What is a fingerprint? 0

[AustinShepherd]

What is a fingerprint?

This is a total noob question (and I've searched the forum to try to answer this on my own) but I've read a lot of chatter about fingerprints on covers and the resultant grade deduction.  These seem to be fairly common.  Does anyone have a good image of what it is I should be looking for?  I'm assuming these are light smudges but I've not been able to find a good image/example.

 

Thanks!

[AustinShepherd]

...and they shall forever remain a mystery....

I guess I'll need to pull out my stereo microscope and start looking for fingerprints on my comic books.  

[Bomber-Bob]

I think the term is very broad based, not always a literal fingerprint, but some form of residue as a result of handling. Though most of us don't have 'dirty' hands when handling, there is usually some oil . If you grab and hold a book by pinching it between your thumb and finger you have probably left a mark of some sort. These 'fingerprints' are very hard to display with a scan or pic, as you usually have to look at an angle. A slab tends to hide them also. 

[SteppinRazor]

Have a look at my wolverine #1 on the back.  Near his shoulder in the black is a fingerprint, and by his right hand (I was able to gently wipe it clean).

https://www.cgccomics.com/boards/topic/414757-pgm-wolverine-1/

 

Edited June 21, 2017 by SteppinRazor