Shaun03

I did put it up for auction. I finished the collection a little over a year ago ending a 13 year adventure. I have enjoyed looking at it from time to time but I don't collect comics anymore just because there is too much to follow these days. Wolverine was always my favorite character since I was child. When his death happened It took me forever to collect all of the covers for that, and I don't know if I actually did get all of them because of all of the convention versions and store versions. Looking online there are more than 20 that I can find listed but I don't know if that list is complete. Then they went and brought him back and there were over 60 covers that I know of. It reminded me of when Superman died and I spent a fortune, for me as a kid at the time, on an issue and then it became worthless because they brought him back. I am selling off most of my collection, about half of it is gone now and I need to find the time to list the other half. I am going to keep some issues that I want when I was younger but couldn't afford, which are also not worth much these days, just ones that bring back the memories of what it was like as a kid and comic stores were on every corner. I did not receive any offers for the whole set, just offers for some of the books that people need for their collection. I know there are Maxx fans on here. I'm not looking to break up the set, but if anyone wants to make an offer off of eBay I would go to $15k because there are no fees off of eBay. I've seen some messages on this board saying the price I paid for some of the books was crazy, so if you think the amount I am asking is crazy that is fine but I would ask that you not respond telling me that. I think for all that I am offering it is way more reasonable that what others are asking for some Maxx items on eBay.

I don't think you are reading what I said correctly. I didn't ask for a blue label. I would prefer a green label, but I've had it at CGC four times now. I said that IF it would grade higher with a green label. There is no way for me to know that though since I don't know if this was another mistake and 7.0 is the true grade and they just put a blue label on it. Or if they don't put green labels on anything 7.0 or below. As I explained in the post you replied to, from what I have read, they will not put a green label on books that are below a certain level, but I have not found anything definitive on what that actually is, if there is a set numerical grade, or has been said previously, the decision is ultimately up to the grader. The last time this book came back: it had a green label, with printing for a blue label and was put in the system as a yellow label, so obviously mistakes can be made. I think that 7.0 is a fair grade for the condition of the book, blue label, green label, yellow label, red label, pink label, whatever color the label is. Maybe the grader meant it to be green and chose the wrong thing in the system. Maybe they graded it and decided the signature didn't affect the grade so the blue label was the best option. I am not the grader so I don't know. Whatever the case, I stated all of this in the last post, and bottom line, I appreciate the support I received with getting it from a 4.0 to a 7.0, which again, I think is a fair grade. If it should have graded a 7.6 without the signature and the grader just chose not to do that, then it is what it is since I don't own CGC and can't tell them how to do things. I think I received a fair outcome thanks to the support in the beginning. If you ever encounter this situation, you are welcome to keep sending it back until they bend to your will.

You are correct. If they are using a blue label then I would assume they took points off for the writing on the cover. That is why I said if the book itself, without the writing, would grade a 7.0, then the grade is right on the money. That is where I assume they would put a green label on it so that it is known that the grade of the book is 7.0 and they recognize that the signature and number are an actual signature and numbering for the book, not some random scribbling on the cover, but not a signature that CGC witnessed. In this case, there is no way CGC could have witnessed the signature, they weren't around yet, but it is well known, at least to those who know about the ashcans, that all of them were signed and numbered. From what I have read, there is a point that they will give a blue label because the writing, even if it is a signature, does not affect the grade. For example, say a book gets a 3.0 because of: tears, bends, missing pieces, faded colors, etc. A little writing on the cover is the least of the problems. At that point they will put a blue label on it because the writing doesn't affect the grade. If it would grade a 9.0 without the signature, but the writing would lower it to an 8.2, that is where the green label comes in. The actual book is a 9.0, but the signature affects the grade so the green label comes in to say they realize it is a signature, but they didn't witness it, but the book is in 9.0 condition. I have not been able to find at what point that comes into play though. It could be 5.0, 6.0 or, like mine, 7.0 is where they cutoff the green label. I do wonder if the grader marked off points for the signature and number since it is a blue label, but I don't know. I do think 7.0 is a fair grade for the condition, if you ignore the signature, so maybe just an over-site, or maybe that is just where they cutoff the green labels these days.

For those saying it should be green, and why am I happy. Yes, I agree it should be green, I made that argument myself, why would they create a category for exactly this type of situation and not use it? So I would prefer the green label, IF, it would grade higher as a green label. I knew it wasn't a 4.0, but 7.0 may be on the money for the condition of the book if it wasn't signed. If that is the case, then it has the correct grade. If the book itself is say a 7.6, and it was marked down to a 7.0 because of the signature, then yes, I would fight that and say put a green label on it and give it the correct grade. The problems here are two. One, I don't know CGC's criteria so I can't argue when it comes to closer grades. I could argue that this book is not a 4.0 because I was able to find many examples online that are clearly in far worse condition than mine. When it comes to the 7-8 range, there are some that I compare and wonder how they are the same. This, I think, is where the objectivity comes in. It is up to the grader when it comes to the smaller differences. Maybe one grader sees something another didn't. Maybe they both see the same thing but one puts a higher weight on that defect. The second issue is that CGC themselves say that it is up to the grader weather or not to use a blue or green label. I can ask for a blue label, but as others have pointed out in this thread, and CGC has told me themselves, I cannot ask for a green label. Now seeing that I sent in 11 of these books at once, it is strange that one did not come back green. The lowest grade on the others was 7.5. Maybe 7.0 is where they put a blue label on it no matter what. The bottom line is that I am not one of their graders, so I do not know their policies. Now if someone can tell me with 100% certainty that they are required to put a green label on this book and that it deserves a higher grade, I am all for raising the grade. The only person I have seen in here from CGC is CGC Mike and he helped me raise it by three points, so yes, I am happy with that, and I appreciate his help with this. This has been at CGC 4 times now though, so I am not going to push the issue just to get a green label when I think the grade that was given is a fair grade from what I see.

From what I've read in my research, it will normally receive a green label. If it would grade low without the signature if receives a blue label. If the condition is good then a green label can be given and it is graded as if the signature was not there. As discussed earlier in this thread though, this is at the discretion of the grader. It being a blue 7.0 did make me wonder if would grade higher without the signature and number on the cover when I opened it. I have sent it back three times now though so at this point it is what it is. It does have flaws. Whether those flaws make it a 7.0 or not, I do not know. I knew it did not deserve a 4.0, but at the level it is at now, that is beyond my ability to debate since I don't know what the actual grading criteria is. You always hope for a higher grade, but I think this one is fair. My OCD does cringe a little because all of the others are green, but what can you do. CGC Mike was awesome for stepping in, and everyone in this thread was amazing with their support. I think 7.0 is fair so I'm not going to press just to get the label changed to be green in color.

Here they are all together. The last picture is a few extras I collected along the way.

I want to say thank you to everyone who provided help and guidance with this. I received the yellow ashcan back today and it is graded a 7.0 now. It has a blue label, but at least it has a better grade now. This is a great community and I appreciate the support with this.

Hey Mike, thanks for the reply. I'll open an ME order and get it sent off as soon as I can, probably this weekend. I do have to say that it is tempting to keep the only ashcan that was actually witnessed being signed by CGC though! I'm not sure if you can make it happen, but if it truly is a 4.0 book, can I get some grader's notes with it this time so I know what the major defects are that are causing it to be that low? If it is a 4.0, then that is what it is, I would just like to know why it is after looking at other 4.0 books that look like they have a lot more issues with them.

I see what you mean about the upper and lower case lettering, I hadn't noticed that, that's interesting. The grader notes are what I was looking for though, at least that would give me an idea of what the defects are and give me an idea if pressing it would help a good amount or just be a minor thing. I do see a few spine ticks, one of them looks like it breaks color and the corners aren't the best. I appreciate the heads up.

I received the yellow #3 back and it does have a green label now, but it is still graded a 4.0. I received a message from a CGC representative while it was being graded stating, "The Graders have reviewed your request for a green label due to the signature on the cover, however, because this book has enough defects to lower the grade to a 4.0 thus making it too low to "Qualify", therefore the blue label is correct." After that, I received it back and it does have a green label now, so that adds to the confusion. I asked about grader notes since it was still receiving such a low grade and haven't received a response on that yet. I did look up a couple of CGC 4.0 books online to see what others look like and I am more confused as to how this book is graded so low compared to what I found. Below are pictures of the book returned with the green label. After that are a couple of books I found online that were also 4.0s. I don't know how a grader can look at these and say they are equal in condition. I also tried to lookup the categories for the different grades from CGC and all I found were vague descriptions stating minor, moderate or major defects. I wasn't able to find anything that described what the difference was between the three, or what drops a book down from one grade to the other. My Yellow #3 is by no means perfect, there are defects, but it is not nearly as bad as the others I looked at with the same grade. I might try getting it pressed in the future and see what that does. Thanks to everyone for all of the advice previously, I do appreciate learning some new stuff and the responses from the community.

Thanks. I do have all twelve now and some extras I've collected over the years along with other Maxx editions. It took me 13 years to get all of the ashcans. The hardest for me to find was the yellow 3. Luckily I found someone on the forums here that was selling it and I was able to pick it up. I also stumbled across the mini comic platinum edition. Sadly that one did not come back as a 9.8 even though it looked like it was great condition. The only ones I'm missing are the red and blue 1/2s but the asking prices for those are just too high. I offered someone $3,000 a piece for them several years ago and was shot down so I don't think I'll ever see those. The yellow with the blue label is back at CGC waiting for grading right now. Once I get it back I'll post a picture of all of them here.

It is frustrating. I had 11 and only one had a blue label. They did tell me to ship it back in though so it is going to be given a green label. You should send them a message and keep responding. Funny enough, someone had made a joke about submitting a mechanical error, I don't see their posts anymore so I can't quote it, but that is what happened. CGC responded and said that an error had been made so I submitted a mechanical error and I'm sending the blue label back in for a regrade with a green label.

Thanks for the information. If there is something I know I will keep forever I see in the future I'll consider purchasing one that is graded by them. I don't collect and sell professionally, but it is nice to know I can resell in the future if I want to get some cash from a book to buy something I want more.

I had responded to the email from CGC and I received an email today that there may have been a mistake on the yellow ashcan. They are going to get back to me and let me know if I should send it back in. I saw the response from @The Lions Den and that may very well be. I don't see anything major, but I don't work for CGC so I'm not trained to see what may be there. I'll update when I hear back from CGC and let everyone know if I am sending it back in per their direction, or if I break it open and send it back in and see what happens.

That brings up a question. I know PGX is not the most trusted grading service. I don't know much about CBCS though. Does anyone know if they are any good? I've looked at books graded by them, but I don't know much about their grading standards.