Hartie Spence

On 9/6/2022 at 5:43 PM, Topnotchman said:

So if one just sends a book to ccs for pressing and oh could you also take a spine roll out as part of the same fee for service?  

With that book specifically, the main reason I sent it in for pressing was to have the spine roll removed.

I had done a lot of googling and then called to confirm with customer service to make sure that spine roll was actually something that was taken care of as part of the pressing process.

On 9/6/2022 at 11:24 AM, CGC Mike said:

We did indeed reject it as being too risky. But it appears the book made it to you before accounting adjusted your fees. We’ll get the pressing fee on this book reversed asap.

Mike

 

Mike, I appreciate you looking into it. Thanks for getting it taken care of!

On 9/4/2022 at 9:49 PM, MAR1979 said:

1st action: Attempt to work the issue out with CGC. 

https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-youre-billed-things-you-never-got-or-you-get-unordered-products

 

BTW: it does have White pages to a small cadre of collectors that seems to be all that matters

I’d almost be worried that if they took it back in to actually press they’d grade it off-white to white the second time around haha.

I wanted other people’s feedback on this. I sent this book off with a couple others for pressing at CCS and then grading. The books came back over a year later. The two other books definitely look pressed, but the Ghost Rider book hasn’t been touched. I specifically called before I submitted the book to confirm that they would try to press out the spine roll, and I was told they would.

I was wondering if this book didn’t get pressed because it was assessed as too risky. That would be fine, except they still charged me the full price for pressing and grading. I’m going to include some pictures through the slab that show the book obviously wasn’t pressed.

On 4/17/2022 at 6:39 PM, Tank the Dog said:

I’m at a 3.0 on this.  Don’t think a press will help the grade, but may make it present a tad better in hand.  As for the first pages mis-aligning and not being stapled, I’ve seen this is on several square bound Silver Surfer issues, so nothing new there.  I had (sold it) a number 3 with the first few pages like that and it didn’t seem to hurt the grade.

Thanks for the feedback! 3.0 isn't terrible compared to an anticipated 3.5 I guess.

On 4/16/2022 at 10:27 PM, Galen130 said:

No, just edit the title for one book and delete/edit the post to show one book.  You can delete pics for one of them. 

Done! Thanks for the heads up. Any opinion on the issue 4?

On 4/16/2022 at 8:42 PM, Galen130 said:

  One comic per post please.

Agh! very sorry, I forgot about that rule since it had been a while since I posted. Would it be best for me to remove the post and separate the books?

On 4/15/2022 at 7:40 PM, Stevemmg said:

In my opinion you have a nicely presenting 3.0 on the #4, and a 4.0 on the #3. 

Thanks for the input. I personally feel that the SS #4 presents like a 6.0 on the front, which I'm pretty happy with. The tear just makes me nervous.

On 4/16/2022 at 2:40 PM, AhsokaTano Jedi Apprentice said:

   3.5......4.0

I measured the tear today, and I think it is roughly 2". You think a 3.5 is possible with that?

On 4/15/2022 at 7:29 PM, Stevemmg said:

Not having any luck with your image links. If you directly upload here, that’s your best bet. 

Thanks for the heads up. I edited the post to attach the pictures direclty.

On 10/29/2021 at 5:28 PM, Fisionbomb said:

Congrats! Did you opt for C&P or straight grading?

I let CCS press it just to be safe!

Just got Silver Surfer 3 and 4 in today raw. SS4 is one of my long time wishlist books, and I got it in this package "deal". I am currently wondering if I should send both books off for grading to sell the SS3 to help cover the cost. The seller's estimated grades for the books were 4.5 for the SS3 and 3.5 for the SS4.

The SS3 seems to be in pretty good shape, and just has the (seemingly common) manufacturing defect where one of the interior staples is missing.

I was a little disappointed in the tear on the SS4 as I could not see it from the pictures online, but it seems to be the biggest thing bringing down the grade. The first page also seems to have a manufacturing defect where the bottom of the page is angled and did not get stapled. (I've never seen it before, and was wondering if it was not that crazy) The bottom staple seems to be deep in the last page, but not fully torn through. https://imgur.com/gallery/kVRaSfj

Any input and estimated grades are greatly appreciated! Please let me know if more pictures are needed.

Just got an email saying the book is being shipped back, it got a 9.8!

Just wanted to update everyone here, got notification that the books have shipped and I got a 9.8!

On 9/22/2021 at 8:09 AM, comicginger1789 said:

I also don’t see the stain a previous poster mention. I mean that back bottom left corner appears to just be a shadow from the picture. If there is a stain, I agree with the 4.5-5.0 assessment and applaud the eagle eye.

However if no stain, the spine split is the biggest flaw here. Keeps it from a 7.0. This a 6.0 is where I am falling, worst case 5.5 if CGC hammers that split and 6.5 at best if they feeling lovey dovey.

And if you paid full on 7.0 price for it I would be tempted to return. If you got a decent deal well then it’s up to you if you are happy with it. 

Thanks for the input. I think the bottom left back corner is just a shadow. I might check again to be sure once I’m home later today.

On 9/21/2021 at 10:19 PM, 10centcomics said:

I think without the small spine split it could be a 7.0. I think I'd knock it down to 6.0 with the spine split. (I don't see the stain the previous poster pointed out)

They might have been referring to that mark next to the bottom staple? I'm hoping some of the smudges would clear up if the book is cleaned well. I was hoping it would not be lower than a 6.0, but I'm still a little disappointed it is not the 7.0 I thought it would be when I purchased it.

Do the pages appear white to you, or is that an off white? I don't own an owl card that I've heard people talk about.

On 9/21/2021 at 9:59 PM, JollyComics said:

I haven't used IMGUR for years.  It's better than I remembered.  Found scroll down to see more images.   The book looks 5.0 to 5.5 but the stain on the lower left corner on BC may bring it down to 4.5.

If you decide to use the pressing,  maybe it will stay within higher VG to lower FN range.

Just to provide as much information as possible, I measured the spine tear on the bottom left corner and it is very close to a 1/4" tear. Going off of the heritage auction grading scale, that would put the book at a 6.0 absolute max score (unless I am mistaken). The spine split was not mentioned in the original listing, so it seems I definitely over paid.

On 9/21/2021 at 9:50 PM, JollyComics said:

Back Cover please.

Which areas of the back would you like more detail on? Currently, pictures 6-10 in the album are the back cover.

Just bought this book online. I'm still relatively new getting back into the hobby and I am far from confident in my current grading ability. I want the opinion of confident graders before I officially add this book to the PC and spend more money cleaning, pressing, and having the book graded by CGC. I tried to take generous amounts of pictures, but if more are needed, please let me know. Here is the photo album: https://imgur.com/gallery/b6AjGZK

The seller listed the book as a 7.0 with white pages with a "tight spine and nice corners". The bottom left corner concerns me with the split. Was this description accurate, or did I most likely overpay?

2 hours ago, Number 6 said:

I hope all of us critiquing your book didn’t detract from the pride you feel in acquiring the book. 
 

I noticed it’s a newsstand copy and I know there’s been more emphasis placed on newsstand copies lately.  Was that a factor in your acquiring this copy? 
 

I ask because there’s a 9.8 book I have in my collection that has a couple tiny color-breaking spine stresses. Unlike your book - which presents well in the first straight-on photo you posted - on my book the spine stresses can be clearly seen in a straight on photo. 
 

However, my copy has a background color variation that I spent years searching for in a 9.8 grade. So while it doesn’t exactly visually match up with the other 9.8s in the set, it checks off enough boxes for me that it’s still very much a keeper. Sometimes that’s where you end up with a book:  it may not be everything you expected, but it checks off enough of the right boxes. 
 

Regarding the dot:  I would probably call that a printing artifact and as others said, that’s why it was allowed in a 9.8. Again, there’s books I’m after that I found that tend to have bindery tears and since it’s a common printing defect CGC will allow them in up to 9.8.  So for me personally, of all the potential printing defects that could be allowed, for me a printing artifact would be much easier to live with. 
 

As far as Signature Series, if you decide you have to have a 9.8, honestly probably the safest way to go about that is to get one that’s already done. It will certainly be expensive, but with all the hazards of handling and shipping associated with getting an SS book done and the potential for loss of value on a downgrade, unless you have a good eye for picking raw 9.8 candidates and can get them a wholesales prices, buying a 9.8 book that’s already done is probably the best way to go. 

That makes sense. I will still very much enjoy having the book. Mainly because I just had wanted it for a while now. I’m not sure if the newsstand is a real bonus since it’s a 1983 book.

I’m not going to submit it for a SS. I agree it wouldn’t be worth a potential downgrade.

On a side note, I had shared another book that I actually ended up submitting about a month ago to the Please Grade My thread. The guys over there seem to be a lot more strict than the mentality I’m seeing in comments over here. I was told this book would be a 9.6 by many and even a 9.4 by some.

7 hours ago, Motor City Rob said:

Yes, agreed the OP is looking for some insight. That's why it has been stated that a 9.8 does not have to be perfect. Thats important for someone to know, especially if they are new to grading. In addition to that, I think there is consensus from many boardies here that this particular 9.8 seems to have more defects than what most of us have traditionally seen on other 9.8's. I would also add that many people are just referencing spine ticks, but there are so many other defects to consider. For example, just because a 9.6 doesn't have any visible spine ticks doesn't mean it should be a 9.8. There could be defects we can't see from pictures (finger dents, dimples, etc.). Hope this is helpful.

Thanks! The main defect I was honestly curious about was the “dot”. I didn’t know if it was a common manufacturing defect. I have a good handful of books I kept bagged and boarded from when I was a young kid, but there are a couple that have a dot or two like the one pictured. I didn’t submit those books because of it.

13 hours ago, Number 6 said:

While I’m sure it’s true in some cases when the question of ‘Is this really a 9.8?’ is raised that there may be an expectation of “perfection”, I don’t think that’s always the case nor do I get the impression that’s the case here. 
 

While it’s true that a 9.8 is not a 10.0 and is going to have defects, since a 9.8 is two-tenths of a point away from a theoretical “perfect” grade, I suspect the reasonable expectation is that the defects allowed are going to be very few and extremely minor. So it’s not so much a question of “perfection” as it is of the number of defects allowed and the degree of those defects. And I think it’s the later that’s especially coming into play in this instance. Just because a “9.8 is not a 10.0” doesn’t mean anything goes. 
 

While it’s good to be reminded that a “9.8 is not a 10.0” I think it’s also go to remember that many here are fond of repeating the mantra “buy the book not the label” which encourages buyers to actually examine the book critically and not just blindly except whatever the label says…even on 9.8s…and therefore it would be consistent to actually look at the book in question rather than just dismiss the question out of hand as ‘look at the label, not a 10.0’

@Hartie SpenceI would echo what others have said: this looks at best like a weak 9.8 and probably more like a 9.6…but I too have seen some 9.8s with more glaringly obvious defects. Doesn’t make it right, but there it is. 
 

As to your second question about using this copy for Signature Series op:  my gut reaction is to say “no” as I think there’s a good chance this wouldn’t come back as a 9.8 on a straight re-sub.  But even if you had a copy that looked like a straight-up 9.8 there would be a risk of it not coming back a 9.8 due to the handling during a signature op.  
 

So I guess it really depends on how badly you feel you need to get a 9.8 out of the op.  I guess it’s gotten a 9.8 once before so theoretically it could get it again…it just doesn’t seem like the best candidate to start with. 

Thank you very much. I appreciate the insightful feedback. I’ll probably hold onto as it is. Pretty proud to have my first slabbed book. I have a few at CGC of my own, and I’m curious to see how they turn out!

15 hours ago, Prince Namor said:

The OP isn't asking it to be perfect, and he knows it isn't a 10.0, he's questioning what it is that makes it 9.8. It's a fair question. There are books with zero spine ticks that get a 9.8 and books with 3 spine tics that get a 9.8. To someone newer to the slabbing process, as he states he is, this is confusing. That's why he's asking the question.

I appreciate your understanding! My post was not out of dissapointment or entitlement to a “perfect” book. I was honesty just curious to hear the perspective of more experienced people in the same hobby.

Thanks!

7 hours ago, Lightning55 said:

9.8's should look like they are right out of the box and placed on the dealer rack.  Sure, 2-3 mild ticks are ok, but they should be barely visible, not with color breaks.  I have 9.6 comics that are cleaner than this 9.8.

Do you have any idea/past experience with the first defect? The little ink dot?

7 hours ago, BigLeagueCHEW said:

Spine ticks are common. If you want perfect, it’s not going to happen. Maybe on a 9.9 or 10 it would be possible 

I’m not worried about getting it perfect. The spine ticks don’t bother me either. I was just curious as this is my first graded book purchase.

I have other books that have a “dot” or two similar to the one I see on this book. Since this book got a 9.8, I was wondering if it might be a manufacturing defect and there might be hope for my other books.