The Comeback of Cream to Off White

[namisgr]

Maybe it is just my imagination, but I am under the impression that CGC page quality standards have varied at least a little bit over time. While cream to off-white page quality is not uncommon for early Silver Age books with old labels, for awhile this designation was seemingly quite uncommon with new labels. Now, I am seeing the return of this page quality designation on newly-graded books. Just one of many examples with a fresh C/OW grade: C/OW ASM8 in 9.4

 

What are your impressions with page quality grading over time? Did it become more lenient? Has it tightened up again? Or have I been dipping into the ol' jolly juice a bit too much?

[sterlingcomics]

Paging valiantman...Paging valiantman...

 

Nothing like data to quantify that feeling...

[Arty]

Unfortunately Valiantman can't help us, PQ isn't included in census.

[divad]

GR,

They have always been lenient as to page color . . .

[uclapeterg]

I myself have been more willing to buy C-2-OW ever since they gave a book of mine that I thought was OW-W the dreaded designation. (And I'm a PQ FREAK!)

[valiantman]

Unfortunately Valiantman can't help us, PQ isn't included in census.

[sfilosa]

It's tempting to buy Silver-Age Cr-Ow NM books if the edges don't look effected. Then resubmit. Usually you can get these at a 20% discount (sometime more).

 

That said, I still think that 60-70% of high-grade Silver-Age collectors avoid these books. If you look on major dealers websites, it seems that the books that don't sell (when price somewhat reasonably) are the ones with Cr-Ow pages.

[uclapeterg]

It just depends on the issue for me -- How often do I see an issue CGC'd? I'm more open then I used to be.

[Calamerica]

maybe they are becoming more strict?

 

Page quality IS worthy of noting.

 

CAL