Preference? Higher grade lower page quality or lower grade higher page quality?

[rodan57]

I am actually glad this thread came back. Is it stupid to upgrade books that are of the same grade solely for page quality? I am talking about going from off-white pages to white pages, nothing beyond that? Or is that too minuscule to even bother doing?

 

I don't think it's stupid at all. But I would want to compare the two books raw.

 

It's one thing to replace a book for better paper quality. It's more problematic to replace a book for a better label.

[Brian48]

If it's only a grade point difference in drop, I'd take the better PQ every time. In the previous two CL auctions, I overpaid a bit for a bunch of Adams Bats that were only 9.2s and 9.0s, but all were W pages.

[mintcollector]

This is taking a book with off-whites pages and upgrading to white pages. Is it even worth it? These books by no means have C-OW pages or worse.

 

Are off-white pages that bad?

[namisgr]

I am actually glad this thread came back. Is it stupid to upgrade books that are of the same grade solely for page quality? I am talking about going from off-white pages to white pages, nothing beyond that? Or is that too minuscule to even bother doing?

 

I don't think it's stupid at all. But I would want to compare the two books raw.

 

It's one thing to replace a book for better paper quality. It's more problematic to replace a book for a better label.

 

+1

 

I'd choose the copy that looked nicer, and not depend just on the CGC judgement of structure and page quality. How intense are the cover inks? Are the colors rich or beginning to fade? Is the paper starting to yellow? Is there yellowing along any edge? How clean and free of blemishes are the covers? Is the cover registered square and straight? Are the staples still shiny and right on the spine? Is the back cover stock still white? Is there any yellowing of the interior cover edges? Does the book lie flat?

 

None of these considerations play a major role in the CGC-assigned grade, but they matter a lot to the eye appeal.

[oakman29]

Agreed!

I don't take much stock in CGCs PQ designations,had one upon re-sub that went from Cream/off white to off white/white.So anything brittle or tan I stay away from.All else is the presentation of the book,the intangibles. (thumbs u

[Comicdey]

I'd say Lt Tan to anything better is fine.

 

Pay the premium for white, but otherwise, it depends on how the book presents.

[Deanokeeno]

Agreed!

I don't take much stock in CGCs PQ designations,had one upon re-sub that went from Cream/off white to off white/white.So anything brittle or tan I stay away from.All else is the presentation of the book,the intangibles. (thumbs u

 

Agreed. I think CGC are very inconsistent on this point. I have slabs that have different PQ and for the life of me, I can't tell the difference. Then again that's probably why I am a designer and not a professional grader.

 

For me, anything with C-OW pages (to my eyes) and above is cool wit me.

 

So to answer the original question, I think it's a case of buy the book...

 

 

[mintcollector]

Great advice, thank you. As always, 'buy the book, not the holder.'

 

Could not have said it better if I wanted to!

[cbcnow]

Thanks everyone for all the great feedback and opinions.