Tom789

The first book has a front right bottom corner crease, which to me actually looks a bit large for a 9.6. I only say this because I have 9.6 with a smaller corner crease (it's actually mentioned in a grader's note). Can't see anything that pops out on the second book. There is maybe a small color-breaking spine tick about 2" down on the front cover but I don't think that alone would disqualify it from a 9.8.

A few things you didn't mention that might count. The book has to be well centered and pages have to be off-white to white or better. Also, no ink issues such as blotches, smears, transfers, missing ink etc. Full gloss required.

I don't believe any grader at CGC would give that a 9.8 or even close. Probably an error when inputting data for the label if I had to guess.

Looks like CGC is beta-testing a new shipping method:

SWAGs* recorded. *SWAG = Scientific Wild Guess - a highly technical term implemented often in my old area of work (engineering).

7. One bullseye, 3 off by one and 4 off on Nature Boy. 7.0?????

For comparison, here is the "worst" spine tick, IMO, from my submission. First is the official CGC image, second is my photo. This tick was present when submitted, but it wasn't "bendy".

I've had different results from CGC for this type of damage. In one submission of 25 books with this type of damage, I usually got a 9.0 or 9.2. In my latest submission of 25 books, I got many 9.6s and 9.8s, although with somewhat smaller effects than pictured in this thread (you can see a montage of this submission in the Back From CGC thread). So, is it different graders, or different standards at different times? I don't know. Here's one theory I have has a presser. Fresh off the press, these types of bends tend to disappear as a result of the press, and with careful handling will stay hidden. But the slightest force in the wrong direction can reintroduce them. It's possible that these books are handled carefully all the way through the grader, and then maybe the forces get applied during later handling and encapsulation and the bends reappear.

Grades in and I got the juggle icon. I don't know what that means, but I'm not optimistic.

I was going to say 9.4 to 9.6 but then saw the bottom edge on the back cover in the last picture, which isn't very clear so not sure if it can be cleaned/pressed out. 8.5 to 9.0 as is.

8.0 for the corner you mentioned and an accumulation of other small flaws along the bottom.

6 points and no bullseyes. One off on each except 2 off on the Romantic 9 where I said 5.0 and it got a 4.0. One look at that book in its case, with the wear around the staples, and I was like - what the hell was I thinking?

If you want to trust the CGC book, a 9.4 can have "one or two small color breaking creases at a corner or edge ... Several small non color breaking stress lines are allowed along the spine, or a few color breaking ones." Only one or a couple defect types can be present at once, depending on their size.

25 book modern submission: I'm the original owner except for the 70s ASMs, Daredevil 163 and the Cerebus, back issues bought in the 80s.

Here is the CGC result after one additional press. I'm satisfied!

Is CGC a major account with FedEx? If so, you'd think they'd have some pull to tell FedEx to actually treat their boxes marked Fragile, as ... Fragile.

Sometimes they can, sometimes they can't. A certain presser on YouTube married an insert into an ASM 238 and it came back from CGC as married. He then married a different insert into the same book, and it came back from CGC with a blue label.

CGC is surprisingly lenient, IMO, on missing pieces. From the recent CGC grading book describing a 4.5: "Up to a 2"x2" piece can be missing from the cover, or an accumulation of smaller pieces totaling that amount." Your example is certainly less than 2x2 so there were probably other limiting factors to the grade.

Great books. I wish I knew your source!

CGC has three types of graders: Too Tight Tommy, Just Right Jimmy, and Loose as Hell Larry. I always get the first one.

Let's go! (I'm in)

Just got my first item from DR.X. Extremely well-packed and bonus comics thrown in! Will be clicking immediately on any future sales.

My first PCH book. I usually buy at the peak, so this is probably a strong market indicator to sell.

Tough to say. Possibly a small corner crunch on the bottom right back cover. Or a small stain on the back cover just right of the left eye in the Spidey mask?