title and issue number. Grading will only preserve and protect the value of an alreadyvaluable book. Use our articles to identify and value the comic books in your collection, or let us do the hard work for you with a free appraisal.
Fine comics in fine are priced significantly less than those in very fine and for good reason. Most collectors will accept any page quality except for books with slightly brittle or brittle pages in a collectible comic. Best bet would be to talk to alpha comics and they can get you an idea of the cost. Pgx also offers a comparable service and directly competes with cgc in the comic book grading market. This applies mainly to silver age comics, as noted earlier.
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. Both of these requirements were lacking for much of comic book history, and in the absence of a reliable method of achieving this, access to the culture was stifled and progress was delayed. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Learn what is the comic book rating system and how a comic book is graded with cbcs.
For one, if you have a really valuable book, it offers a form of protection. Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a comic book, which directly influences its value. To grade a comic, you need to take in to consideration a number of factors before being able to assess the correct grade. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide. Classics illustrated comic books are priced according to the print edition and the overall physical condition. Although i get how that value is only realized if you sell the book. Comic book grading labels collectors condition comic book. The best example of comic book condition ever seen. The oldest and most trusted comic book grading service is provided by certified guaranty company llc, more commonly known as cgc. Its only been within the last 15 years or so that the problem of bias in comic grading was amended, and it took the form of commercial grading.
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. As we match the sale we record the comic grading company, holderlabel type and the assigned grade. Originally produced in conjunction with the first edition of the overstreet comic book grading guide, the owl or overstreets whiteness level card is a comic book grading tool used to evaluate paper color on the reverse side is the one or overstreets numerical equivalent card, which translates the traditional letter grades into their equivalent values on a 100point numerical. The higher the grade of a comic book the higher the value. Grading your comic books guide revel in the detail comics. We have values for any marvel, dc, image, idw, darkhorse, or dell comic book that is in your collection. Again, this typically will not effect grading of a comic book. Once restored, a comics value depends upon several factors. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. The grading scale that we are familiar with in the coin market, regardless of the service that a coin has been submitted to, is known as the sheldon scale. While the overstreet comic book price guide helps you learn about comic values, this third book in our new how to line teaches you the importance of condition a factor that is often the key to real collectability and how to grade accurately. In other words, it takes a dealer time to sort, bag, board and price any comic book.
Before you ship your comics, please read the shipping information below. If youve stumbled across a treasure trove of comics, then sell my comic books is a great place to find out what you have. Grading is the process of evaluating the condition and consequent value of a comic book. Cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics. Learn what is the comic book rating system and how a comic book is graded with cbcs comics grading guidelines. Comic grading professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade misrepresentations by providing a professional assessment of condition and quality.
A standard color coded raw grading tool that is exclusively designed for you the comic book collectorinvestor. The company was founded by alec born and steve borock, the latter earning a reputation in the community while working many years at cgc, and was recently purchased by beckett media. The one grading system breaks down into the following condition types rank. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale. The grading of a comic book is about the condition of the comics.
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. 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. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. Everything you need to know about submitting comic books to cgc. While cgc gets a lot of attentionbecoming synonymous with comic book grading in much. Each pack is grouped around a particular character or theme, and there is no duplication within any pack. When grading gets to fine, you start operating on a point system. A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great. Comic book grading company the affordable and reliable.
Well be taking a look at their grading scale for the. Aug 12, 2014 some comic book stores even have authorized vendors who can send your books in for you. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. Estimate the value of each classics illustrated comic book using a comic book price guide. Remember that these costs can be higher for expensive books because cgc is insuring that your comic will be safe while in their possession. Comic grading company has a simple and affordable pricing structure without any clubs to join. Prices vary based on how old your comic is andor the value of the book.
You can also connect with others in the comic industry to further and enhance everyones comic experience. Death of superman comic book value price guide posted on by comics watcher 19 comments v chances are you stumbled upon this article looking for the value of the death of superman comic book you have or are interested in buyingselling. The overstreet guide to grading comics 2016 edition. For collector and dealer alike, it is essential to grade the condition of a comic fairly and accurately in order to determine its true value and worth. Comic book price guides, like overstreet, have a minimum price for comic books.
Cgcs restoration grading scale is a transparent system that is much more descriptive and accurate than before. Collectors get excited when they find that hot book or one of their grails. Our company has sat well over 600 world record prices selling vintage comic books at auction. Gp analysis lists us as a cgc the comic book grading authority online auction firm. The number 1 free online comic book community featuring a comic book price guide database, friends, lists, blogs, and more. A lightly restored book will be valued higher than a book with heavy restoration in the same apparent grade.
Who is the most reputable to help get the most value. Value of books with sketches vary in a similar manner as signed books, and value for either will depend on the creators contribution. The standard comic book grading system that is widely used today is the one developed in the official overstreet comic book grading guide. If we dont, add it to your want list and well notify you when its in stock. Cbcs comic book certification service the newest and second most popular comic book grading company. Most comics graded using the tenpoint grading scale have cover scans, so when youre considering purchasing a comic you can see the front and sometimes back cover scans of the exact comic being offered. Part of the reason is because its understood that at minimum the cost of grading the comic is added to the raw value of the book. Grading is the second investigation a comic goes through, this time to evaluate the condition of the comic cover and pages. The following comics grading scale is commonly used to rate the condition of comics. The minimum price is not a real reflection of market value. I just want to get the most out of what is probably my best comic. The 2 reputable thirdparty professional grading services both begin with c use the same scale, but not exactly the same criteria, but overstreet has collaborated with them for their newest grading guide. Also, pressing is a very delicate process, so please be aware that it may add time to the express and next day grading services.
Comic book grades are given out through a company called the certified guaranty company also known as the cgc. Finally, we gather supportive information about the individual sale including when and where it was sold, how the sale can be identified at the remote venue, the format of the sale auction, fixed price, etc. Like any other collectible, the condition, or grade, is an important determinant of final value or price. Of course theres also the fact that graded comics hold higher values. These records are from an impartial 3rd party source gp analysis. In this installment we will take a look at comic book certification services cbcs. Since 1970, the name overstreet has symbolized a vast knowledge of american comic books. May 19, 2016 comic book grading is one of the most important parts of speculating. A good grade will increase the value of your comics. All it takes is a quick ebay search to see that high grade cgc comics will always sell for more than their raw counterparts. Please note that we can only ship up to 30 books in one box so you will need to take this into account when submitting larger orders. Grading, particularly by a reputable source is often used to gauge the value of a particular book, and grading by certain companies that authenticate and certify comics books for condition and.
There are different systems used by different price guides and grading companies. A fr is the lowest grade a comic book can receive as long as the story and art are complete. The advantages of the collectors condition comic book raw grading labeling system is. Consider sending valuable classics illustrated comic books to a professional grading service for a more precise evaluation. We offer modern, bronze age, silver age, and golden age comics. But only when the book is otherwise quite beautiful, and the tape does not in any way mar the appearance of the book. Comics price guide was the first online price guide for comic books back in 1995. One of the most important factors is first to count the interior pages. Grading your comic books guide revel in the detail. Effective with the 4th edition, published in 2014, the overstreet comic book grading guide has been retitled as the overstreet guide to grading comics, and has been published in a new larger format. A fr copy will have virtually no eye appeal and will display major damage. This plastic case forever seals your comic, unless you destroy the case to extract the comic.