Question: How to detect water staining? Grade?

[Pete Rose-migration]

I have a few books I suspect were completely water stained. They lay flat, there is no wrinkling, the staples are clean, and there is still cover gloss. I suspect water staining because some the inks bleed through the pages and the page quality not crisp. How can I be sure. Also, say the book was a VF and became completely water stained and dried out very well. How would this effect the grade? Thank you.

[blowout]

Can you post a scan?

[divad]

Sounds like solvent - what's their provenance? (Where did you get them?) Water staining is usually pretty obvious through wrinkling or fluid "stain lines".

 

Even the slightest water staining has a severe effect on grade. A couple of years ago, I submitted an easy 9.6 Captain America #200, and they dropped it to a 7.0! It had an almost imperceptible waving to the top of the front cover - not water staining, just a slight rippling from humidity.

 

But 2.6 points??? Ouch!

[Pete Rose-migration]

Sorry I can't post a scan. I purchased the books off of ebay from a person in Nevada a few years back. Thanks for the help.