scburdet

I was ready to give a 7.5/8.0 & optimistic on the outcome, but I noticed one the 2nd time through there seems to be a stain right on Spidey's head in the water. Noticed it first on the reverse side in the Grow Live Monsters ad. I fear a stain, especially where it is, knocking this down to at least a 6.0, possibly a 5.5

Tear?

Nice looking, but I think the tear is going to make this a 6.5/7.0. I think the higher b/c it's on the back and so not as obvious

1.8/2.0. Lower based on the wear & structural spine issue, higher b/c ASM & the type of binding is delicate anyway.

Chance at a 1.0 as there aren't any large pieces missing that create an incomplete cover look. I don't see any stains and the paper isn't that dark. A nice CGC case will help keep it from degrading further.

the exception might be "rare" books that aren't that expensive, but where the graded supply is limited or non-existent. I was in the middle of a similar search when Point Five posted. Here's a 9.4 for $130 with a BO option, and most sellers are going to take something off if you ask. https://www.ebay.com/itm/354789217926 9.6s listed around $200-250. As long as you're not insistent on a 9.8, buying graded isn't too painful to get something you want. Especially since a lot of online sellers overgrade or simply don't know what they're doing. Even with buyer protection, you might waste a lot of time buying & returning books that look good in a listing and don't quite hold up in hand. MCS even has a couple of reasonably priced CBCS graded copies in the mid-NM range.

I've come around this this way of thinking for anything that's available in high CGC grade for $100-200 or less. It's way to easy to spend more on a raw book & grading and still end up with a disappointing number b/c of a defect you didn't notice.

I went back and forth between scoring them all 4.0s or all 3.5s, eventually decided to mix it up 3.5, 4.0, 3.5

I spend a lot of time with this one. I wanted to put it at 5.0, but I think you're right that the back did it in. I also went back & forth on this one b/c of scoring the first one 3.5 and this one looks "worse", but it does seem like quite a bit of creasing is allowable at 4.0

@mars76 is the local expert on this book if memory serves. I agree a pressed 8.0/8.5. Maybe a 9.0 if a good Southern Baptist is at the grading table.

Is that a tear at the stop staple or a stress line? 8.0/8.5

7.0. Might eek out a sympathy 7.5 pressed.

3.5/4.0

As I understand the scheme: 1. Buy a lower grade book that presents well 2. Crack & list raw for several grades higher than the CGC score 3. Profit

As if it was a color breaking crease or worse depending on what it is. Hinged creases are described in the CGC book

My guess is this maxes out around 4.5/5.0. It's the spots at the top of both covers that set the level. I don't think pressing will improve the grade or appearance. I wouldn't risk pressing a book this old under the circumstances, since the potential to cause damage outweighs any chance of a bump.

3.0

>9.2

anything that damages paper fibers. Paper can be damaged but look like a non-color-breaking crease on a white page. White areas can be hard to grade in photos.

A very wise person once said this

I agree since I guessed 5.0

I literally waffled back and forth about 3.0/3.5 on #7 & & #9. And got them backwards.

>9.2

>9.2