marvelmaniac

Welcome To The Boards!!! You should post pics, however it is probably in the category of "Printing Bindery" defects which is acceptable in Varying Amounts all the way up to a MT 9.9. Bindery Defect - Defects associated with the binding process, including mistrimming, miswrapping, inaccurate stapling, etc.

Google "Shaken Comic Syndrome". Either way, I would never tell you how or what to collect, that is all individual preference, just enjoy doing it!!!

It all comes down to two things that are a constant in this and any other collectible hobby. 1)Are you in this for investment/profit or the fun of collecting? 2)Any collectible is only worth what a collector is willing to pay. If a dealer wants to charge a certain/high price and nobody buys it then eventually the price will come down (except for eBay "Buy It Now" and "MCS Consignment Books".) If a dealer has the price set high for an item (raw book in this case) and people buy the item was the price really too high? Long before eBay I was always willing to pay a higher price for a book from an LCS or Local Con that I needed to complete a run and had been searching for with no luck.

Just saw this... I do not have my books graded, however... From what I have read here on the site, encasing in a slab does not provide any better/more protection than storing in a Mylite with the Proper Board. The way to prevent any book from damage is the same regardless... Proper storage in a Mylite/Acid Free Board, Away from ALL Light and Heat Sources, In a Controlled Environment and Do Not Handle the Book at All. The only thing slabbing helps with is the latter, it will not Allow you to physically handle the books themselves. The last time Any of my books were removed from their boxes/mylites was 5 years ago when I re-graded and photographed all 3600. (And BTW...I F&%$ed up my D.D. 131 by getting it caught on tape residue. , so none of us is Perfect, including the People that work at CGC)

I was reading this entire thread and before I even got to your response I was thinking the exact same thing... (Get Out Of My Head) With or Without the detached cover FR/GD 1.5 was my assessment. IMO that book(Sgt. Fury 1) with an attached cover would still not qualify for a GD- 1.8 or GD 2.0. Either way, they are both Nice Books.

The way crossovers used to be back in the early days of Marvel, that is what made them special for me.

Either way I have to say "Galactus Is The SH$%!!!

Welcome to the boards. New collector? IMO due to the discoloration, stress lines and corner blunting this book will grade a FN+ 6.5 - FN/VF 7.0. (Better than FN 6.0 but by how much?) 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. 6.0 FINE (FN): Back to Top An above-average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with no significant creasing or other serious defects. Some accumulation of minor bindery/printing defects is allowed. Minor cover wear apparent, with minor to moderate creases. Inks show a significant reduction in reflectivity. Blunted corners are more common, as is minor staining, soiling, discoloration, and/or foxing. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. A minor spine roll is allowed. There can also be a 1/4" spine split or severe color break. Staples may show minor discoloration. Minor staple tears and a few slight stress lines may be present, as well as minor rust migration. Paper is tan to brown and fairly supple with no signs of brittleness. Minor interior tears at the margin may be present. Centerfold may be loose.

Is that really an original F.F. 1 and not a GRR? Pic of the indicia? Overall that is a "Really Nice Book"!!! I know nothing about restoration but sitting the way it is and only due to the small tears at the bottom of the spine I also say... FN+ 6.5.

IMO this book would be a FN/VF 7.0 , however... IMO the small tear at the bottom of the spine reduces it to a FN+ 6.5 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. 6.0 FINE (FN): Back to Top An above-average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with no significant creasing or other serious defects. Some accumulation of minor bindery/printing defects is allowed. Minor cover wear apparent, with minor to moderate creases. Inks show a significant reduction in reflectivity. Blunted corners are more common, as is minor staining, soiling, discoloration, and/or foxing. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. A minor spine roll is allowed. There can also be a 1/4" spine split or severe color break. Staples may show minor discoloration. Minor staple tears and a few slight stress lines may be present, as well as minor rust migration. Paper is tan to brown and fairly supple with no signs of brittleness. Minor interior tears at the margin may be present. Centerfold may be loose.

Too funny... I got mine in 82/83 for Christmas from my Sister and she paid $20/$25.

It is the tear on the back cover that keeps it from a VG 4.0 for me. I will also go with a VG+ 3.5. 3.5 VERY GOOD- (VG-): Back to Top Fits the criteria for Very Good but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the book's appearance by a perceptible amount. 3.0 GOOD/VERY GOOD (GD/VG): Back to Top A used comic book showing some substantial wear. Cover shows significant wear, and may be loose or even detached at one staple. Cover reflectivity is very low. Can have a book-length crease and/or dimples. Corners may be blunted or even rounded. Discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor to moderate soiling is allowed. A triangle from 1/4" to 1/2" can be missing out of the corner or edge; a missing 1/8" to 1/4" square is also acceptable. Tape and other amateur repair may be present. Moderate spine roll likely. May have a spine split of anywhere from 1" to 1-1/2". Staples may be rusted or replaced. Minor to moderate staple tears and moderate stress lines may be present, as well as some rust migration. Paper is brown but not brittle. Centerfold may be loose or detached at one staple. Minor to moderate interior tears may be present

It is towards the back on an Ad page. If you bought it "brand new" it is most likely there. http://www.mvstamps.com/issues.htm

What are you scared about?, Did you just purchase the book?

We are all "assuming" the MVS is still present and intact?

It is not CGC graded, it is only a VF/NM 9.0 by my grading standards but I only payed $1.25 for it in 1992... Sorry, had to, just reminded me of one of my favorite scenes from American Graffiti. Toad - "I got a problem. See, I lost my I. D. In a flood", "and I was wondering, since you're going in there anyway,"could you pick me some Old Harper? Hard stuff?". Wino - "Why, certainly.", "I lost my wife, too.", "Her name wasn't Idy, though, and it wasn't in a flood."

FN+ 6.5 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. 6.0 FINE (FN): Back to Top An above-average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with no significant creasing or other serious defects. Some accumulation of minor bindery/printing defects is allowed. Minor cover wear apparent, with minor to moderate creases. Inks show a significant reduction in reflectivity. Blunted corners are more common, as is minor staining, soiling, discoloration, and/or foxing. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. A minor spine roll is allowed. There can also be a 1/4" spine split or severe color break. Staples may show minor discoloration. Minor staple tears and a few slight stress lines may be present, as well as minor rust migration. Paper is tan to brown and fairly supple with no signs of brittleness. Minor interior tears at the margin may be present. Centerfold may be loose.

And as I posted earlier in another thread, any PR 0.5 or FR 1.0 "Well Loved Key" is better than not having an original copy at all.

I know you were disappointed/unhappy with the book but I just need to say... Even an "X-Men #1 with lots of ugly tape" (well Loved to me) is better than not having an original X-Men #1 at all.

When I was a kid we traded comic books (and baseball cards) all the time. As a grown up (physically only) collector that is into completing runs I would not trade any book I have for another of "equal: value because I would never be able to replace the book I traded so there is actually nothing to gain. Right now I have a Raw FN/VF 7.0 Incredible Hulk 181 but do not own original copies of X-Men 1 (have MME), JIM 83 (Have GRR) or TOS 39 (Have MME) and I am fine with that, although #1's are Great To Have. As already stated it all depends on what your collecting goals are... Do you collect as an investment or collect for the fun/joy of collecting? It's a tough call and I am feeling anxiety just thinking about it.

IMO from the pictures posted... X-MEN #1 (Due to the tear/missing piece by the top staple) 2.0 GOOD (GD): Back to TopShows substantial wear; often considered a "reading copy." Cover shows significant wear and may even be detached. Cover reflectivity is low and in some cases completely absent. Book-length creases and dimples may be present. Rounded corners are more common. Moderate soiling, staining, discoloration and foxing may be present. The largest piece allowed missing from the front or back cover is usually a 1/2" triangle or a 1/4" square, although some Silver Age books such as 1960s Marvels have had the price corner box clipped from the top left front cover and may be considered Good if they would otherwise have graded higher. Tape and other forms of amateur repair are common in Silver Age and older books. Spine roll is likely. May have up to a 2" spine split. Staples may be degraded, replaced or missing. Moderate staple tears and stress lines may be present, as well as rust migration. Paper is brown but not brittle. Centerfold may be loose or detached. Moderate interior tears may be present. AVENGERS #4 3.0 GOOD/VERY GOOD (GD/VG): Back to TopA used comic book showing some substantial wear. Cover shows significant wear, and may be loose or even detached at one staple. Cover reflectivity is very low. Can have a book-length crease and/or dimples. Corners may be blunted or even rounded. Discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor to moderate soiling is allowed. A triangle from 1/4" to 1/2" can be missing out of the corner or edge; a missing 1/8" to 1/4" square is also acceptable. Tape and other amateur repair may be present. Moderate spine roll likely. May have a spine split of anywhere from 1" to 1-1/2". Staples may be rusted or replaced. Minor to moderate staple tears and moderate stress lines may be present, as well as some rust migration. Paper is brown but not brittle. Centerfold may be loose or detached at one staple. Minor to moderate interior tears may be present. AVENGERS #1 1.5 FAIR/GOOD (FR/GD): Back to TopShows substantial to heavy wear. Books in this grade are commonly creased, scuffed, abraded, soiled, and possibly unattractive, but still generally readable. Cover shows considerable wear and may be detached. Almost no cover reflectivity remaining. Book-length creases, tears and folds may be present. Rounded corners are increasingly common. Soiling, staining, discoloration and foxing is generally present. Up to 1/10 of the back cover may be missing. Tape and other forms of amateur repair are increasingly common in Silver Age and older books. Spine roll is common. May have a spine split between 2" and 2/3 the length of the book. Staples may be degraded, replaced or missing. Staple tears and stress lines are common, as well as rust migration. Paper is brown and may show brittleness around the edges. Acidic odor may be present. Centerfold may be loose or detached. Interior tears are common. ALL NICE BOOKS!!!

OR...

Even though I totally agree with the above statement... Just to put ALL available options out there... https://www.gemstonepub.com/en/the-overstreet-guide-to-grading-comics-2016-edition ($17.00 on Amazon) OR https://comics.ha.com/tutorial/comics-grading.s?show=comicdefinitions http://www.teako170.com/grade.html

IDK