elibowman Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 (edited) How to grade a complete spine split I need some help here. I received a book bought on eBay that has a complete spine split repaired by tape. The tape was noted in the listing and present in the pics, but the fact that it was covering a complete spine split was not noted. The seller is willing to refund 100%, so I am not worried there. This brought up a question. How would this be graded? OSPG says "spine split can extend up to 2/3 the length of the book" for 1.0 Fair, and "a complete book length spine split" is noted under 0.5 Poor. This particular book would be at least a 3.0 without the split. All pages intact and attached, no pieces missing of any size, and no real major creases or tears, not brittle, good colors. Might even get to 4.0 but so much hinges upon what the spine would look like without the split (and the fact that there is tape the length of the spine). Thoughts on how best to treat a complete spine split? I just don't see it dropping this book as far as clipped coupons or missing pages (like OSPG's 0.5 Poor description). Thanks. Edited March 22, 2017 by elibowman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elibowman Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share Posted March 22, 2017 I should have noted, that I am more thinking about this philosophically than I am for this particular book. This book just got me thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artboy99 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 take a book that is a 3.0-4.0 then make the spine completely split = 0.5 grade to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elibowman Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share Posted March 24, 2017 Seems fair at first to me too. I guess what I really struggle with is the 0.5 for books that have missing pieces/pages/back cover. I would 100x rather have a book with a complete spine split that someone Frankensteined together with scotch tape than a book with a missing page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber-Bob Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Sorry but I would think a complete spine split is a lot worse than a missing piece, clipped coupon, etc. 0.5 seems about right to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elibowman Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share Posted March 24, 2017 That's interesting to me. So, OSPG (I know they are not the final authority, but they have detailed descriptions written down) says major chunks can be missing from the cover or multiple pages/pieces gone that impact the story. I know all tastes are different, but a complete spine split is way less offensive to me than major chunks missing or story impacting pieces/pages gone. Thanks for the input. I love the different points of view. Pokecollectoramy and vaillant 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBFan Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 A copy of Action Comics #7 is on Comic Link right now with a married cover that is detached and completely split, professionally graded 1.5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philflound Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 The tape will make it worse. Depends on how much tape. Is the complete spine taped? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hero Restoration Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 I had a Amazing Spider-Man 1 with a spine split sealed and was a 4.0. After removing the resto, the split went from the bottom edge all the way to the top staple, and dropped to a 2.5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvelmaniac Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 For what it's worth, when I graded my books again back in 2015 I gave these two a grade of FR 1.0, they would have been a FN+ 6.5 and FN- 5.5 respectively without the split cover and punched holes and it was noted as such in my grader notes. Again, it is what it is and it is worth what a collector is willing to pay which all depends on how badly you/they, need/want that issue. Tape does not bother me at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FineCollector Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 On 3/22/2017 at 0:26 PM, elibowman said: This brought up a question. How would this be graded? OSPG says "spine split can extend up to 2/3 the length of the book" for 1.0 Fair, and "a complete book length spine split" is noted under 0.5 Poor. This particular book would be at least a 3.0 without the split. All pages intact and attached, no pieces missing of any size, and no real major creases or tears, not brittle, good colors. Might even get to 4.0 but so much hinges upon what the spine would look like without the split (and the fact that there is tape the length of the spine). Thoughts on how best to treat a complete spine split? I just don't see it dropping this book as far as clipped coupons or missing pages (like OSPG's 0.5 Poor description). Thanks. Where would you put the book if half the spine was split? Awful defect... simply handling the book is going to make it worsen. I'd actually rather pay the Poor price for a complete split, than pay the Fair price for a partial split. What you should be arguing is that the grading of detached staples and detached covers isn't harsh enough, when the result is effectively the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elibowman Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 On 3/24/2017 at 9:17 PM, Philflound said: The tape will make it worse. Depends on how much tape. Is the complete spine taped? Tape runs the whole spine. I know that makes it worse, but whoever did it, did a decent job...for tape Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elibowman Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 On 4/1/2017 at 2:04 PM, FineCollector said: Where would you put the book if half the spine was split? Awful defect... simply handling the book is going to make it worsen. I'd actually rather pay the Poor price for a complete split, than pay the Fair price for a partial split. What you should be arguing is that the grading of detached staples and detached covers isn't harsh enough, when the result is effectively the same. Decent point here. At least I am not making it any worse by reading it. Agreed on detached staples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elibowman Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 This just further accentuates the points on defects. Some people are bothered by certain defects way more than others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Knight Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 I think that the highest grade a complete spine split would go is a 2.5. But more likely 1.5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjpb Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 Before they changed their policy a few years back, CGC was giving books with taped complete spine splits grades over 2.0, if I recall correctly. Personally, taped or untaped, I consider a complete or near complete spine split to be FR (1.5) tops, and generally a FR with most books. As for value, in the .5 to 1.5 range, technical grade, and even restoration (or conservation) is far less important than other factors ( what has been done to the book, completeness, nature of what is missing, page quality, eye appeal, etc.) I'd rather have decent copy with a clipped back cover coupon, than one with a taped complete spine split for the same money, regardless of what anyone would grade the two books at. As to the OP's book in question. I would probably value an otherwise 3.0-4.0 book with decent eye appeal and page quality, but a fully taped spine split at around 70% of 2.0 FMV, more or less, depending on rarity and era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaillant Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 An interesting topic that I have found now. Is there a consensus about on how CGC grades a full spine split and a half spine split, then? And Overstreet criteria how did/do judge this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lions Den Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 On 3/1/2024 at 3:41 PM, vaillant said: An interesting topic that I have found now. Is there a consensus about on how CGC grades a full spine split and a half spine split, then? And Overstreet criteria how did/do judge this? The CGC Grading Guide states that a book with a fully split spine would usually be no higher than a 1.8 and may be further downgraded if tape or extra staples were used to hold the book together... Paul Kosnik and vaillant 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaillant Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 On 3/2/2024 at 12:03 AM, The Lions Den said: The CGC Grading Guide states that a book with a fully split spine would usually be no higher than a 1.8 and may be further downgraded if tape or extra staples were used to hold the book together... Thank you. Tracking this, as we'll be able to have more perspective, also from Overstreet criteria and maybe other countries? The Lions Den 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kosnik Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 As The Lions Den points out, full spine split caps out at 1.8 according to CGC. If there are a significant number of other flaws, the book could be anywhere from 1.0, 1.5, to 1.8. A grade of 0.5 is usually reserved for a comic missing a full half page. So the range is almost certainly 1.0 to 1.8 if subbed to CGC. In my experience, an otherwise decent book with a full spine split is going to get you a 1.5 or 1.8. In other words, it takes many additional flaws or a few very serious additional flaws to drag it all the way down to 1.0. So if you subbed to CGC, you likely will get a 1.5 or 1.8 based on your description. FanBoyOfMarve'nDC and vaillant 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
