Grading Questions 2 2

[xvipah]

Not sure if I should post this here, or the newbie board. Sorry if it's the wrong place. 

Are there good videos/guides out there to get someone started on being a good grader? I mean, I've been collecting comics for a long time. I know if something is nice or not, but the specifics of fine tuned grading? No idea. I couldn't tell you the difference between a 4.0 and a 5.0, etc...  I have spent time reading the "can you spare a grade" forum and threads, trying to get some ideas. But, and I know in some ways it is, it all seems so arbitrary. So, just wondering if there's a real good, semi-official (or actual official), guide out there on what to look for that people have used, or still do use. 

[Lightning55]

You can pick up an Overstreet Grading Guide on eBay for about $10-$15.  Money well spent.  There's written criteria for all the grades, tons of photos of different defects.  It's like an encyclopedia of knowledge.  Keep it handy, refer to it often. 

All the grading companies have their own standards, but not really well described, revealed, or published.  Most are derived from Overstreet in some way.  Close enough.  People's opinions will vary anyway, so there's no "bible" that you can go by.

[xvipah]

Sweet, thanks. Last question then, does it matter what edition of the book?

8 minutes ago, Lightning55 said:

You can pick up an Overstreet Grading Guide on eBay for about $10-$15.  Money well spent.  There's written criteria for all the grades, tons of photos of different defects.  It's like an encyclopedia of knowledge.  Keep it handy, refer to it often. 

All the grading companies have their own standards, but not really well described, revealed, or published.  Most are derived from Overstreet in some way.  Close enough.  People's opinions will vary anyway, so there's no "bible" that you can go by.

 

[Lightning55]

I have an early edition, and it works for me.  If I had none at all, I would probably get something more recent, depending on price.  To my knowledge and unless they have changed it, there is a Grading section in every Overstreet Price Guide, the annual versions.  It's just a wall of text, but it's very thorough, takes up 3 pages. 

The Grading Guide is more comprehensive, and gives good guidance for each grade.  Grading is part art and part science.  Each comic has characteristics that have to be weighed, thereby bringing in one's judgement.  A book in 6.0 might get there due to one single large problem, while another 6.0 might be peppered with small defects.  It's not an exact science in any manner.  Opinions are guaranteed to vary.

[xvipah]

Got it, thanks much for your help.

 

[William-James88]

The grading guide is indeed the best advice one could give and any edition of the past 20 years will do the job.

[xvipah]

I appreciate the answers. Grading guide is on its way now. 

[theCapraAegagrus]

OSPG and time experiencing/studying.

[B2D327]

Another piece of advice which I’d gotten from another collector was to look at pics of as many examples of a certain grade as you can. After some time it’ll familiarize you with what to notice and at least put you in the “ballpark” when grading

[Funnybooks]

ask Dylan...