Lninefingers

Here’s an attempt at a higher resolution pic with outdoor light. Edit: there's a little bit of staple rust on the top staple too now that I look again.

Only imperfection I can spot is a tiny dent between the surfer's fist and shoulder (center, picture 6). How bad does that hurt me? Thanks for looking

I feel like they're going to hit you hard for the stain at the top. I had a book come back a 6.0 with a smaller, less visible stain on an otherwise cleaner book. 5.5-6.0 feels like a hard ceiling for me, more likely around 5.0

I think a clean and press helps the back in particular.

5.0 I learned the hard way that they crush you for stains. I got knocked down to a 6.0 for a smaller stain on a cleaner book.

I didn’t guess way back then, but I’ll guess 8.0-8.5

I think this is a perfect sum up. The CGC standard feels somewhat inappropriate if you’re to consider how these books would likely be received raw “in the wild”, but it’s still the [known] standard. Submit at your peril. Thanks for all the thoughts/insights everyone.

Fair. If them’s the rules, them’s the rules. Feels harsh though to take a 3(?) point deduction for something that you can barely see on an otherwise VF+ book.

Not much, but yes there is something. I also found the raw photos the presser took befor sending it off if that helps.

Grader Notes stain right bottom of front cover light creasing to cover The "light creasing" has to be the spine roll. There's no creasing. The stain has to be the dot on the "E". Neither I nor the LCS owner who pressed/submitted on my behalf can find anything else. I am, of course, no expert on grading and I am biased because I've had this book in my PC for over 30 years and I love it, but I just don't see how anyone looks at this book and says "Yeah, that's a [grade it got]" Appreciate you looking.

I wasn't aware until reading the Conan 11 thread that there's an appeal process and that appeals were even possible. (Thanks @scburdet, TIL) I recently graded this one and it got a Grader's note said cover staining, which after inspection is probably on the "E" in the last picture. Everything is nice and tight, no missing pages or anything like that. It has a little bit of spine roll, but no creases anywhere. Pages are OW to W. What would you grade this at? Should I appeal?

Nice gloss, really vibrant colors. Could definitely benefit from a press. Thanks for looking.

I say 4.0, maybe 4.5 Presents really well, IMO

I'm in if not too late

Heavy tanning, and a crease upper right corner. Kirby goodness though!

Tanning isn't a death sentence. (Although if I'm honest I did expect this to come back lower.)

Pics of a Surfer 4 that has color fading to the cover. (The spine is nice and square though, much better than I usually see.) The last photo is of it and my other copy so you can judge the extent of the fading. This book is the one the right. Thank you for looking!