A lightly restored book will be valued higher than a book with heavy restoration in. The thought of restored grade, also known as the dreaded purple label, has been known to make an avid comic collector or two, shudder, when they receive the assigned grade on a cgc submission. It is the first independent and impartial third party grading service for comic books the company was launched in early 2000 and has since gone on to become a notable part of the comic book collecting community. New staple holes created upon reinsertion, or noncomic book staples used. Weve broken down all of the attributes of the new grading scale to help understand the new process. Cgcs new restoration grading scale is a transparent system that is much more descriptive and accurate than before. Jan 09, 2017 i have used both cgc and cbcs with good results on both. Copies are available through all normal distribution channels or can be ordered direct from gemstone by. Ditch fahrenheits virtual comic collector universe archive only excellence in content. An exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. Comic book grading and restoration may 19, 2016 scott robertson 25 comments comic book grading is one of the most important parts of speculating. Every type of restoration found on each book will be individually graded for quantity and quality, with a cumulative score determining the final restoration.
Additionally, some comics are slabbed by cgc, cbcs, or pgx. Restoration has existed in some form or another since the inception of comic books, but it has evolved considerably over the past 50 years. This gave paul the valued versatility to wear any hat the cgc grading team needs at any time. Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. Grading is the term used for the assessment of the condition of a particular comic book. Cgc s restoration grading scale is a transparent system that is much more descriptive and accurate than before. The comic book price guide for great britain a guide to grading. Cgc comics the things you need to know about certifying. This company was started by steve borock, the former president of cgc so he definitely has some clout in the industry. 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. 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. May 04, 2016 comic book grading tutorial comicgeekspeak. When restoration of comics first began, it was a collection of crude, damaging attempts to preserve or fix comics exhibiting defects like tears or missing.
Apr 04, 2016 welcome to the world of 3rd party grading. Cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics. Cgc uses a standard 10 point grading scale to grade 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. 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. Furthermore, every cgccertified comic book undergoes a thorough restoration check by leading professionals during the certification process. Jul 01, 2014 conservation repairs are performed with the intent of preserving the structural or chemical integrity of a comic book using professional techniques and materials. Prior to cgcs existence, many dealers would not disclose restoration that had been done to a comic.
It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books, to discover a comic in. Because restoration and grading are inextricably linked, their evolutionary paths run parallel. Examples of restoration include color touch, adding pieces to a comic, spine reinforcement, staple replacement, tear seals and many more. Comic books can be sent to these companies for independent, impartial certification, including grading, restoration check and encapsulation within a tamperevident protective holder. Click here to download the restoration grading scale pdf. While collectors have been restoring rare comics for ages, the certified guaranty company cgc has reconditioned their grading scale for the classification of.
Restoration is the act of adding foreign material to a comic book through certain techniques to return its appearance to an ideal or original state. Once restored, a comic s value depends upon several factors. Most dealers will allow a small tape repair in the very good category. Once the books are graded, both cgc and pgx provide notes to explain how certain flaws affected the grade of the submitted books. Once restored, a comics value depends upon several factors. Restoration on your comics is done not only to make it more desirable to collectors, but also for the sake of our hobby. But theres also this social contract that exists which allows buyers to put more faith in a book graded by cgc because of the confidence their reputation brings to the table. Graders notes are usually provided for a small fee or every so often for free to the submitter it really depends on what you ask for when you submit the books for grading. On the other hand, if you are buying an expensive comic over the internet and want a 3rd party graded copy to ensure you that youre getting what youre paying for, getting a slabbed book is a way to ensure that. Conservation repairs are performed with the intent of preserving the structural or chemical integrity of a comic book using professional techniques and materials. This policy will be retroactive to any cgc books sold by in the past. For much more information on grading and restoration, as well as photographs of many major defects and conditions, consult the official overstreet comic book grading guide. The most difficult, contentious and eternally frustrating aspect of comic collecting is grading. Learn how to grade comic books and spot a restoration.
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. Today, cgc is the worlds largest and most trusted thirdparty grading service for comics, magazines, concert posters and related collectibles with more than 6 million collectibles certified. Certified guaranty company cgc is a leading thirdparty grading service for comic books, magazines and other collectibles. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. The graders look for damage and signs of restoration. As of july 1st, 2014 cgc has released new restored comic book grading for all comics that not only include the overall quantity of grading, but the overall quality as well. 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. Amazing spiderman 2 is a book often sent to cgc comics to be certified. These comic grading services will grade a comic and then seal the comic in a hard plastic case that displays the assigned grade. Can i have a book cgcd and shipped to me internationally. Classic collectible services ccs is a leading comic book pressing, restoration and restoration removal company.
Any obvious signs of restoration are noted and the comic book is given tracking information so that the exact comic book you sent can be located at any. All conserved grades must satisfy the cgc quality scale of a and. Description universal blue a standard comic book universal blue no grade ng a comic book that is in such poor condition that cgc will not give it a grade, but merely verify that it is an actual original comic book. Restoration on your comics is done not only to make it more desirable to collectors, but also for the sake of our hobby where many of these great treasures are decaying and falling apart due to age and mishandling. A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great. Furthermore, every cgc certified comic book undergoes a thorough restoration check by leading professionals during the certification process. Comics that are submitted to cgc are graded by professional graders on a 10 point scale and then sealed inside a hard plastic cotainer to prevent tampering. Though at times controversial, its proven grading system has become a gold. Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. Any obvious signs of restoration are noted and the comic book. Indepth look at the new cgc comic book restoration. Introduction to cgc grading for new comic book collectors.
Mar 04, 2014 the thought of restored grade, also known as the dreaded purple label, has been known to make an avid comic collector or two, shudder, when they receive the assigned grade on a cgc submission. 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. Restoration is any alteration made to a comic book that attempts to improve the appearance of a comic. The ultimate authority delivers the right grade every time grading comic books is the key to successful comic book collecting, and now the leading expert on comic books, robert m. The price guide, currently in its 37th release, features information on the ten point comic book grading scale, as well as approximate values of thousands of american comic books with different. With our comic book restoration services you can take your lowgrade investment and transform it into something with fantastic eye appeal. All conserved grades must satisfy the cgc quality scale of a and quantity scale of 1. Working with all eras of comic books gave paul wideranging knowledge of variants, printings and manufacturing defects as well as restoration detection and pedigree recognition. Indepth look at the new cgc comic book restoration grading. Even professional grading services like cgc, cbcs, and pgx acknowledge that the same book may not always receive the same grade if it is submitted for grading more than once. For a long time, cgc was the premier comic book grading company.
Last week i received my overstreet guide to grading comics 2015 edition from amazon. Third party grading will alleviate any worries about misrepresented grades and restoration. 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. Cgc agreed to launch these two books before the july 1 official start date. Be it for a simple dry cleaning and pressing, or a full complete restoration you will get the best savings if you decide to submit to either grading company afterwards. As soon as the first collectors placed value on comic books, restoration began to proliferate. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. Typically the owner of a freshlygraded, purplelabeled comic opens the shipping package and immediately slumps into a pile, with much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. Certified guaranty company, also known as cgc, is a sarasota, florida comic book grading. Midtown comics now offering cgc at all of our events and signings. In 2005, paul was named an overstreet grading advisor. Comic book grading is a complicated process, but were here to answer all your questions. Any book, sold in an unrestored cgc holder by that is later determined by cgc to actually contain restoration not discovered in the previous certification, will be fully refundable.
It excludes aesthetic repairs such as color touch and piece fill. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale. Jul 16, 2014 a few weeks ago, i attended a local comic convention here in vancouver and i heard about the new company comic book certification service. 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. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. Cgc comics the things you need to know about certifying your. These grading services assign grades on the same tenpoint grading scale used by mycomicshop. Restoration is any alteration made to a comic book that attempts to. This company was started by steve borock, the former president of cgc so he definitely has some. Consists of accurate highresolution images of the front and back of the book, shown encapsulated in its cgc holder.
Well if you ever wanted to get more information on comic book grading or how to get your comic graded by the cgc, youre at the right place now. A lightly restored book will be valued higher than a book with heavy restoration in the same apparent grade. 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. Beginning with a diminutive 3point scale in 1970, the comic book grading scale eventually expanded to seven points, split grades, and eventually the 25point scale we currently use. But theres also this social contract that exists which allows buyers to put more faith in a book graded by cgc because of the. There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a. Comic book restoration services hero restoration llc. Cgcs restoration grading scale is a transparent system that is much more descriptive and accurate than before. Only very minute printing and bindery defects or the most barely noticeable handling defects present. In general, cgc is set up the same way as ngc and pcgs as far as the grading process. The following is a list of conservation and restoration repairs. The overstreet comic book grading guide 3rd edition. Cgc will have representatives there so you can have your signed comics witnessed and given to them for slabbing. Comics listed for sale on johns comics and stuff are listed with the basic grading scale.
Dealers and graders may often disagree with some grading classifications. A green label is used for any comics that have restoration work, similar to cgcs purple, with grading notes included to describe the level of restoration slight, minor, moderate, and extensive. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide. Nothing makes you want to raise your fist to the heavens, and scream noooo like getting a great grade only to have the dreaded purple label. While the overstreet comic book price guide helps you decide what comics to look for, this new, extensively updated edition of the overstreet comic book grading guide teaches you the telltale signs of condition that are the keys to real collectibility. I live in the vegas area and our local comic book store torpedo comics is hosting a yearlong signing event to rival most comic cons. A few weeks ago, i attended a local comic convention here in vancouver and i heard about the new company comic book certification service. Grading of comics can be subjective, although there are basic. The higher the grade of a comic book the higher the value.
We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. The product quality is great, there are a variety of labels that meet the conditions of different books, and. As noted in an earlier article, cgc has expanded its restoration scale to help collectors understand what was done to their book. Ng no grade reserved for art or single comic book pages 0. Digital imaging for comic books submitted under any of cgc s grading and service tiers. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books, to discover a comic in these grades as they are virtually nonexistent. When you submit a comic book to cgc, it is inspected before grading actually begins. Certified guaranty company, also known as cgc, is a sarasota, florida comic book grading service. While a casual collector might not need to bother, its vitally important to have your comics graded if you ever plan to sell them, because the value of a comic varies widely.
Grading process certified guaranty company, llc cgc comics. In general, the more restoration has been performed, the less the comic is worth compared to its apparent grade value. Cgc is an independent member of the certified collectibles group of companies. Grading payments shipping returns restoration policy. Yes, but there are higher fees for international shipping, depending on which country you need it shipped to. The best possible existing condition of that comic book. Ever wonder what those little tags are on some comic books. 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.
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