The first has to be the arrival of comic book conventions. The most difficult, contentious and eternally frustrating aspect of comic collecting is grading. Preventative restoration, widely used and accepted by collectors, consists of nonadditive restoration on a book with one or two major defects. Grading is the term used for the assessment of the condition of a particular comic book. Certified guaranty company cgc is a leading thirdparty grading service for comic books, magazines and other collectibles.
A comic must be relatively complete to be successfully restored. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. We are currently migrating data to our new system and conducting tests, and we are really excited for you to try it out. After witnessing his parents brutal deaths, dick graysons life is seemingly destroyed. The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. Discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor to moderate soiling is allowed. Cbcss services are more reasonable and a little easier to use right now. Standard turnaround time is approximately 30 business days or you can choose a faster service. 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 grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. Founded in 2000, cgc is the first independent, impartial, thirdparty comic book grading service. The younger a comic, the less likely the book will increase in value significantly from restoration.
Comic grading company has a simple and affordable pricing structure without any clubs to join. Our grading methods are based upon factual and measurable observations. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale. Even professional grading services like cgc, cbcs, and pgx acknowledge that the same book may not always receive the same grade if it is. Cbcs team members all share in the love of our hobby and the medium. Like a coin, once a grade has been assigned the comic book is sealed to preserve and protect it. Grading certified guaranty company, llc cgc comics. Comic verification authority cva visited worldwide comics in may 20 and assessed over 4,000 of the 15,000 cgc graded comics in our inventory for the potential of finding those issues that would rate exceptional for that grade assigned by cgc. In fact, in 2007, cgc crossed the millionbook mark and has now graded over 2 million comic books. Is cgc really that bad at grading comics comic vine. A couple of minor flaws might be allowable, but no more.
Grading standards are based on the standards laid out in the overstreet grading guide with additional experience gained from our years in the comic industry. To grade a comic, you need to take in to consideration a number of factors before being able to assess the correct grade. Comic verification authority cva visits worldwide comics. Cgcs restoration grading scale is a transparent system that is much more descriptive and accurate than before. Several events have impacted grading over the years. But what really protects your comic is that each comic is placed inside a mylar bag, and then secured inside the slab for the ultimate in protection. 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. This applies mainly to silver age comics, as noted earlier. Cgc was the first and has been the standard for comic book grading since 2000. In these rare cases, a check mark will be placed on the label by the numerical grade. Cbgc provides the only easy to use, online comic submission form. Pgx was created to meet the growing demand for professional, thirdparty comic book grading. Before you ship your comics, please read the shipping information below.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. Comic book grading company the affordable and reliable. We closely monitor and calibrate our staff to maintain adherence to our established standards. As i build my online comic book shop, ill be blogging about the experience along the way. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. 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. Once certified by cgc, a comic book is encapsulated in a stateofthe art, tamperevident holder, providing superior protection and stability for longterm preservation.
By requesting prescreen and specifying a minimum grade on your invoice, you will be charged grading fees only for comic books that. 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. The higher the grade of a comic book the higher the value. Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. It is considered tamper proof and what you see is what you get. Gp analysis lists us as a cgc the comic book grading authority online auction firm. The comic book can have rounded corners and creases in the cover. And in some instances even a second flaw can drop a. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. 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. It is the policy of columbia gorge community college and its board of education that there will be no unlawful discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race, color, sex, marital status, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, and any other status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law in any educational programs, activities, or. Furthermore, every cgccertified comic book undergoes a thorough restoration check by leading professionals during the certification process. In the case of comics in vg or higher grades, the book is already an attractive.
Aug 12, 2014 considered the authority on grading comics, the cgc will take you submitted books, grade them and then seal them in a thick plastic case also known as a slab. The ratings displayed are the average ratings for the issues collected in the trade. The process is cheap and quick, and nothing is added to the comic, such as. The cover can be detached and have moderate amounts of tape. Like most things i do here at the certified comic shop. Vault grading provides grading, pressing, encapsulation, valuation, and screening services to comic book collectors. We need to emphasize, however, that not more than two of the above mentioned flaws can appear in the same comic. Apr 04, 2016 welcome to the world of 3rd party grading. These records are from an impartial 3rd party source gp analysis. Pgx entered the market shortly thereafter beginning in 2002. 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. Then, simply register or login to start the submission process.
Cbgc has developed a proprietary comic book grading system with over 550 separate grading characteristics, covering over 20 grading categories. Cgc was the very first company to grade and slab comic books beginning in 2000. This company was started by steve borock, the former president of cgc so he definitely has some clout in the industry. We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. 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. Learn what is the comic book rating system and how a comic book is graded with cbcs comics grading guidelines. Fine comics in fine are priced significantly less than those in very fine and for good reason.
Some comic book stores even have authorized vendors who can send your books in for you. Everyone is welcome here to shop or visit us, you dont need to be a student. In an effort to highlight the most well received comic book trades, weve set up a real time list of the best comic book trades of the past three months. The graders should be given more flexibility in adjusting the grade for the general feel and appearance of the book.
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 best possible existing condition of that comic book. The owlone card comes sealed in its original foil packaging. The grade assigned to the book should not change, unless any damage occurred postencapsulation, in which case the grade will be adjusted accordingly. Booklist bookstore columbia gorge community college. Here is a photo gallery of comic books graded cgc 2. A proven and respected commitment to integrity, accuracy, consistency and impartiality has made cgc the leader in its field. Comic grading professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade misrepresentations by providing a professional assessment of condition and quality.
Predating todays commonly used 10point numerical grading scale by about 10 years, the 100point scale was an unsuccessful early attempt to apply a more scientific standard to the comic book grading process. Everything you need to know about submitting comic books to. To qualify, the book must still be encapsulated in its original cgc holder. In recent years, grading criteria have become even tighter, especially in silver and bronze age books, due to their higher survival rate. In rare cases, a comic book will look much better than the given grade. Armed with this knowledge and a good understanding of the market, you should be able to make an informed decision about restoration. If we dont, add it to your want list and well notify you when its in stock. After being examined by a restoration detection professional, the comic books are placed in barcoded mylar sleeves, and separated from their original invoice. 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. If youre looking for a hard to find back issue, we probably have it. We offer modern, bronze age, silver age, and golden age comics. 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 this installment we will take a look at comic book certification services cbcs. The comic book price guide for great britain a guide to grading.
A fr is the lowest grade a comic book can receive as long as the story and art are complete. Introduction to cgc grading for new comic book collectors. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics, original. Who is the most reputable to help get the most value. Submit your books pgx comics pgx comic grading services. Cover shows significant wear, and may be loose or even detached at one staple. We are open during this difficult time but we are running on a different schedule to best protect everyone. The process is cheap and quick, and nothing is added to the comic, such as japan paper or color touch see the glossary for definitions.
Cgc grades most comic books that fit within the following dimensions. But batman whisks the young lad into his care and promises him something bruce never had. Books are carefully handled and tracked through the grading process, and always fully insured while on our premises. Ng no grade reserved for art or single comic book pages 0. A comic book in a cgc holder is encapsulated in a new cgc holder. Cgc is an independent member of the certified collectibles group of companies. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. A few weeks ago, i attended a local comic convention here in vancouver and i heard about the new company comic book certification service. Because our location is in the midwest, we feel that offers comic lovers a better choice than other grading, appraisal and brokerage services.
Read on to discover if cgc graded the comic higher, lower or the same. I had heard stories about cgc playing favors by giving harder. 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 depending on the grade it receives. The columbia gorge community college cgcc bookstore is dedicated to serving the academic needs of the college and the community at large. One of our goals for the new website is to offer an easier online experience for our customers. 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. Cgcs top grader and king of this field, steve borock, left cgc and started cbcs. It contains the grade of your book and a bar code to look up additional information on your comic. Comics listed for sale on johns comics and stuff are listed with the basic grading scale. Cgc also offers the cgc signature series for witnessed autographs on comic books and magazines. 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. This step is taken to ensure that graders do not know whose books they are grading, as a further guarantee of impartiality. Discount comic book service comics, trade paperbacks and.
Our company has sat well over 600 world record prices selling vintage comic books at auction. 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. Grading is an inherently subjective process and there will always be small differences in opinion. Certified guaranty company, also known as cgc, is a sarasota, florida comic book grading service. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide.
Cgc set the standard for thirdparty comic book, magazine, lobby card and vintage photograph grading, and its independent affiliate ccs performs expert pressing, restoration and restoration removal services for comic books. Up to 50% off preorder, mail order comics, trade paperbacks and collectibles from dc, marvel, dark horse, image, boom. Comic book certification service cbcs was started by professional comic book hobbyists with the intent of protecting our fellow hobbyists when buying and selling comic books. Pgx also offers a comparable service and directly competes with cgc in the comic book grading market. Consists of accurate highresolution images of the front and back of the book, shown encapsulated in its cgc holder. 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. Digital imaging for comic books submitted under any of cgc grading and service tiers. Cgc grades most comic books, magazines, concert posters and lobby cards. How to grade your comics comic book grading labels. Our comic book protector slab is made of highquality pvc, and it is thinner and lighter in weight than other slabs. After buying a few graded comics on ebay and starting my own certified. Grading process certified guaranty company, llc cgc comics. Our system ensures that the comics we grade truly represent the grade that is assigned to them and not just an opinion. The maricopa county community college district mcccd is an eeoaa institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
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. The company was founded by alec born and steve borock, the latter earning a reputation in the community while working many years at. And this stellar creative team has brought its a game to this imaginative new interpretation of the origin of these celebrated comicbook icons. After your comics arrive at cgc, up to three graders will inspect your comic before a final grade is given. Although its always imperative to disclose any and all restoration work on a book, some collectors dont even view these simple repairs as restoration. Its a complicated process, and if you want to know more about it you can read how it works for yourself here. 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. Max protection 10 short comic storage boxes full bundle each box holds 150175 comic books white. I just want to get the most out of what is probably my best comic. When grading gets to fine, you start operating on a point system. Our website is unfortunately down we will be back open asap. Cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics. A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great.
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