Antimaster

That's exactly what I was hoping to hear actually. The compound spine issue really was bugging me, but I feel like my grading skills are still intact lol. Thanks for the input guys, I'm finding the topics really fun.

Hello to all, this is my first topic here, and long overdue. Not going to bore yall to tears, but after 40+ years of buying and selling, I've begun to fulfill a lifelong dream of acquiring high grade silver and bronze books for clients (and myself). Overall, I'm going to give myself props for grading, I'm extremely critical of my own books, let alone ones I'm getting for others. That being said, I have one issue that continues to bother me. I struggle grading beautiful books that have one glaring defect. I tend to look at all the grade defects and see none of them present save for one, and it makes me less trustful of my instincts. For example, look at this copy of Silver Surfer 6. Outwardly and inwardly, it's gorgeous. One light crease on the FC lower right. One staple abrasion causing a 1/4" spine crease. But. Somewhere along the way, someone tore the spine upward along the binding, 7/8". And then put what looks to have been tape up the spine. The tape has long come and gone, but the color from it stained the spine along the tear area. Again, the covers are flat, corners sharp, no stains, OW or better pages. Without that tear, this is a VF+ book. One major bad makes it what? VG? VG+? VG/F? Surely no better than that. Anyway, a wise man told me if you don't know know, ask someone who does. So I am. I'd appreciate your thoughts.