Redbeard

Those abrasions are significant. One should bear in mind in the SA, there are a population of 9.4 and above on almost all SA books. This is not true for GA books. I strongly agree with CGC assessment of this book.

Sorry to say, but that CGC grading descriptions are very, very loose. Your 9.4 sounds like a solid 7.0, not a 9.4. You're 9.6 sounds like what we consider a 9.2. After making many, many purchases of raw books on eBay, I find that if I buy a 9.4 graded book, I'm happy if it is actually a 8.0. Just got one in graded 8.5 that would be a 7.0 except that it has residual glue on the front cover over the cover price. Overall grade given this is a 4.0.

https://www.cgccomics.com/comic-grading/grading-scale/ They do not go into large detail. Bob's grading standards guide goes into much more detail.

A few additional tips. We always state the book is complete, fully readable with both covers attached. We used to get a ton of questions such as is this 9.0 copy complete!?! That eliminates these type of silly questions. In addition we state the amount of cover gloss (some, good, high or very high cover gloss if the book does have cover gloss. We also state the condition of the spine if there are no spine splits, etc. (good, tight and very tight spine). It seems to help.

We rarely have any complaints on any of the orders we send out on grading. The one to two we get per year is usually on something we missed. Curious if you have ever read the grader's notes on a CGC book. If I listed all the defects listed on many, many of the higher grade books, it would scare the heck out of any potential buyers. I have even done an experiment while talking on the phone to a perspective buyer on a book. Instead of pulling the book the party was interested in, I pulled a Mile High copy and started telling the person any defect no matter how tiny. When I finished the person said no thank you not realizing I was describing the best copy of a book known to exist. I did tell the party the truth that it was a MH copy of a tough GA book I was describing. That is why I grade the books, and only list major defects. I find those that are looking for all that information are looking for a reason to NOT buy the book.

Another thing I would like to add as a long time dealer, we stand behind everything we sell no matter how long ago your purchase. No excuses. If we sell you a book as unrestored, and it turns out to be restored, we will return your money. You will never get any other response from us. We always stand behind everything we sell. We never try to pass the buck as many might saying we did not know, and so and so sold it to us without telling us. We feel all sellers should have that attitude. It would certainly make it a lot safer for buyers if all adopted that attitude.

It has been a long time habit of mine to under grade books since I am a longtime dealer. It pays off in the long run since you will have so many returning customers. I long ago stopped grading any raw books higher than 9.2. I don't want to squabble with collectors on whether a book is 9.4 or 9.6 or 9.8. If a buyer seems to ask too many questions of us, such as asking things such as are there any very tiny spine stress lines and how many (we will only allow up to 4 for a 9.2 grade) I tell them to buy a certified copy. It seems that kind of buyer is hoping to receive a book that will slab 9.6 while paying a much lesser price. When I buy collections from sellers that have a graded list, but with no real experience grading books, I ask them to send me a two or three examples of some of the inexpensive books from their list. I can then know the difference that should occur on each of the books I plan on buying. With this in mind, I recommend buying an inexpensive book or two from a seller to get a feel on how they grade. Then you can approach any future purchase with confidence on what you will receive. Don't start out buying a ASM #1 if you're unsure unless you have a margin that allows for any overgrading.

Hi Joshua, based on your post, I assume you wish to keep these books and not sell them in the future. If that is the case, you may do as you wish. But, if you plan to sell them, do not restore them, it will greatly reduce the value/marketability of the book(s).

Not necessarily. For awhile, CGC was putting that book in a blue label with the note on the label. Then they changed due to CGC trying to make their signature series books sell at a premium. They started putting all unwitnessed signed books in a green label - Qualified holder. My last batch of books I got back from them had those same type of signatures back again in blue label with the label note. If feel a blue label is the proper approach. Otherwise, it is similar to CGC stating that unwitnessed signed books have been defaced!

For awhile CGC was offering a discount on CBCS submissions to them if the book were to receive a lower grade from them. I'm not sure this program is still running. BTW, if the back cover shadow is from the person that took the image versus on the book, I would say this book is a solid 3.0. If the shadow is present on the back cover, I would grade between 2.5 to 3.0.

We would grade this 5.5 at best since it is a large crease that breaks color. I guess, one just needs to know how the seller grades versus just the use of images or a subjective grade assigned to the book. My recommendation is buy a cheap book first before getting serious with a seller to learn how they grade. Of course sometimes one can get a handle on the situation by looking at the images posted if the seller obviously over grades books. Per my prior comment posted, there are many minor flaws that will not appear in any images. On the other side of the coin, a perceived flaw can appear where there is none. I have a CGC-7.0 Wonder Woman 45. The potential customer felt there was a very small discoloration on the front cover. I told the person there is no discoloration on the book. To support my position, I have the CGC grader's notes on this book, and there is no mention of this perceived flaw. Believe me, if there were a discoloration mark on the front cover, CGC would have put it in the grader notes!

I see so many methods of sellers grading their books. It varies greatly from those that are professional to those that have no clue. The inspiration for this is some saying they don't grade, just look at the images. I would say these are sellers with little to no experience grading books asks the buyer to do all the work. The big, big problem with just using images to make a buy decision is there are a lot of flaws that will not appear on any image (i.e. interior damage to a book, very light creases or pressure areas that do not appear in an image, loose centerfold, etc.). Anyone that is a seller that tells you to just use images, a note of caution should be taken. Of late I have been getting questions that I never had before from collector's that have ben burned by using the buy-by-the-images method. These newer buyers ask all sorts of questions that one never received previously. I understand it can take years to learn to grade properly. I know this from the time it took to train someone with no prior knowledge. It is difficult. We have always attempted to grade to a minimum of CGC standards. When you buy a book from us in 4.0, VG, you will get a book that CGC will grade in 4.0, but in most cases will grade higher.

Want to start a thread on the subject of grading comics on eBay done may the many sellers. Anyone interested?

Yes, I knew about the Lev Gleason copies that Robert Bell had. Bob Overstreet told me that Bruce Hamilton had some of those probably from Robert. A west coast dealer had several copies of Police Comics 1. All of those copies have long ago been absorbed into collector's hands. Richie (Halegua) remembers George with a stack of each issue of all the Fiction House books. Where are all those now? Ditto with all those Poughkeepsie copies.

Should have added the title - Sky Bums and Space Gypsies by Kris Jackson. Very tough to find, and it is not for sale. After all I still collect!

Just got a rare UG back from CGC. It is the way I wish they would do all signatures. It is in a universal holder with the note - names and addresses on the inside front cover. I know this is not a flaw but the names and addresses of those that draw/produced the book. To me and most collector's, that is a perk not a negative.

I'm sure that CGC decision to place unauthenticated signed books in a Qualified holder is profit motivated by CGC. They want to push their Signature series. Too bad they care less that they have effectively decided that unauthorized signed books are worth less because of this decision. It is a shame for the collector that has gone to conventions to get their books signed, now have CGC saying their books have been defaced and are worth less. How about any artists commenting? How do you feel that they are telling collector's to not get anything signed by you as it detracts from the value of the collectible. There are many, many people out there that make their living by attending conventions signing autographs for their fans. Sorry Wayne Gretzky, please don't sign this hockey stick. It devalues the hockey stick!?!?

You didn't give any estimate on the value for the Green label for Category 5. As a professional dealer for over 43 years and a senior Overstreet advisor for most of those, the value for a Green Label versus a Blue Label are quite a bit less. That is a beef I have with CGC. I will not ever ask them to certify an unwitnessed signature, but why the practice of placing them in a Green Label? Are they saying if a collector attends a comic book convention and gets their books signed by artists at the show, the book has been defaced and worth less! What I wish is for CGC to return to its original practice before they started marketing their Signature Series books. Place any unwitnessed signed books in a Blue Label with the note about the signature on the cover. This will eliminate the significant drop in value for unwitnessed signed books. It will then be up to the potential buyer to decide whether he believes or disbelieves the seller on the authenticity of the signature.

As I stated in my post to Rick, this is what I feel that CGC should do with all unauthenticated signed books. I object to the new practice of placing these books in Qualified labels which sell for less.

Sorry Rick, but I disagree. The Qualified label will definitely sell for less than the Universal label if both books are the same and have the same grade/quality. I am constantly checking the auctions and this is just a fact. To the other poster that mentioned CBCS does do signed books, there is also a problem there. I am good friends with Steve Borock, but CBCS books sell for less than similar CGC graded books. Thank you Rick for posting that Marvel Mystery beauty signed by Schomburg. That CGC label is exactly what I want CGC to do with all unauthenticated signed books. Put it in a blue label with the note - Alex Schomburg name on the cover. Since I know that a Qualified label sells for less, it is almost like CGC is declaring that an unauthenticated copy with a signature you know is true since you obtained it personally from the artist is in CGC view a defaced book by implication. BTW Rick, I am still not selling it at this time, but do you still need the Subby 2 should I ever decide to sell. I have you down in my mind as first on the list for that book.

I believe that CGC in their zeal to promote their Signature Series books feel they can get away with this move of not placing signed books in a blue label with a note saying there is a signature on the book. This would not endanger them for any possible litigation. However, one of the consequences of their current policy is that one can no longer state they have the best copy even if it is the current highest graded copy. There may be better copies out there that will never be graded because they were signed by the creator/artist. Think about that one for awhile. The big push for these record prices is because people believe they are buying the best copy, or one of the best copies rather than just the highest graded copy despite everyone just stating it is the highest graded copy. See if these auctions houses can get these record prices if they advertised the item as the highest graded copy, but there may be better copies ungraded. Yes, this is implied, but most that buy these books do not have this understanding. What infuriates me further on this subject is any known comic writer/artist that signs your book is now defacing your book and devaluing the item since Qualified graded books go for way, way less than Universal graded books. Yet, if the book has the name Eldon, or some other collector's name on the cover versus Frank Frazetta, Jack Kirby, Lou Fine, Hal Foster, Alex Raymond, etc., the book is placed in a blue holder without this devaluation aspect. Now this makes no sense at all.

Probably doesn't belong here on this thread, but here goes anyway. I understand why CGC is not recognizing signed books as far as stating it is an actual autograph on the holder, but I don't understand their current practice that is in place. I know they are marketing the Signature series books, but what about books that are signed by artists no longer with us. Example - you have two copies of WSF 29 - Gaines copies. You know they are both identical and perfect. However, you were lucky enough to have Frank Frazetta sign the cover of one of them. Did you know that if you send them both into CGC, one will come back say a Universal 9.8. However, the other copy will come back a 9.8, with the note that there is a name on the cover, and it will be in a QUALIFIED holder. Now which of the two would a normal person want. Of course the Frazetta signed copy since he rarely did autographs. But, since that is now in a Qualified holder, it will now be worth far, far less. At the same time, if you buy a copy of a book that has Ruth or Ben, or any other name on the cover, it will be graded and placed in a Universal holder. This practice makes no sense to me. Why not put them all in a universal holder with the grade and the one with a name on the cover has that mentioned as a comment on the label. The only reason I can think of is that CGC is worried that they will not get the premium markup they hope for with their Signature Series books.

Yep, that's my friend Terry. Classic Terry for sure...

BTW, I bought this cover from Bob Selvig when he was in LA working for ACBC. I also bought the Hit Comics 11 cover from Bob. I later bought the Seven Seas 6 cover from Terry Stroud at ACBC about a year or two later. I don't know where Bob and Terry got the Seven Seas covers. Next time I see Terry, I'll ask him.

I guess my new nickname is Jerry Iger!?!