candygramformongo

Something outside the ordinary for me that a relative was kind enough to buy out in the wild!  Would love to hear your thoughts on it.  I believe it's #2 but am actually not that sure now that I look carefully....not sure where I got that number from because I can't find the issue number on here anywhere!

3.5

Can you confirm whether that bottom left corner of the back cover is just shadows or if they are creases or waves?

8.5/9.0 for me, though I think it presses to at least a 9.0 and maybe even 9.2 or higher

3.0 for me

Agree that you've identified the likely culprit of the lower-than-expected grade.  Not sure I agree that it's ink smear from the printing process.  I'm not saying it's not but just not sure what would make you confident of a printing issue vs. it being something the book picked up in the wild along the way.  Others around here have much more knowledge of printing defects and they may correct me but if I'm grading that book I'm definitely deducting for those streaks/marks and 9.4 doesn't seem off considering it's on both front and back and not tiny.  Bottom spine corner doesn't look great to me but not enough to bring down to a 9.4 on its own in my opinion.  Was this cleaned?

3.5 for me after press, maybe outside shot at 4.0?

I'm at an 8.0 bc I think I see staining or dirt on the bottom of back cover (both edge and spine) and maybe a little on bottom spine-side of front cover?  But just like @universal soldier said I may be seeing things!!

3.0

That glare is a little tricky for me but I'm going to say 7.0/7.5

8.5 for me

3.5/4.0.  I think I'd be at 4.0 based on front cover but I think back is pretty bad and brings it down to a 3.5.  I don't have expertise on printer creasing but I wouldn't have thought those were printer creases if you hadn't said so...

On 11/8/2021 at 9:09 AM, Galen130 said:

Is it getting a C&P?

Yup, I'm wondering the same.  I'm at a 7.0 but if it's getting a C/P that might get me to a 7.5

6.5/7.0 for me

7.5

6.0 for me.  What a killer cover!  Thanks for sharing

On 11/8/2021 at 1:37 PM, Matt1982 said:

Thanks all. I'm particularly curious whether you all think the color rub at the lower staple back cover is enough by itself to knock the grade?

Really tough to say.  It appears to be a pretty flawless book except for that.  Is that enough to knock it to a 9.2?  I'd say no way.  9.4?  Maybe, though I think more likely a 9.6 as it's so minor and the only really flaw I can see.  But @grendelbo is the reigning champ so you should definitely give more weight to his estimate than mine!

That said, I think the real key is that once you get into differences of 0.2 instead of 0.5 you're really trying to ask a lot for not being able to hold the book in your hands and see it with your own eyes.  So if it's a 9.4 would I be shocked?  Nope.  If it's a 9.6 or even 9.8 would he be shocked?  I'm guessing nope.

So for me, at least, I might feel good about my grade usually within 0.5 and/or at least 1.0 one way or the other....but when you start talking about "off by 0.2" in my mind that's just got to be within the "sampling margin of error" 

Bought a few copies back in the early 90s and they've been in ye ole comic box ever since.  Finally planning to get them sent in and slabbed.  Undecided whether it's worth a C/P on this copy - do you think it would help with those flaws in the close ups?  Thank you very much for your expertise!

Yeah, I'd say definitely 9.6, maybe even.....y'know......

6.0  Thanks for sharing

On 11/6/2021 at 10:32 AM, Fisionbomb said:

That's what she said.

5.5....40 years is like yesterday in comic terms, right?? 

7.0 for me but agree a C/P gets it to 7.5.  Maybe I'm deducting too much for the pen marks on the cover but 8.0 after press would definitely be the max for me

On 11/5/2021 at 12:50 PM, grendelbo said:

Primer #2 I cracked 15 years ago (Qualified 9.4 - unwitnessed signature).

I got the Grendel #1 this past year. I didn't even read the label when I bid on the book, but as I was waiting for it to come in I took another look at the seller's pic and noticed the notation, "name and sketch on first page." That got me excited. I had no idea. Cracked it immediately and was floored by what was on the splash page.

Ahhhhh I get it - couldn't figure out why you'd send it off to get slabbed only to crack it.

LOVE IT!!!  Quite the treasure, particularly with your username!

I'm at 8.5, maybe 8.0 depending upon how bad that spine is.  Great looking cover, wow!