LowGradeBronze

Once in my care they are removed from the conditions that would make the rust active again. The rust stabilises and no further spread. (My motorbike though, is a different problem!)

Binder holes are damage, regardless of the reason behind them being there, so why would a green label apply?

I like older books but the ones I can afford are usually in lower grades, where you'll occasionally find rust on staples. It's not an issue for me in the grades I buy. I just accept and enjoy books as they are now.

Hi, the affected area looks quite regular and rectangular, almost as if there had been a sticker there or maybe some tape. Is it rough to the touch, as if residue yet remains there?

I see a little too much softening at the corners for an 8.5 add in the slight abrasion/split at the spine and you have a nice looking 7.0 but not likely any higher. It's a great book though, with Kirby freed from Stan and really letting rip. The choice of Royer as inker was the master stroke.

8.0 or 8.5 and yes a really nice copy! I love this short lived series. Some of the finest Gene Colan art that really shows his command of page & panel design and ability to create mood. Such a good story teller.

Only worth it if you absolutely have to have it in a different brand of slab.....looks fine as it is

Buy them and enjoy them. Buying one big lot saves you on shipping costs. Even if you do live in Switzerland

Wow this has eye appeal that goes way beyond its grade. Those colours are still really fresh and vibrant. That said it is a low grade copy that probably comes in around 2.0

Tops out at 6.5 for me.

The clue is in the slab it's in right now! The tape, the creasing, the ragged edge. I'd say it could drop if regraded. It's not the worst looking 1.8 but is every inch a 1.8 certainly no better. (Are you thinking that since this was graded some time ago, when grading standards differed from those perceived to be in force today, it may receive more favourable treatment if graded now?)

Gotta love a bit of Tom Baker as Dr Who! I'd give this 9.2 to 9.4

As is I'd say a weak 6.0 but if that weird mark (stain? abrasion?) in the text panel next to the gloves on BC cleans up well, you could see 7.0 after a c&p.

I don't see pressing doing much for the eye appeal. The poor things been through the mill already. Either grade it as is or leave raw is my instinct. Great book to have raw!

1.5 from me too. Nice page quality though! There's always a silver (surfer) lining with a low grade book if you look for it.

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.... (sorry, but someone had to say it...)

Congrats! In your shoes, I'd be really happy. For my own reading pleasure, a nice looking book with some colour touch is perfectly OK. Better in my opinion than a rag that would grade low but universal.

Grease stains and red marker pen. Hmm... those aren't going to come off without chemical intervention of some kind.

First instinct on this is 7.0

Hi, not sure how we can help you without more information. What was the estimated grade of the book before your restoration? What restoration work did you carry out? Have pieces been added? Archival or other materials used/added? What are the remaining faults as you see them, both inside and out? If for example you made good on a complete spine split, the grade will still be very low even if the book looks nice, which it does.

I think as general advice though, I wouldn't ever add tape to anything specifically in order to submit it.

4.0 max with all the spine wear, but this is an IH181 so likely gets a bump for that. (Have to say I think all books should be graded without any regard for the key/grail status the book has.)

For all the reasons listed by Mister Pontoon, I'm not going higher than a 3.0

This is often debated with various reference sources being quoted to back up one person's view or another's. Personally I can't help feeling that with the price increase to 15c we entered Bronze territory. Think of Conan the Barbarian #1, now that's a Bronze book (to my mind,) if ever there was one!

3.5 to me. But the two black dots just look like stray ink since they don't correspond with anything on the front cover. I really like Hulks wild, fierce look that the Kirby/Ditko artwork gives him.