CGC Help Center

For answers to frequently asked questions about CGC membership, submissions, grading and more, scroll below. To contact CGC Customer Service, click here.

Help Topics

About CGC

CGC Membership

Submitting to CGC

CGC Grading

CGC Signature Series

CGC Pressing

CGC Labels and Holders

Why does CGC use different colored labels, and what do they mean?

The blue Universal Label is applied to comics that are simply the grade as marked, with no qualifiers or special considerations.

The green Qualified Label is used by CGC for certified comic books that have a significant defect that needs specific description, or to note an unauthenticated signature (one that was not witnessed by CGC).

Why should I return the label of an opened or "cracked out" certified book?

You should always return the label of any opened certified book. This helps keep the CGC Census accurate. The CGC Census is a detailed database of all the comic books we have graded and their respective grades, and it has become an important resource in assessing the availability of certified comic books. Click here to visit the Census.

Is it necessary to get my CGC-certified books reholdered after a certain number of years?

No. The CGC holder is designed for long-term preservation and provides superior protection for your books. A properly handled and stored CGC-certified book can last for generations.

The CGC holder is made from high-quality materials and is entirely archival-safe. The inner well that holds books, for example, is comprised of PETG, a plastic that is well known to be archival-safe and extremely clear. This PETG well is placed inside of a durable outer case that is sonically welded to ensure a secure, tamper-evident seal. For added long-term preservation, CGC inserts *MicroChamber® paper into vintage (pre-1975) books prior to encapsulation. This MicroChamber paper helps to neutralize the natural acidity of some books by using a specialized, proprietary "zeolite" that was designed to absorb and hold the molecules known to damage archival collections. That is why MicroChamber paper is used by many of the world's most respected museums and institutions, including the Smithsonian Institution, the Getty Conservation Institute, the Louvre, the British Museum and the Northeast Document Conservation Center. To further protect books from the natural off-gassing that releases acidic molecules over time, CGC has a secure sonic seal that is NOT airtight so that acidic molecules are not trapped inside the holder.

*MicroChamber® is a registered trademark of Conservation Resources International, Inc.

What if I want to take my book out of the CGC holder?

It is recommended that comics remain in their holders for their protection and to enhance their liquidity if you decide to sell in the future. However, we have designed our holder so that it can be opened carefully, allowing for safe removal. Keep in mind that if a CGC-graded comic is removed from its holder, the certified grade it was given will be null and void and the original holder cannot be re-sealed. For the book to qualify as CGC-certified after removal it would need to go through the certification and encapsulation process again, and there is no guarantee that it will receive the same grade. If you do choose to remove the book from its holder and have it re-certified, you will need to send the original CGC label back with the book to help keep the CGC Census accurate. In situations where Collectors wish to obtain a signature at a convention through CGC, you will need to bring the book INTACT to the CGC booth, where we will safely remove it and assign a CGC Witness to facilitate the signing. The book will then be resubmitted via the CGC booth and will receive a yellow Signature Series label.

How do I know the comic book I'm buying in a CGC holder is the same book CGC certified?

CGC has a number of technologically advanced security measures built into its holders to make them tamper-evident. Once a comic is certified, any future attempt to open or tamper with the holder will be visibly evident.

What is the best way to store CGC-certified comics?

Proper storage is essential to preserving your books, and collectors should take steps to minimize exposure to heat, humidity, vibration and light. CGC recommends that CGC-certified books be stored in a dark, dry, cool, temperature-controlled location. CGC's holders have withstood the test of time and have been shown to provide outstanding long-term protection and preservation. No other comic book grading services can make that claim.

Still not finding an answer? Contact CGC Customer Service at 1.855.GRADE.10 or Service@CGCcomics.com.