Grading Definitions

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Grading Definitions for Comics. I will also list any major defects separately .

10.0 Gem Mint. (GM) This is an exceptional example of a given book. The slightest bindery defects and/or  printing flaws may be seen only on the closest inspection. The overall look is as if it has never been read or released for sale. I do not use this rating - the highest I use is MINT, and then only for a book bought new, bagged and never read.

9.9 Mint. (MT) Near perfect in every way. Only subtle bindery or printing defects are allowed. No bindery tears. Cover is flat without surface wear. Inks are bright. No creases. Small lightly pencilled, stamped or inked arrival dates are accepted as long as they are in an unobtrusive location. No soiling, staining or other discolorations. Spine is tight and flat. Staples must be original. No spine roll or split. No staple tears or stress lines. Paper is white and supple. No interior tears.

9.8 Near Mint/Mint (NM/MT) Nearly perfect but with minor imperfections that keep it from a higher grade. Only subtle bindery defects allowed. Spine tight and flat & and cover flat. Inks are bright. Generally well centred and firmly secured. Corners square. No creases. Lightly pencilled inked or stamped arrival dates allowed. No soiling, staining or other discolorations. No spine roll or split. Staples must be original and clean with no rust. No staple tears or stress lines. Paper off white to white. Only the slightest of internal tears allowed. Barely visible blunting of corners allowed.

9.6 Near Mint +(NM+) Nearly perfect with one or two virtues that raise it above NM. It needs to look as if it was just purchased and read once or twice. Only subtle bindery defects allowed. No bindery tears allowed, except on Golden Age books bindery tears to 1/8th inch allowed. Cover flat with no surface wear. Inks still bright with high reflectivity. Well centred and firmly secured to interior pages. Corners may be almost imperceptibly blunted. Almost imperceptible indents allowed. No creases, bends or colour breaks. Lightly pencilled inked or stamped arrival dates allowed. No soiling, staining or other discolorations. No spine roll or split. Staples must be original, generally centred and clean with  the slightest discolouration allowed.  No staple tears or stress lines, or rust migration. Paper is off white, supple and quite fresh. No staple tears or stress lines.

9.4 Near Mint (NM) Nearly perfect with minor imperfections that keep it from the next highest grade. It needs to look as if it was just purchased and read once or twice. Only subtle bindery defects allowed. No bindery tears allowed, except on Golden Age books bindery tears to 1/4 inch allowed. Tears must be less than 1/16th inch on silver age and later. Cover flat with no surface wear. Inks still bright with high reflectivity. Well centred and firmly secured to interior pages. Corners may be almost imperceptibly blunted. Almost imperceptible indents allowed. A 1/16th inch bend allowed with no colour breaks. No creasing. Lightly pencilled inked or stamped arrival dates allowed. No soiling, staining or other discolorations but foxing allowed. No spine roll or split. Staples must be original, generally centred and clean with  the slight discolouration allowed.  No staple tears allowed and almost no stress lines, or rust migration. Paper is off white, supple and quite fresh. Slight interior tears allowed. A missing bindery staple is not considered a defect. Any staple can be replaced up to FINE, but only vintage staples can be used on books from VF to NM.

9.2 Near Mint- (NM-) Nearly perfect with minor additional defect or defects that keep it from the next highest grade. A limited number of bindery defects allowed. No bindery tears allowed, except on Golden Age books bindery tears to 1/4 inch allowed. Tears must be less than 1/16th inch on silver age and later. Cover flat with no surface wear. Inks still bright with less reflectivity. Generally well centred and  secured to interior pages. Corners with ever so slight blunting permitted. Almost imperceptible indents allowed. A 1/16th-1/8th inch bend allowed with no colour breaks. No creasing. Lightly pencilled inked or stamped arrival dates allowed. No soiling, staining or other discolorations but foxing allowed. No spine roll or split. Staples must be original, generally centred and clean with  the slight discolouration allowed.  No staple tears allowed and almost no stress lines, or rust migration. Paper is off white, supple and quite fresh. Slight interior tears allowed. A missing bindery staple is not considered a defect. Any staple can be replaced up to FINE, but only vintage staples can be used on books from VF to NM.

9.0 Very Fine/Near Mint (VF/NM) Nearly perfect with outstanding eye appeal. Almost flat cover with almost  imperceptible wear.  Inks still bright with slightly reduced reflectivity (high to medium). Almost flat cover with almost imperceptible wear. A 1/8th inch bend allowed without broken colour. Slightly blunted corners & quarter inch max  creasing allowed. Slightest staple tears allowed. Spine still tight. Minor stress lines allowed. No rust migration. Lightly pencilled inked or stamped arrival dates allowed. Foxing allowed. Tiny indents allowed. Cover clean.
Slight interior tears allowed. A missing bindery staple is not considered a defect. Any staple can be replaced up to FINE, but only vintage staples can be used on books from VF to NM.

8.5 Very Fine+ (VF+) Fits criteria for Very Fine but with additional virtue(s) that improves it slightly.

8.0 Very Fine (VF) An excellent copy with outstanding eye appeal. Sharp, bright and clean with supple pages. Has the appearance of being carefully handled. A limited accumulation of minor bindery defects allowed. Cover is flat with surface wear beginning to show, and can include wear at corners.  Inks generally bright with moderate to high reflectivity. A 1/4" crease allowed if colour not broken. Lightly pencilled inked or stamped arrival dates allowed. Spine almost flat, no roll. Minor colour breaks allowed. No obvious soiling, staining or other discolorations but foxing allowed. Slight staple tears and minor stress lines allowed. Paper is tan to cream. Centrefold mostly secure. Minor tears at margins may be present.

7.5 Very Fine- (VF-) Fits criteria for VF but with additional defect or defects that detract by a perceptible amount.

7.0 Fine/Very Fine (FN/VF) An above average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with outstanding appeal. An accumulation of minor defects allowed. Minor cover wear beginning to show with interior yellowing and tanning allowed, possibly will have minor creasing. Pencilled inked or stamping dates allowed. No obvious soiling, staining or other discolorations but foxing allowed. Slight spine roll can be present, as can colour breaks. Staples may be discoloured. Slight stress tears and accumulation of stress tears may be present. Slight rust migration. Paper tan to cream but not dark brown. Centrefold mostly secure. Minor tears at margins may be present.

6.5 Fine+ (FN+)  Fits criteria for FN/VF but with additional virtue or virtues  that improves it slightly.

6.0 Fine (FN) An above average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with good eye appeal, but somewhat reduced (medium/fading) because of surface wear and accumulation of small defects especially in spine and edges. An accumulation of these minor defects allowed. Minor cover wear beginning to show with interior yellowing and tanning allowed, possibly will have minor creasing. Pencilled inked or stamping dates allowed. No obvious soiling, staining or other discolorations but foxing allowed. Slight spine roll can be present, as can colour breaks. Staples may be discoloured. Slight stress tears and accumulation of stress tears may be present. Slight rust migration. Paper can be brown to tan but not brittle. Centrefold mostly secure. Minor tears at margins may be present. There can also be a 1/4 inch spine split or colour break. This book appears to have been read a few times and handled with moderate care. Minor creasing allowed.

5.5 Fine- (FN-) Fits criteria for FN but with additional defect or defects that detract by a perceptible amount.

5.0 Very Good/Fine (VG/FN) Very good but well used comic book. Shows some moderate wear. Eye appeal reduced because of accumulated defects but still a desirable copy. Minor to moderate cover wear with minor to moderate creases/dimples apparent. Inks have major to extreme reduction in reflectivity, blunted or abraded corners may be present, Minor to moderate staining, discolouration or foxing. Minor to moderate spine roll allowed. 1/2 inch spine split may be present. Accumulated stress tears and lines may be apparent. Minor rust migration allowed. Paper brown to tan but still not brittle. Centrefold may be loose. Minor tears may be present.

4.5 Very Good+ (VG+) Fits criteria for VG but with additional virtue or virtues  that improves it slightly.

4.0 Very Good (VG) The average used comic book. A comic in this grade shows some significant moderate wear, but still has not accumulated enough total defects to not make it a still desirable copy. Store stamps, name stamps, arrival dates, initials etc. can be present. Cover can be loose. Can have accumulated creases/dimples. Some soiling, discolouration, foxing etc. allowed. Minor unobtrusive tape allowed. As much as 1/4 inch triangle can be missing out of corner or edge. A missing 1/8th inch square is also allowed to be missing. Moderate spine roll and/or 1 inch spine split allowed. Staples can be discoloured. Moderate spine tears and/or stress lines may be present as well as rust migration. Paper can be brown but not brittle. Minor to moderate tears may be present. Centrefold can be loose or even detached at one staple. Cover is clean some ink or H20 allowed.

3.5 Very Good- (VG-) Fits criteria for VG but with additional defect or defects that detract by a perceptible amount.

3.0 Good/Very Good (GD/VG) A used comic book showing some substantial wear. Cover shows significant wear. Can have a book length crease and/or dimples. A missing 1/4" to 1/2" can be missing from corner or edge. Store stamps, name stamps, arrival dates, initials etc. can be present. Cover can be loose. Can have accumulated creases/dimples. Some soiling, discolouration, foxing etc. allowed. Minor  tape allowed. May have spine splits from 1" to 1/2' Staples raised, spine tears and/or stress lines may be present as well as rust migration. Paper can be brown but not brittle. Minor to moderate tears may be present. Centrefold can be loose or even detached.

2.5 Good+ (GD+) Fits criteria for GD but with additional virtue or virtues  that improves it slightly.

2.0 Good (GD) Shows substantial wear. Often considered a 'reading copy' Cover shows significant wear and may be detached.. Books can be price clipped and may be considered good if they would have otherwise graded higher. May have all defects as GD/VG  with moderate interior tears present. Still a good copy.

1.8 Good- (GD-)  Fits criteria for GD but with additional defect or defects that detract by a perceptible amount.

1.5 Fair/Good (FR/GD) Shows substantial to heavy wear. A copy in this condition will have all pages and cover present but may have some pieces missing. Books in this grade are commonly creased, scuffed, abraded or soiled. Tape and other amateur repair are common. Paper may show minor brittleness around edges.

1.0 Fair (FR) A copy in this grade shows heavy wear. Often considered the lowest collectable grade as any lower are usually incomplete or brittle. This grade is usually soiled, faded, ragged. This is the last stage where a comic remains readable. I would not sell a comic at this grade unless bundled with others and defects would all be noted.

0.5 Poor (PR) Little or no collector value.

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