Grading Your Books

[Foolkiller]

This might be more appropriate in the Grading section, but since I figure more people look at this section and this isn't a grade my book question I'd post this here.

 

We've all read the threads concerning the whole deal of how do you know if you have 9.4 etc... and then can you consistently tell the difference between a 9.4 and 9.6... but my question is how does everyone go about evaluation a book? What do you look for first? What's important in the grading of the book?

 

Here's how I do it:

 

I take the book out and look at it overall in the mylar or sleeve it's in.

 

I get a general feel and gut instinct for the grade based on what I see... if it's nice eye appeal, if not, I put it back.

 

Second, I inspect the front cover for defects. If the defects put the book out on the front cover out of the ballpark in relation to the price, I put the book back. Otherwise, I check stress to the spine, any noticeable tears, creases etc.

 

Next, I take the book out and look for gloss, ink reflectivity, general surface wear etc. If all those things basically check out, I flip the book over, check out the back cover for how clean that is and basically in line with the front cover. Although, I'm much more forgiving...

 

Then I look to make sure the staples aren't rusted and generally centered.

 

Then I look through the pages at page quality and basically make sure the centerfold is in tact and the book seems solid with no coupons cut. Then the inside front and back cover to look for edge tanning.

 

If the book is a high dollar book, I try and spot any amateur resto I can pick up, but to be honest, I'm not that great at that.

 

Finally, I slide the book back in the sleeve and take another look at the front cover to carefully inspect it one last time...

 

 

Thoughts? What's everyone procedure?

[ubiquiti]

This might be more appropriate in the Grading section, but since I figure more people look at this section and this isn't a grade my book question I'd post this here.

 

We've all read the threads concerning the whole deal of how do you know if you have 9.4 etc... and then can you consistently tell the difference between a 9.4 and 9.6... but my question is how does everyone go about evaluation a book? What do you look for first? What's important in the grading of the book?

 

Here's how I do it:

 

I take the book out and look at it overall in the mylar or sleeve it's in.

 

I get a general feel and gut instinct for the grade based on what I see... if it's nice eye appeal, if not, I put it back.

 

Second, I inspect the front cover for defects. If the defects put the book out on the front cover out of the ballpark in relation to the price, I put the book back. Otherwise, I check stress to the spine, any noticeable tears, creases etc.

 

Next, I take the book out and look for gloss, ink reflectivity, general surface wear etc. If all those things basically check out, I flip the book over, check out the back cover for how clean that is and basically in line with the front cover. Although, I'm much more forgiving...

 

Then I look to make sure the staples aren't rusted and generally centered.

 

Then I look through the pages at page quality and basically make sure the centerfold is in tact and the book seems solid with no coupons cut. Then the inside front and back cover to look for edge tanning.

 

If the book is a high dollar book, I try and spot any amateur resto I can pick up, but to be honest, I'm not that great at that.

 

Finally, I slide the book back in the sleeve and take another look at the front cover to carefully inspect it one last time...

 

 

Thoughts? What's everyone procedure?

FIRST - I make sure all drinks and food are nowhere within a 10 foot radius of my current grading area. I will banish anything related to Arby's from the entire house at this time....

 

Then, I go straight to the spine of the comic(probably a function of when i was a kid - I only looked at the spine for condition...not sure why, but in looking at some books I had when I was a kid that my ex-step father didn't steal...thats what I was doing -some nasty 3 inch corner creases ).

I inspect the spine very carefully...front and back, the I move to the corners and edges.

If those check out okay, I will do the cover reflectivity test(taking the book under the light at numerous different angles front an back) - this is where I also check for some of those "hidden" creases - this portion of the grading takes the longest.

Then I check the inside of the book and check for page whiteness and overall page quality and integrity(though I will admit, I am likely not thorough enough on this one).

Finally I check the staples and check the overall centering of the book.

It usually takes me about 1.5-2 minutes to FULLY grade a book...but on 80s stuff, or common 70s stuff it can take as few as 15 seconds to grade if it doesn't pass intial spine stress muster - it goes in the VG pile.

 

To be honest - on stuff I have had for a while where I don't remember the grade - if it doesn't pass muster on the edges and spine - I call it a VG and toss it back in the box.

[fantastic_four]

I prefer grading at night.

 

I turn off all the lights except a flourescent desk lamp and place the book upside-down on the table under the lamp. I examine the back cover without touching it, tilting my head from side to side to get a feel for any 3-dimensional defects such as creases or surface impressions.

 

I pick the book up and examine the interior back cover for any discoloration which would indicate restoration or defects not visible on the exterior such as stains, yellowing, or tanning. I then flip through the pages starting with the last one. I scan for missing pages, tears, folds, and cut-outs, judging page quality as I go. I mostly flip quickly and only pause for any length of time on the centerfold. I pause again on the interior front page to scan for the same thing I do on the interior back--restoration or discoloration.

 

I place the book back on the desk and examine the front and then spine last. When I'm done, if the book is worth more than $200, I turn off the flourescent lamp and scan it with a black light. I really want a stereoscope to do a more complete restoration check but have fudged on buying one to this point.

 

Average amount of time per book = 2 minutes, rarely more than 3 unless it's an expensive book, in which case I take longer on the resto checking. On much cheaper books I go faster and it takes about a minute to a minute and a half.

[Mushroom]

The first thing I do is to check the colour of the label, I try to ensure that the blue has full reflectiveness and that the inks are true blue and there are no production flaws.

 

Secondly....I make sure that the serial number matches up with my star charts as being one that sends off a positive vibe. The 9.6 must be boldly struck and there must be no extraneous writing underneath it.

 

Thirdly I check the plastic for flaws...under a uv light the plastic must be translucent.

 

Lastly...I put it back because joe and gene have already predicted the end of the world so why waste time and money.

 

[seank]

[DoubleCovaBrotha]

I smell my books to make sure that they are at least a 9.6. If it doesn't smell Bounty fresh, I put it back on the shelf.

[Rickdogg]

I smell my books to make sure that they are at least a 9.6. If it doesn't smell Bounty fresh, I put it back on the shelf.

 

Comic Sniffer!!!

[ubiquiti]

BUMP

I think this is a cool topic.

[Foolkiller]

yeah, but nobody else seemed to care. I guess how everyone else is grading is sending their books to CGC... not that there's anything wrong with that. Or, I'm the only insufficiently_thoughtful_person here who wants to talk about the grading of their books.

 

 

I guess my last two threads were interesting (as people wanted to discuss those topics), but this one seemed to totally miss with most people. Oh well.

[ubiquiti]

Not me and the other "grading geek"(meant in a complimentary way)FF!!!!

Too bad Bug is not around to mention butts or Greggy or something.

 

I personaly thought my Arby's comment was funny....

[greggy]

[ubiquiti]

piece off wanka!!!

[fantastic_four]

I think this is a cool topic.

 

I know I talk about it a lot, but in reality, I find grading a comic book to be one of the most boring parts of collecting. I get some satisfaction out of doing it well, but looking at them with the objectivity and lack of bias required to get an accurate grade makes them feel lifeless. I really only talk about it a lot because it needs talking about. My view of grading is that for most people, it's too much art and not enough science; too much intuition and not enough standardized, disciplined procedure; too much feeling and not enough logical reason. And without a doubt, too little documentation, although Overstreet has definitely done the best job in the history of the hobby at that.

[COI]

When I get a new book, I place it on the floor without removing it from its bag and board. I then grab my digital camera, take a picture while standing over the comic. I look at the pic carefully, and call it a VG-NM.

[musicmeta]

I take my comic book out of the bag and place it on the table. I get 10 friends or people I know to come over and I hand out large numbered cards ranging from 0.5 to 10. I ask all my friends to hold up one of the cards over their heads. I throw out the high and low numbers and come up with an average.

[Foolkiller]

at least this thread is making me laugh now...

[valiantman]

I take my comic book out of the bag and place it on the table. I get 10 friends or people I know to come over and I hand out large numbered cards ranging from 0.5 to 10. I ask all my friends to hold up one of the cards over their heads. I throw out the high and low numbers and come up with an average.

That doesn't make any sense unless you've got the comic doing some kind

of routine like figure skating or gymnastics. You need to tie a couple strings

to the comic and make it perform a bit. Then you can use olympic judging.

[minutekev@50]

When I get a new book, I place it on the floor without removing it from its bag and board. I then grab my digital camera, take a picture while standing over the comic. I look at the pic carefully, and call it a VG-NM.

 

Ya know...for some reason this sounds almost like a porno...."Oooo work it baby..you like what I'm about to give you? Show it for the camera you VG-NM sexy thing...."

[osborn_fr]

When I get a new book, I place it on the floor without removing it from its bag and board. I then grab my digital camera, take a picture while standing over the comic. I look at the pic carefully, and call it a VG-NM.

 

Like this one ?

 

 

 

Here's the auction

 

[BachelorOfComix]

That seller is a horrible grader. Sold me a "NM 9.4" that was Fine/Very Fine 7.0 at best!