marvelmaniac

Slight edge wear w/color loss, small chip missing from outer edge (Marvel Chipping?), moderate spine stress/spine ticks w/color break, moderate staple tear at top staple (as seen on the rear cover). Overall the book presents nicely, however, with the color breaking spine ticks and the other defects listed, IMO... 7.0 FINE/VERY FINE (FN/VF): Back to Top An above-average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with outstanding eye appeal. A small accumulation of minor bindery/printing defects is allowed. Minor cover wear beginning to show, possibly including minor creases. Corners may be blunted. Inks are generally bright with a moderate reduction in reflectivity. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. Minor foxing. The slightest spine roll may be present, as well as a possible moderate color break. Staples may show some discoloration. Slight staple tears and a small accumulation of light stress lines may be present. Slight rust migration. Paper is cream to tan. Centerfold is mostly secure. Minor interior tears at the margin may be present. 6.5 FINE+ (FN+): Back to Top Fits the criteria for Fine but with an additional virtue or small accumulation of virtues that improves the book's appearance by a perceptible amount.

May be my old eyes, where is this water stain on the front cover? Without being able to see the water stain (if there is an actual stain it will lower the grade more), it appears most of the defects, (color breaking spine ticks, color rub/scratches) are seen on the black rear cover, I also noticed a very slight spine roll at the top of the book.. IMO, the color breaks prevent this book from being a higher grade, with a stain the grade may be lower. 9.2 NEAR MINT- (NM-): Back to Top Nearly perfect with only a minor additional defect or defects that keep it from Near Mint. A limited number of minor bindery/printing defects are allowed. Cover is flat with no surface wear. Inks are bright with only the slightest dimming of reflectivity. Corners are cut square and sharp with ever-so-slight blunting permitted. A 1/16-1/8" bend is permitted with no color break. Small, inconspicuous, lightly penciled, stamped or inked arrival dates are acceptable as long as they are in an unobtrusive location. Slight foxing. Spine is tight and flat. Staples may show some discoloration. Almost no stress lines. Paper is off-white to cream, supple and fresh. Slight interior tears are allowed. 9.0 VERY FINE/NEAR MINT (VF/NM): Back to Top Nearly perfect with outstanding eye appeal. A limited number of bindery/printing defects are allowed. Cover is almost flat with almost imperceptible wear. Inks are bright with slightly diminished reflectivity. An 1/8" bend is allowed if color is not broken. Corners are cut square and sharp with ever-so-slight blunting permitted but no creases. Several lightly penciled, stamped or inked arrival dates are acceptable. Very minor foxing. Spine is tight and flat. Staples may show some discoloration. Only the slightest staple tears are allowed. A very minor accumulation of stress lines may be present if they are nearly imperceptible. Paper is off-white to cream and supple. Very minor interior tears may be present.

What is the actual size of the case? Height, Width, Thickness?

When my Son decided to sell his collection of 2000 books (mostly 80's/90's) I contacted dealers in my area to gauge interest, only one dealer was interested and came out to look at the books. We were looking for $2000.00 for the entire collection, he offered $800.00 and we politely said No, and we parted ways. He said that other than a few books the rest were dollar bin books at best and said he could only pay 2 cents each for those books, we also disagreed on grading, I graded strictly using the Overstreet grading standards, he kept saying "well that's not how CGC does it and that's what folks are looking for, what CGC does". He also said he sells full short boxes of "drek" to other dealers at shows for $10.00 a box. That was 2 years ago, since then I have sold about 100 + of my Son's books for about $3000.00.(I do not advertise books for sale, I respond when I see someone searching for a book(s) I have.) My 2000 book collection has been graded, cataloged and photographed by me, FMV, using eBay sold auction prices for books in the same grade is done every 6 month's for my top books so I know what I have. My collection will be left to my kids (47 and 44) and I left them detailed instructions for handling comic books, where and how to sell comics books, where to find research info and their actual FMV so they can negotiate in good faith when the time comes, they will not be lowballed, knowledge is power.

If that were my book in the 60's and the folks took me out to eat (Bob's Big Boy, Howard Johnsons, etc.) and I brought the book along to read, I can see me dripping/dropping something on the book, and being a kid, I probably would have said...Ehh.

Not speaking for CGC...The 1st mention of a "loose/detached cover" in the grading standards is in VG 4.0. 7.0 FINE/VERY FINE (FN/VF): 8.0 VERY FINE (VF): Centerfold is mostly secure. 5.0 VERY GOOD/FINE (VG/FN): 6.0 FINE (FN): Centerfold may be loose. 4.0 VERY GOOD (VG): Cover shows moderate to significant wear, and may be loose but not completely detached, Centerfold may be loose or detached at one staple. 3.0 GOOD/VERY GOOD (GD/VG): Cover shows significant wear, and may be loose or even detached at one staple, Centerfold may be loose or detached at one staple. 2.0 GOOD (GD): Cover shows significant wear and may even be detached, Centerfold may be loose or detached. 1.5 FAIR/GOOD (FR/GD): Cover shows considerable wear and may be detached, Centerfold may be loose or detached.

https://gobacktothepast.com/comic-book-grading-101-what-is-foxing/#:~:text=Defining Foxing&text=It is a phenomenon wherein,paper products as they age. https://www.janetwhardy.com/how-to-remove-foxing-from-comic-books/

https://www.biblio.com/book-collecting/care-preservation/prevent-remove-mold-mildew/#:~:text=a thin haze%2C a patch,of the book or paper https://www.prismspecialties.com/blog/2020/03/18/how-to-remove-mold-from-books/#:~:text=Mold — A telltale sign of,avoid any infections or irritations. https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Mold_Tutorial_2011.pdf This is what mold typically looks like.

I assume the package was insured, either through USPS or a 3rd party insurer? https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm

Remember, a comic is graded on it's entirety, not one lone defect, as far as spine splits... 1.5 FAIR/GOOD (FR/GD):May have a spine split between 2" and 2/3 the length of the book. 2.0 GOOD (GD): May have up to a 2" spine split. 3.0 GOOD/VERY GOOD (GD/VG): May have a spine split of anywhere from 1" to 1-1/2". 4.0 VERY GOOD (VG): Moderate spine roll may be present and/or a 1" spine split. 5.0 VERY GOOD/FINE (VG/FN): A spine split of up to 1/2" may be present 6.0 FINE (FN): A minor spine roll is allowed. There can also be a 1/4" spine split or severe color break.

Edge/corner wear with color loss, minor spine wear with color loss and a few small color breaking spine ticks, slightly off center cover wrap, moderate dust shadows on the rear cover. Very Nice Book!!! IMO... 7.5 VERY FINE- (VF-): Back to Top Fits the criteria for Very Fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the book's appearance by a perceptible amount. 7.0 FINE/VERY FINE (FN/VF): Back to Top An above-average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with outstanding eye appeal. A small accumulation of minor bindery/printing defects is allowed. Minor cover wear beginning to show, possibly including minor creases. Corners may be blunted. Inks are generally bright with a moderate reduction in reflectivity. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. Minor foxing. The slightest spine roll may be present, as well as a possible moderate color break. Staples may show some discoloration. Slight staple tears and a small accumulation of light stress lines may be present. Slight rust migration. Paper is cream to tan. Centerfold is mostly secure. Minor interior tears at the margin may be present.

Congrats on 20 years!!!

And again, you cannot feel the paper through a computer screen.

I LOVE the smell of degrading paper, however, you cannot smell degrading paper through a computer screen.

https://www.cgccomics.com/ccs-pressing/ https://www.subzerocomics.com/post/a-complete-beginners-guide-to-comic-book-pressing-and-cleaning#:~:text=If a comic book has,always keep your expectations low.

Congrats on your TOS 39!!! Enjoy that book!!! I have a question, not pertaining to the original posters question... On a coverless grail such as this book, how could the average collector tell if the book is a legit, original book and not a reprint without an indicia being present?, just curious.

For me, the beginning of the Silver Age was with Showcase #4 in Oct. 1956, it was the 1st appearance of a superhero other than Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman since the end of WWII, introducing a totally new/different character and storyline. For me the end of the Silver Age happened gradually, the cover price increased from .12 cents to .15 cents, The expansion of titles by Marvel in 1968 doing away with TOS and TTA and giving Capt. America, Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Sub-Mariner, Silver Surfer, Capt. Marvel, Nick Fury, Doctor Strange their own titles, and the end for me was the introduction of new horror titles and characters by Marvel in 71/72.

Slightly blunted corners w/slight color loss, minor spine stress w/multiple color breaking spine ticks. The book overall presents nicely and without the color breaking spine ticks this book would grade around a NM 9.4, from what I understand CGC is being lenient on spine sticks/stress lines, I however am old school when it comes to grading, with at least 10 color breaking spine ticks I cannot go any higher than... 9.0 VERY FINE/NEAR MINT (VF/NM): Back to Top Nearly perfect with outstanding eye appeal. A limited number of bindery/printing defects are allowed. Cover is almost flat with almost imperceptible wear. Inks are bright with slightly diminished reflectivity. An 1/8" bend is allowed if color is not broken. Corners are cut square and sharp with ever-so-slight blunting permitted but no creases. Several lightly penciled, stamped or inked arrival dates are acceptable. Very minor foxing. Spine is tight and flat. Staples may show some discoloration. Only the slightest staple tears are allowed. A very minor accumulation of stress lines may be present if they are nearly imperceptible. Paper is off-white to cream and supple. Very minor interior tears may be present. 8.5 VERY FINE+ (VF+): Back to Top Fits the criteria for Very Fine but with an additional virtue or small accumulation of virtues that improves the book's appearance by a perceptible amount.

The top staple is showing some discoloration from rust, my old eyes cannot really see the staples as shown in the centerfold. Keep in mind that a book is graded in it's entirety with each defect affecting the grade, to what extent?, depends on the amount and severity of the defects, as far as staple color. NM/MT 9.8 - Staples must be original, generally centered and clean with no rust. NM+ 9.6 - Staples must be original, generally centered, with only the slightest discoloration NM 9.4 - Staples are generally centered; may have slight discoloration. NM- 9.2 - Staples may show some discoloration. VF/NM 9.0 - Staples may show some discoloration. Only the slightest staple tears are allowed As far as page whiteness, there appears to be page tanning on the edges. Dust Shadow - Darker, usually linear area at the edge of some comics stored in stacks. Some portion of the cover was not covered by the comic immediately above it and was exposed to settling dust particles. Also see "Oxidation Shadow" and "Sun Shadow." Foxing - Defect caused by mold growth which results in a spotting effect usually at the edges of comic books. Sun Shadow - Darker, usually linear area at the edge of some comics stored in stacks. Some portion of the cover was not covered by the comic immediately above it and was exposed to the sun. (Also see "Dust Shadow" and "Oxidation Shadow").

Where they made that way on purpose or was it a printing error like F.F. 110.

I do not have my books cleaned and pressed, however, looking at the spine and cover pulling away from the staples I would think it may do more harm than good, especially for a book in the VG 4.0 range.

That would explain it, to my old eyes they looked dark, so...

Slight edge and corner wear with slight creasing at the lower left corner, slight blunting to the lower right corner, slight spine stress with a few spine ticks, only 1 breaks color, slightly discolored staples. IMO...VF+ 8.5 9.0 VERY FINE/NEAR MINT (VF/NM): Back to Top Nearly perfect with outstanding eye appeal. A limited number of bindery/printing defects are allowed. Cover is almost flat with almost imperceptible wear. Inks are bright with slightly diminished reflectivity. An 1/8" bend is allowed if color is not broken. Corners are cut square and sharp with ever-so-slight blunting permitted but no creases. Several lightly penciled, stamped or inked arrival dates are acceptable. Very minor foxing. Spine is tight and flat. Staples may show some discoloration. Only the slightest staple tears are allowed. A very minor accumulation of stress lines may be present if they are nearly imperceptible. Paper is off-white to cream and supple. Very minor interior tears may be present. 8.5 VERY FINE+ (VF+): Back to Top Fits the criteria for Very Fine but with an additional virtue or small accumulation of virtues that improves the book's appearance by a perceptible amount. 8.0 VERY FINE (VF): Back to Top An excellent copy with outstanding eye appeal. A limited accumulation of minor bindery/printing defects is allowed. Cover is relatively flat with minimal surface wear beginning to show, possibly including some minute wear at corners. Inks are generally bright with moderate to high reflectivity. An unnoticeable 1/4" crease is acceptable if color is not broken. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. Minor foxing. Spine is almost completely flat with a possible minor color break. Staples may show some discoloration. Very slight staple tears and a few almost insignificant stress lines may be present. Paper is cream to tan and supple. Centerfold is mostly secure. Minor interior tears at the margin may be present.

Blunted corners, multiple color breaking creases, especially top right corner/top edge/near spine, moderate spine stress with color breaking spine ticks, moderate to severe staple tears, rusty staples, what appears to be tape or tape residue at the bottom right of rear cover, moderate foxing/dust shadow along spine of rear cover, 2" (?) tear to an interior page. IMO... 4.0 VERY GOOD (VG): Back to TopThe average used comic book. Cover shows moderate to significant wear, and may be loose but not completely detached. Cover reflectivity is low. Can have moderate creases or dimples. Corners may be blunted. Store stamps, name stamps, arrival dates, initials, etc. have no effect on this grade. Some discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor soiling is allowed. As much as a 1/4" triangle can be missing out of the corner or edge; a missing 1/8" square is also acceptable. Only minor unobtrusive tape and other amateur repair allowed on otherwise high grade copies. Moderate spine roll may be present and/or a 1" spine split. Staples may be discolored. Minor to moderate staple tears and stress lines may be present, as well as some rust migration. Paper is brown but not brittle. Minor to moderate interior tears may be present. Centerfold may be loose or detached at one staple.

Color breaking creasing along the outer edge, color breaking creases running diagonally from the outer edge to top edge, moderate spine stress/staple tears with color breaking spine ticks, rusted staples, blunted/creases corners, color rub on "Beasts" left hand, slightly mis-trimmed outer edge by CCA Stamp, minor foxing on front/rear covers. small tears on lower edge of rear cover, slight wrinkling at lower right corner on rear cover. Without being able to see the pages/centerfold for rust migration or loose detached cover/centerfold... IMO, the rusty staples keep this book from being a VG/FN 5.0, so...VG+ 4.5 5.0 VERY GOOD/FINE (VG/FN): Back to Top An above-average but well used comic book. An accumulation of bindery/printing defects is allowed. Minor to moderate cover wear apparent, with minor to moderate creases and/or dimples. Inks have moderate to low reflectivity. Blunted corners are increasingly common, as is minor to moderate staining, discoloration, and/or foxing. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. A minor to moderate spine roll is allowed. A spine split of up to 1/2" may be present. Staples may show minor discoloration. Minor staple tears and minor stress lines may also be present, as well as minor rust migration. Paper is tan to brown with no signs of brittleness. Centerfold may be loose. Minor interior tears may also be present. 4.5 VERY GOOD+ (VG): Back to Top Fits the criteria for Very Good but with an additional virtue or small accumulation of virtues that improves the book's appearance by a perceptible amount. 4.0 VERY GOOD (VG): Back to Top The average used comic book. Cover shows moderate to significant wear, and may be loose but not completely detached. Cover reflectivity is low. Can have moderate creases or dimples. Corners may be blunted. Store stamps, name stamps, arrival dates, initials, etc. have no effect on this grade. Some discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor soiling is allowed. As much as a 1/4" triangle can be missing out of the corner or edge; a missing 1/8" square is also acceptable. Only minor unobtrusive tape and other amateur repair allowed on otherwise high grade copies. Moderate spine roll may be present and/or a 1" spine split. Staples may be discolored. Minor to moderate staple tears and stress lines may be present, as well as some rust migration. Paper is brown but not brittle. Minor to moderate interior tears may be present. Centerfold may be loose or detached at one staple.