marvelmaniac

I consider any of my books graded PR 0.5 - GD 2.0 to be a reader copy and wanting to complete my runs and collecting on a budget reading copies are what I look for these days on the higher priced early issues. (Just watched a JIM 25 FR 1.0 sell for $90.00 on a eBay auction, out of my price range) CAUTION!!! For those of you that are "faint of heart" do not read below... For low grade readers that are "so poor it will fall apart in your hands" I have no problem using tape and have numerous times and will continue to in the future. IMO on a book like that tape cannot make it any worse, only better, tape will keep a fragile book from "falling apart" as easily when handled and read, All copies of a book are worth saving. Don't get me wrong, If I happened to come upon an Action 1, TEC 27, Showcase #4, AF 15, ASM 1, F.F. 1, Hulk 1, etc. in very low grade that was falling apart I would not tape it, I would have it slabbed so it would never be touched by human hands again.

What did eBay say when you notified them of this?

Agreed!!!

I wanted badly to grade this book a GD/VG 3.0 but I am leaning towards a GD 2.0 due to the missing pieces. Curious to see how CGC feels.

From what I have read on this site CGC's stance on Scotch Tape is that it cannot be used to "improve" the condition of a book and a book with tape will be graded as if the tape was not present. Since tape repair is allowed in a GD- 1.8 it should not affect the grade and the book should receive a universal blue label. https://www.cgccomics.com/news/article/3327/CGC-Modifies-Stance-on-Grading-Submissions-with-Tape/

There is an AF15 FR 1.0 Raw coming up for auction at https://www.mycomicshop.com/?gclid=CLS_6I_Q8cUCFYYUHwodbhUAag on Jan 7. See what that goes for and you will know what the market is asking for a low grade AF15. https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?q=amazing+fantasy+15&pubid=&PubRng=

I see Stress Lines on the Spine W/Color Break and Slight Blunting of the Lower Corners which IMO would make this book FN/VF 7.0, when you add the 1/4" tear at the top cover to the equation IMO it drops the book to a FN 6.0. (FN+ 6.5???) 7.0 FINE/VERY FINE (FN/VF): 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. 6.0 FINE (FN): 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.

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Very Nice... So they did not really penalize for the chipping, nice to know.

Since you are new to this you need reference material and again I recommend you start here... https://www.amazon.com/Overstreet-Comic-Book-Price-Guide/dp/1603602216

My eyesight is not great, is that a crease on the lower right corner of the front cover?

I do not know what the official stance is on "Marvel Chipping" since it is a "Bindery/Printing/Trimming Defect" which IMO should not be classified the same as having pieces "Ripped/Torn" from the cover due to "Use/Wear." Without the "Marvel Chipping" I would give this book a VG 4.0 only because of the Tape Repair on the Inside Cover. If you are going to count the Marvel Chipping as "Torn/Ripped/Pieces" missing due to "Use/Wear" as opposed to a "Bindery/Printing/Trimming Defect" then the book IMO would grade as a FR/GD 1.5. VG/FN 5.0 allows for an "Accumulation Of Bindery/Printing Defects". Again, where do you draw the line and constitute the difference between "use/wear" and a "defect"? 4.0 VERY GOOD (VG): 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. 1.5 FAIR/GOOD (FR/GD): Shows 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.

FR/GD 1.5, Possibly a GD- 1.8 1.8 GOOD- (GD-): Fits the criteria for Good but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the book's appearance by a perceptible amount. 1.5 FAIR/GOOD (FR/GD): Shows 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.

Since nobody has yet to respond... I do not send books in for grading, however... From what I have read/learned on this site about CGC grading is... If you leave it as is you will get a Blue "Universal" Label, if you want the book graded as if the defect was not present you will get a Green "Qualified" Label, if you replace pages you will get a Purple "Restored" Label. There is no way you can make a repair to the torn pages and receive a Blue Label as if the defect was never there. Apparently Green and Purple are BAD!!! https://www.cgccomics.com/labels/

I am always hesitant to overgrade, however... I do not see any "major flaws/defects" with this book other than the "multiple creases" and due to the "severity" of some of the creases on the lower right of the book IMO the book would grade at a... 4.0 VERY GOOD (VG): 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.

My guess would be that is the month/day, not the year.

No pieces missing, no visible spline splits, just moderate creases and staining... IMO...GD/VG 3.0

I would have given that book a GD/VG 3.0 without the panel missing. Since the missing panel affects the story it will probably take a bigger hit so IMO FR 1.5.

The writing is an "Inked Arrival Date" and as stated above does not affect the grade. IMO... VG/FN 5.0 5.0 VERY GOOD/FINE (VG/FN): 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.

I cannot give you advice on CGC Grading/Pressing or Replacing the Staple. IMO that book is a GD/VG 3.0 as you did not mention nor did I see any spine splits or that the cover is detached which of course would lower the grade to a GD 2.0/GD+ 2.5. I collect to collect and have no problem with low grade readers so I would leave the book as is and store it as I would any other comic in my collection. In a Mylite with an Acid Free Board Away from All Light and Not Stored in an Unfinished Basement, Garage, Attic or Storage unit that is not Temperature Controlled. 3.0 GOOD/VERY GOOD (GD/VG): 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. In eBay Sold Listings there is a book that is probably a FR/GD 1.5/GD- 1.8 that sold for $53.00 and a CGC VG- 3.5 that sold for $105.00 so would there be any profit to be made (if that is what you are looking for) by having the book Pressed and Graded? https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMAZING-SPIDERMAN-121-MARVEL-LOW-GRADE-DEATH-GWEN-STACY-1973-Key-Issue-/323392189307?hash=item4b4bad337b%3Ag%3A07sAAOSw2GJbbyQj&nma=true&si=eSSTId0Ee4bFqhe9P0R0Z8pjr8c%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Just my Opinion... I know very little about CGC and having books graded/reholdered, etc. but I do know what the last C in CGC stands for... Company. Although they may be "collectors" and "share the same passion for the hobby" as we do just like any other business in the world their Primary Goal is $$$ (the bottom line). Behind the scenes they are no different than any other Greedy/Selfish Corporation in America and in this instance they have the OP and his books by the B**L's, "press or we send them them back to you ungraded", your choice. (Which means they really do not care).

I have bad eyes and cannot read what the label says.

On 9/29/2018 at 9:50 AM, marvelmaniac said: "I would have graded this book a VG/FN 5.0 - FN - 5.5 (Hesitant to Overgrade) W/O the Marvel Chipping. Since Marvel Chipping is a Bindery/Trimming Defect I am very curious to see how the Chipping affects the final grade." I never stated that they would give it a pass,I only stated that Marvel Chipping is Bindery/Trimming defect and I was curious as to how much the grade would be lowered due to this Bindery/Trimming defect. By definition what exactly constitutes an "Accumulation Of Bindery/Printing Defects"? Due we make this up as we go along??? Marvel Chipping - A bindery (trimming/cutting) defect that causes a series of chips and tears at the top, bottom, and right edge of the cover. This is caused where the cutting blade of an industrial paper trimmer becomes dull. Dubbed "Marvel chipping" because it can occur quite often with that company's comics from the late 50s and early 60s but can also occur with any company's comic books from the late 1940s through the middle 1960s. 5.0 VERY GOOD/FINE (VG/FN): Back to TopAn above-average but well used comic book. An accumulation of bindery/printing defects is allowed.

IMO... GD/VG 3.0