Mint MT 9.8 - Grade description :
Near perfect in every way. Only the most subtle printing or bindery defects allowed. Cover is flat with no surface wear. Cover inks are bright with high reflectivity and minimal fading. Corners are cut square and sharp. Small, light pencilled, stamped or inked arrival dates are acceptible as long as they are in an unobtrusive or aesthetical location. Staples must be original and are generally centered and clean with no rust. Books signed on the inside do not detract from this grade. Cover is well centered and firmly secured to interior pages. Paper is supple and like new. Spine is tight and flat.

Checklist for the grade Mint :

• near perfect in every way
• no printing defects
• no bindery defects
• cover is flat with no surface wear
• cover is bright
• cover is generally well centered
• staples are clean with no rust
• spine is flat and tight (no spine roll)
• minute color fading is acceptable
• no soiling, staining, or other discoloration
• no hint of acidity in the odor of the newsprint
• the overall look of a Mint condition comic book is « As if it was just purchased from the newsstand »

[ Notes ]
Comic books published before 1970 in Mint condition are extremely scarce. This grade is one of the least understood and most abused of all comic book grades.
Collectors should thoroughly examine any book touted to be in this grade. Further, they should be carefully scrutinized for restoration.
Expensive / key comic books listed as being in « high grade » often have some restoration. In most cases restoration performed on otherwise mint books will reduce the grade. A near mint comic book cannot be transformed into a mint comic book through restoration.

Near Mint NM 9.2 - Grade description :
Beautiful, with only minor imperfections that keep it from the next higher grade. Minor imperfections that are allowed in this grade include tiny corner creases or staple stress lines, a few color flecks, bindery tears, tiny impact creases or a combination of the above where the overall eye appeal is less than Mint. Only the most subtle binding and / or printing defects allowed. Cover is flat with no surface wear. Cover inks are bright with high reflectivity and minimum of fading. Corners are cut square and sharp with ever so slight blunting permitted. Staples are generally centered, clean with only light rust, and no paper discoloration or staining. Cover is well centered and firmly secured to interior pages. Paper is supple and like new. Spine is tight and flat. In rare cases a comic was not stapled at the bindery and is not considered a defect. Any staple can be replaced on books up to FN, but only vintage staples to VF or NM. Mint books must have original staples.

Checklist for the grade Near Mint :

• only minor imperfections noted
• almost no printing defects allowed
• no bindery defects permitted in this grade except bindery tears (see glossary)
• small and inconspicuously placed arrival dates and initials on cover are permitted
• cover is flat with no surface wear
• cover is bright
• cover is generally well centered
• staples are clean with no rust
• spine is flat and tight (no spine roll)
• minute color fading is acceptable
• no soiling, staining, or other discoloration
• no hint of acidity in the odor of the newsprint
• the overall look of a Near Mint condition comic book is « As if it were just purchased from the newsstand and read once or twice »

[ Notes ]
Comic books published before 1970 in Near Mint condition are scarce. This grade is commonly viewed by the average collector as the best grade obtainable.
Collectors should thoroughly examine any book touted to be in this grade. Further, they should be carefully scrutinized for restoration.
Expensive / key comic books listed as being in « high grade » often have some restoration. In most cases restoration performed on otherwise near mint books will reduce the grade. A Very Fine comic book cannot be transformed into a near mint comic book through restoration.

Very Fine VF 8.0 - Grade description :
An excellent copy with above average eye appeal. Sharp, bright and clean with supple pages. Cover is relatively flat with minimal surface wear beginning to show. Cover inks are generally bright with moderate to high reflectivity. Slight wear beginning to show including some minute wear at corners. Staples may show some discoloration. Spine may have a few transverse stress lines but is relatively flat. A light ½ inch crease is acceptible. A comic book in this grade has the appearance of having been carefully handled. Pages and covers can be yellowish / tannish (at the least) but not brown.

Checklist for the grade Very Fine :

• outstanding eye appeal
• minor printing defects are allowed
• minor bindery defects are allowed
• cover is relatively flat with minimal surface wear
• cover inks are generally bright
• some slight wear on cover, at spine and at corners beginning to show
• staples may show some discoloration
• spine is relatively flat with a few transverse stress lines
• no obvious visible soiling. staining, or other discoloration, except for minor staple rust migration
• minor corner creasing is allowed
• interior pages can be yellowish / tannish, but not brown

[ Notes ]
Comic books in this grade are normally the highest grade offered for sale.
Collectors should thoroughly examine any book touted to be in this grade. Further, they should be carefully scrutinized for restoration.
Many books graded higher than VF are, in reality, misgraded and are actually in VF condition.

Fine FN 6.0 - Grade description :
An exceptional, above average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with no major creasing or other serious defects. Eye appeal is somewhat reduced because of surface wear and the accumulation of small defects, especially on the spine and edges. Centerfold may be loose but not detached. A Fine condition comic book shows handling. Compared to a VF, cover inks are beginning to show a reduction in reflectivity but is still highly collectible and desirable.

Checklist for the grade Fine :

• average eye appeal
• minor wear visible
• minor creasing is allowed
• accumulation of small defects on spine and edge(s)
• blunted corners more common
• minor staining and discoloration that does not significantly reduce eye appeal
• staples may show moderate discoloration
• interior pages may have small tears in the margins or blunted corners
• staple tears are common
• spines may have transverse stress creases
• interior pages can be tan / brown
• a minor spine roll is allowed

[ Notes ]
Fine has historically been the most difficult grade to identify. It is the highest grade which allows a wide range of defects to occur.
Many books offered for sale are inaccurately graded as Fine. Collectors should carefully examine all books labeled with this grade for brittle or extremely brown pages.

Very Good VG 4.0 - Grade description :
The average used comic book. A comic in this grade shows moderate wear, can have a reading or center crease or a rolled spine, but still has not accumulated enough total defects to reduce eye appeal to the point where it is not a desirable copy. Some discoloration, fading and even minor soiling is allowed. No chunks (see glossary) can be missing but a small piece (see glossary) can be out at the corner or edge. Store stamps, name stamps, arrival dates, initials, etc. have no affect on this grade. Cover and interior pages can have minor tears and folds and the centerfold may be loose or detached. One or both staples might be loose, but cover is not completely detached. Common bindery and printing defects do not affect grade. Pages and inside covers may be brown but not brittle. Tape should never be used for comic book repair, however many VG condition comics have minor tape repair.

Checklist for the grade Very Good :

• shows significant wear
• book-length creases or dimples
• spine roll
• some discoloration, fading and soiling
• small piece can be out of cover from an otherwise finer copy
• store stamp, name stamp, arrival date, or initials
• staples may be discolored with rust migration
• centerfold may be detached
• minor printing and / or bindery defects
• pages may be brown
• minor tape repair on an otherwise better copy

[ Notes ]
Comics in this condition are desirable and collectible. The best known copies of some pre-1960 comic books are in Very Good condition.
There are significant and important differences between this grade and the next lower grade and overgrading sometimes occurs.
Comic books with brittle pages are not VG. When purchasing a comic suspected of being brittle, request the owner to open the book for examination.
Restored books often fall into this grade.

[ Accumulated defects rule ]
Books in this grade will not have all the listed defects but will have a combination of some of the above defects. The final grade depends on the number and severity of defects listed under the checklist.

Good GD 2.0 - Grade description :
A copy in this grade has all pages and its cover, although there may be small pieces missing. Books in this grade are commonly creased, scuffed, abraded and soiled, but are completely readable. Often paper quality may be low but not brittle. Cover reflectivity is usually low and in some cases completely absent. Most collectors consider this the lowest collectible grade because comic books in lesser condition are often incomplete and / or brittle. Traditionally, collectors have sometimes found it difficult to differentiate this grade from the next lower grade. This task can be simplified if one remembers that a comic book in this condition can have a large accumulation of defects but still maintains its basic structural integrity.

Checklist for the grade Good :

• shows substantial wear
• must be readable
• discoloration, fading and soiling likely
• small pieces may be missing, but the readability is preserved
• store stamp, name stamp, arrival date, initials permitted
• staples may be degraded, absent, or replaced
• cover may be detached
• coupon may be cut from back cover or from an interior page as long as story readability is preserved
• pages may be brown but not brittle
• tape and other forms of repair are common

[ Notes ]
Some of the most collectible comic books are rarely found in better than Good condition.
A book with brittle edges can be kept in this condition if handled carefully. However, its life expectancy is short.
The lowest price listed in the Price Guide is for Good condition comic books, and some have found it expedient to over-grade in an attempt to justify this price.
Comic books with brittle pages are not in GD condition.

[ Accumulated defects rule ]
Books in this grade will not have all the listed defects but will have a combination of some of the above defects. The final grade depends on the number and severity of defects listed under the checklist.

Fair FR 1.0 - Grade description :
A copy in this grade has all pages and most of the covers, although there may be up to ¼ of the front cover missing or no back cover, but not both. A comic in this grade may be soiled, ragged, unattractive, creased and / or folded. The centerfold may be missing if it does not affect a story. Spine may be split. Staples may be gone, and / or cover detached. Corners are commonly rounded or absent. Coupons may be cut. Comic books in this condition are often referred to as « reading » or « research copies ». Paper quality is often low.

Checklist for the grade Fair :

• heavy wear
• basic readability is preserved
• discoloration, fading and / or soiling
• some pieces may be missing
• staples may be degraded or gone
• cover may be detached
• coupon may be cut
• the spine may be split
• pages may be brittle around the edges
• tape and other forms of repair are more common than the next higher grade
• fair comics are often faded
• ragged appearance, abrasions and creases
• spine roll common
• centerfold may be missing if it does not interfere with a story

[ Notes ]
The demand for comic books in this grade from 1930s through 1960s issues is high.
Comic books described in this grade should be examined for brittleness.
Some Poor condition comics have missing pages unscroupously replaced with pages from a different issue or title to give the appearance of being Fair.

[ Accumulated defects rule ]
Books in this grade will not have all the listed defects but will have a combination of some of the above defects. The final grade depends on the number and severity of defects listed under the checklist.