What?

So I wonder sometimes, when you use the phrase "My book went up/down a grade" - what do you mean?

I tend to be a little old fashioned I suppose - I consider 'a grade' to be a change from one 'word' grade to another. In my world the grades are: Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Fine, Very Fine, Near Mint, Mint, and Gem Mint - nine grades in all, and Iim still not 100% sure about Gem Mint. But as we all know those nine grades don't represent the numbers 1 through 9 inclusive. In fact, we utilize 24 numerical grades representing everything from .5 (No Grade) to 10 Gem Mint, when we purchase a book graded by a 3rd party.

The nuances between VF- and VF+ (considered by many to represent a two grade difference) are a little vague to me - certainly if I use the old Overstreet criteria. But do you consider that to be a two grade difference (VF- to VF to VF+)? Or is that a one grade difference (7.5 to 8.5, representing a difference of 1.0)? Or are you a little like me and that isn't a whole grade at all, simply variations on the same grade (VF), or as I used to call it Very Fine-ish.

Because, when all is said and done - the grade is just an opinion and the opinions that REALLY matter are the buyers and the sellers. Often I think that CGC is too hard on a particular book - sometimes I think that they are too soft on a particular book; and I believe that Golden Age books and Atomic Age books get a boost - and Modern Age books get whacked.

I think that stamped and china penciled date stamps and dust shadows are far more offensive to the eye (and subsequently should be to the grade) than slightly rounded or rounded corners.

But that's the difference between buying a number, and buying a grade. At least it is to me.

Happy Hunting

Lee