Classic collectible services ccs is a leading comic book pressing, restoration and restoration removal company. Third party grading will alleviate any worries about misrepresented grades and restoration. Indepth look at the new cgc comic book restoration. When you submit a comic book to cgc, it is inspected before grading actually begins. 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. The overstreet comic book grading guide 3rd edition. 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. Cgc comics the things you need to know about certifying your. Certified guaranty company, also known as cgc, is a sarasota, florida comic book grading. Ditch fahrenheits virtual comic collector universe archive only excellence in content. 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.
Certified guaranty company, also known as cgc, is a sarasota, florida comic book grading service. Restoration has existed in some form or another since the inception of comic books, but it has evolved considerably over the past 50 years. 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. 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.
Cgcs restoration grading scale is a transparent system that is much more descriptive and accurate than before. 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. For a long time, cgc was the premier comic book grading company. Comic book grading and restoration may 19, 2016 scott robertson 25 comments comic book grading is one of the most important parts of speculating. While collectors have been restoring rare comics for ages, the certified guaranty company cgc has reconditioned their grading scale for the classification of. In general, cgc is set up the same way as ngc and pcgs as far as the grading process. Cgc is an independent member of the certified collectibles group of companies. 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. 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.
Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. Cgc agreed to launch these two books before the july 1 official start date. 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. Cgc will have representatives there so you can have your signed comics witnessed and given to them for slabbing. Consists of accurate highresolution images of the front and back of the book, shown encapsulated in its cgc holder. The product quality is great, there are a variety of labels that meet the conditions of different books, and. Grading payments shipping returns restoration policy. Learn how to grade comic books and spot a restoration.
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. 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. Jan 09, 2017 i have used both cgc and cbcs with good results on both. Any obvious signs of restoration are noted and the comic book. Comics listed for sale on johns comics and stuff are listed with the basic grading scale. 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. Restoration is any alteration made to a comic book that attempts to.
These comic grading services will grade a comic and then seal the comic in a hard plastic case that displays the assigned grade. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. Restoration on your comics is done not only to make it more desirable to collectors, but also for the sake of our hobby. 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. 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. Grading process certified guaranty company, llc cgc comics. 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.
This company was started by steve borock, the former president of cgc so he definitely has some clout in the industry. 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. The comic book price guide for great britain a guide to grading. Every type of restoration found on each book will be individually graded for quantity and quality, with a cumulative score determining the final restoration. Introduction to cgc grading for new comic book collectors. A lightly restored book will be valued higher than a book with heavy restoration in the same apparent grade. 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. Midtown comics now offering cgc at all of our events and signings.
Indepth look at the new cgc comic book restoration grading. Comic book restoration services hero restoration llc. Last week i received my overstreet guide to grading comics 2015 edition from amazon. Can i have a book cgcd and shipped to me internationally. But theres also this social contract that exists which allows buyers to put more faith in a book graded by cgc because of the. It excludes aesthetic repairs such as color touch and piece fill. Restoration is any alteration made to a comic book that attempts to improve the appearance of a comic. Grading is the term used for the assessment of the condition of a particular comic book. Weve broken down all of the attributes of the new grading scale to help understand the new process.
This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide. Once the books are graded, both cgc and pgx provide notes to explain how certain flaws affected the grade of the submitted books. Furthermore, every cgccertified comic book undergoes a thorough restoration check by leading professionals during the certification process. 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. In 2005, paul was named an overstreet grading advisor. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale. 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. The most difficult, contentious and eternally frustrating aspect of comic collecting is grading. As noted in an earlier article, cgc has expanded its restoration scale to help collectors understand what was done to their book. Because restoration and grading are inextricably linked, their evolutionary paths run parallel. All conserved grades must satisfy the cgc quality scale of a and. All conserved grades must satisfy the cgc quality scale of a and quantity scale of 1. Comic book grading is a complicated process, but were here to answer all your questions.
This company was started by steve borock, the former president of cgc so he definitely has some. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. 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. Conservation repairs are performed with the intent of preserving the structural or chemical integrity of a comic book using professional techniques and materials. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. Apr 04, 2016 welcome to the world of 3rd party grading. 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. This policy will be retroactive to any cgc books sold by in the past.
The best possible existing condition of that comic book. 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. Furthermore, every cgc certified comic book undergoes a thorough restoration check by leading professionals during the certification process. 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. Ever wonder what those little tags are on some comic books. 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. 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. Grading of comics can be subjective, although there are basic.
Ng no grade reserved for art or single comic book pages 0. Comic books can be sent to these companies for independent, impartial certification, including grading, restoration check and encapsulation within a tamperevident protective holder. Cgc s restoration grading scale is a transparent system that is much more descriptive and accurate than before. The graders look for damage and signs of restoration.
The higher the grade of a comic book the higher the value. These grading services assign grades on the same tenpoint grading scale used by mycomicshop. Dealers and graders may often disagree with some grading classifications. A guide to grading the comic book price guide for great. 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. 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. Examples of restoration include color touch, adding pieces to a comic, spine reinforcement, staple replacement, tear seals and many more. 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. Though at times controversial, its proven grading system has become a gold.
In general, the more restoration has been performed, the less the comic is worth compared to its apparent grade value. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. 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. The following is a list of conservation and restoration repairs. Digital imaging for comic books submitted under any of cgc s grading and service tiers.
It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books, to discover a comic in these grades as they are virtually nonexistent. Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. Cgcs new restoration grading scale is a transparent system that is much more descriptive and accurate than before. An exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. May 04, 2016 comic book grading tutorial comicgeekspeak. 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. Cgc comics the things you need to know about certifying. Most dealers will allow a small tape repair in the very good category. Certified guaranty company cgc is a leading thirdparty grading service for comic books, magazines and other collectibles. Cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics.
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. New staple holes created upon reinsertion, or noncomic book staples used. With our comic book restoration services you can take your lowgrade investment and transform it into something with fantastic eye appeal. Once restored, a comics value depends upon several factors. 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. Additionally, some comics are slabbed by cgc, cbcs, or pgx. Copies are available through all normal distribution channels or can be ordered direct from gemstone by. Prior to cgcs existence, many dealers would not disclose restoration that had been done to a comic. This gave paul the valued versatility to wear any hat the cgc grading team needs at any time.
A few weeks ago, i attended a local comic convention here in vancouver and i heard about the new company comic book certification service. We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. 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. Click here to download the restoration grading scale pdf. Yes, but there are higher fees for international shipping, depending on which country you need it shipped to. A lightly restored book will be valued higher than a book with heavy restoration in. Only very minute printing and bindery defects or the most barely noticeable handling defects present. 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. Cgc uses a standard 10 point grading scale to grade comic books. Once restored, a comic s value depends upon several factors. It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books, to discover a comic in. 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. 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. 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.
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