Corvonie

Seems like a consensus is building and this is a great lesson for me - post em here BEFORE I decide to send them out. It’s such a pretty copy I think I overlooked some flaws. When this book likely comes back under an 8.5, it’ll probably get cracked so I can enjoy it again, how I prefer to (I usually only slab books I intend to sell). I’ll of course share here when it comes back, and thank you all for your time and insight!

7.0 bc of the edge wear on the right of the front cover combined with staining or whatever those spots are on the back cover. But a really nice 7.0!

Wow, reading the definition, I get it - but I personally have never in my life seen a 7.0 that looks like this. So interesting how different things combine to make a grade. We'll see! Thank you for the grade.

I don't have any major change of feeling about CGC. Protect yourself by declaring a real value on your book in case of loss, get insurance if you have big books. But I will say, after I submitted my 181 is when the second scandal of books being stolen came out and I was like "If this thing is stuck in QC for more than a day I'm gonna start asking for proof of life"

Another awesome cover I’ve never seen before! That’s a beautiful copy. Looks like a 9.4 to me, except maybe a 9.2 depending on what’s going on on the BRFC? If it’s raised but not color breaking, a press would probably take care of it

Nice work!

I hear they’re the latest craze

And then immediately started backing that high value fee into an FMV to try to determine what grade it was 🤣. Surprisingly on the money, and I had a good guess of how it would come back a few days early!

Hi, Looking for a grade on this copy of FF 45 that's just arrived for grading - so there won't be long to wait for it to come in! Biggest question for me here is the effect of the crease BRFC and the kind of dappled discoloration on the inside front cover. Thanks, as always, for your time and expertise!

Yes, thank you! I’m prepped for any eventuality there. Had a similar experience recently with a Hulk 181. When they blew up my “high value fee” from $250 to $600, I was like “whoa Nelly!”

Thank you! This book is from the collection of a seller I've dealt with over and over and so I'm very confident in its provenance and lack of restoration. And having examined it myself, I saw no evidence of any. But generally, on raw books, it is always a possibility.

The thing is, if this book comes back anything lower than a 9.2, then I probably get to crack it and love it and hug it and name it George instead of selling it. So really it’s a no-lose!

From your mouth to Mike’s ears!

I would say a 4.0 because of the tears maybe a 4.5, but I'll take this kind of VG over one with rounded corners and a reader's crease/spine wear any day!

Paging DR X . I love how anything can turn into a debate on here!

This book is a dream of a dream! Love seeing truly rare and special things come up on here. GLWTS!

I assumed they all fainted and hadn’t regained consciousness. But now it might be time for a wellness check! 😝 In all seriousness, thanks for the kind words, and for bumping the thread up! I was giving opinions on some books last night while I was waiting for replies here, and did notice that grading the mid-grade books was more engaging for me than high-grade, so maybe that’s part of it?

Who pressed it? CGC?

I’m at a 3.0 only because something about the staples makes me feel less good about it structurally. But thank you so much, I came into this thread going “lol they got autocorrected on Firestar” and now I have a whole new series to look at!

I’m at a 9.4 because of the wear on the TRFC (I think it may be other places). Not scientific, but I just think of that being the kind of defect a 9.6 doesn’t have. Beautiful copy!

I completely agree. Beyond the quality of the work (I’ve had good and not impressive from CGC) you don’t get to consult with the person working on your book before-hand and you don’t get to see the results before it’s graded. Those two things make all the difference to me. You don’t necessarily have to find someone local. There are several ppl who accept books by mail and will send it through to CGC for you under their or your account

I’ve seen some pretty intensive light and whitening/stain removal treatments that have come back blue. That stuff isn’t only in YouTube videos. And I can say from personal experience that Bronze Age is definitely the sweet spot for improbability. The fact that the paper isn’t glossy yet but the cover stock is so solid - or something more science-y - but the amount of work you can do on this era of book without worrying about damaging it is unmatched in my experience. That said, water stains can be tricky because of them migrating instead of jut staying put or going away (sometimes called “tide lines”) I think a lot of this comes down to taste and knowing when to stop. Good luck to you and good luck to your presser! Please share raw pics after pressing it you can remember to!

Who am I to disagree with everyone? But I'm with you, I think it could eke out a 6.5, especially with a press to make it present a little better at grade. And that at a 6.0, it'll be a really nice example of the grade. I want a piece of this first hulk run so bad (#5 is a top 10 cover for me). So awesome to see one of these before it's slabbed. Thanks!

1.8, MAN what a piece of history

I'm at 3.0 as well, and thanks for sharing this awesome cover!