scburdet

9.0/9.2,although it's a bit of a crapshoot. I've seen equivalent defects pull a grade lower than I expected, and other times get a book back points higher than I thought a defect I saw would allow. It's obviously imperfect and it's not a manufacturing defect, so 9.6/9.8 are off the table. Everything else is at least possible.

From August 2022

Not a 2.0. 3.0/3.5

what's written between the T & E in terror? Is that a distribution mark? Really sharp looking. Colors look vibrant. I'd want to make sure their wasn't a tanning/foxing issues on the inside of covers, etc. My interpretation of CGC guidelines is that pinch/tear is a moderate defect, which makes it a 7.0. That said, every time I make a guess about a GA comic it's too low, so it makes me think CGC's guidelines for GA comics are more lenient than those for other eras. 7.5±0.5 and the streak will be intact when it comes back at 8.5

there's a light line on the left side of both images. Is that on the comic, or something with the photo/scanner? I think 7.5 is the best-case scenario. Those spine creases along with this being a 5 year old book, I suspect you're looking at a 6.5/7.0

7.0/7.5. Spine wear, ink, dinged corners, indentions on the back, and maybe a small stain on the back corner.

Tearing around the top staple, soiling on the back and some indentions along the spine. The cover isn't pristine, but looks OK. There's a light vertical crease parallel to the right edge. I think an experienced C&Per could get this to an 8.0/8.5 (maybe. Depending on how bad the tearing around that staple is and there's nothing wrong with the internal pages/cover). From what I see from listings and sales, I would probably skip the grading. With a little patience, I suspect you could find a better copy already graded for about the same $$$ you'd put into preparing/grading this copy.

2.5/3.0. The edge/spine wear is pretty heavy. Maybe that could get a 4.0, but with the spine split and the heavy foxing, I think it's going to get knocked down quite a bit. I don't think a 2.0 is completely out of the question. How does the paper feel? Any brittleness?

this is my recent (limited) experience too. They are going after foxing hard. Higher grades on something that has visible defects on the cover than something that is tanned on the inside of the cover and otherwise looks better ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I might call those color-breaking adjacent noting that sometime the lighting in these photos can make them look worse. There looks like there's a stacking crease or slight spine roll. In my unprofessional opinion, the pressing will improve but probably won't completely remove these. I would give a post press guess of 9.2±0.2. The 9.4 is an outside shot (and better if you get a really good presser and don't roll the dice on CCS). As a signing candidate, that depends on what you want in your collection. You can probably send this through modern grading & walk away with a slabbed book for <$50 plus shipping. The TM signing fee is steep, but if you want the sig, I think there is sufficient evidence that you won't lose any value on the transaction. The most recent comp I find sold for ~$800 over the summer. Prices are volatile of course, and there may be a lot more supply on the market after the event, but provided you didn't spend $400-500 for the raw book, I think it's pretty safe.

I'm a tad higher 4.5±0.5, but that has a big asterisk b/c these square bounds can look bad on the spine and be so close to splitting or chipped. Can you put some more photos? Also the inside of the covers. I've had several recent sets of grader notes comment on tanning, and it seems like that's something they are really coming down on right now.

If extra staples means you can get the book at an affordable price that's lucky b/c it still looks nice. 5.5±0.5. I doubt the high end, but wouldn't be totally shocked. Here's a somewhat recent discussion about extra staples:

The older the book is, the farther off (too low) my grades are. I'm going to go with 8.0±0.5 trying to self-correct my underestimations

6.0±0.5. It depends on how hard they come down on the creasing, which isn't that bad, and the coloring. Looks like there might be some tanning. Maybe some soiling on the back that can be removed. Submitted my best copy to the presser a couple weeks ago

From August 2022

I'd be a little worried submitting to CGC. I sent in book with a much smaller stain on the bottom edge of the back cover and a small spot on the front that was almost hidden in the title lettering. It was otherwise high grade (no creases, tears, etc.), and it came back 5.5. I have my doubts this can be cleaned well. I'll say 5.0±0.5, but I'd call it a gamble. It could easily come back 4.0/4.5 with such a prominent stain based on their current standards.

I don't see any major creases or tears, so from that perspective I could see 8.5±0.5. However, CGC has been coming down hard on tanning/foxing and unless it's the lighting, the interior of those cover pages looks significantly discolored. I would expect to loose up to 2.0 pts off the top for that.

Pretty nice book, but I think that damage corner and what looks like a rough edge (from possible cover overhang?) are going to drop this down a fair amount. If a C&P can remove the more superficial indentions and the grime about the UPC, maybe you get to an 8.0? I've seen a corner tear like that knock something down to the 7.5 range though.

Last call for guesses. Should have an answer for all who offered their expertise in about a week.

9.2±0.2. I've seen spine tics like this come back in the low 9s. I don't think 9.6/9.8 is possible. The back is holding up nicely. A lot of copies seem to have spine creases that stick out like a sore thumb on the black.

There's enough creasing to take this into the 5.0s. 5.5±0.5. Maybe an outside shot at 6.0

An effective C&P might get this to an 8.0 (esp what happens with that wrinkling on the back), but I'm thinking more like 7.5. 7.0±0.5 as is.

Nice looking copy I'd be a little on the fence sending to CGC. You've got the pretty obvious spine crease and some light spotting/color rub around the bottom edge and lower part of the spine. The bigger issue might be the dust/sun shadow on the back cover. That might drop it a grade or 2 below how the book otherwise presents. Someone might be able to clean that up a little depending on what it is. I've got 7.0±0.5 as is

There's some paper oxidation or similar along the edge of the back cover. The angle is not ideal on the cover photo, so it's hard to see everything that could be happening. I think the back edge is going to knock you down to 8ish, and I see enough evidence of smaller dings to knock this into the 7.0/7.5 range.