Is this ASM 129 a candidate for pressing? 2 2

[Sandman2001]

This is an older graded book with 3 or 4 spine stresses that I've tried to scan along with photos all the corners front and back.

Let me know if you think it could benefit from a press and also what grade you think it should be.

I'll reveal the current grade later.

I do not have any grader notes for the book.

Thanks

[Funnybooks]

On 9/18/2021 at 7:13 PM, Amazeron said:

9.4

agreed that it "appears" 9.4...a couple of cb tics and that corner. I'm not sure this copy grades a 9.6 or better even with a C&P. Keep in mind that grading is subjective and that a 9.4/9.6 can be fairly interchangeable on any given day.

[Bayowolf]

9.4 , don't see how press helps..

[Sandman2001]

So is the lower left corner what would probably keep it out of 9.6?

Is the general thinking that a press would not improve the small spine stresses?

[Funnybooks]

On 9/19/2021 at 8:11 AM, Sandman2001 said:

So is the lower left corner what would probably keep it out of 9.6?

Is the general thinking that a press would not improve the small spine stresses?

Press may improve the spines appearance but if the ticks are color breaking, it won't improve the grade

[grendelbo]

Looks 9.0/9.2 to me.

CPR is a gamble. Thanks for posting.

[Jfend72]

Beautiful copy of ASM 129.  I'd have the press done for sure.  Say its a 9.4 as it sits and comes back as a 9.6 (totally get the idea that a 9.4/9.6 can depend on the grader), if that scenario comes true, last CGC sales of a 9.4 was $5,760 (9/12/21 on Heritage) with the last 9.6 was $8,850 (9/13/21 on Ebay).  Or say its close to a 9.4 consensus without a press and you send it in and it comes back as a 9.2, last sale I see is $4,800 (8/14/21 on Ebay).  The cost of having it cleaned and pressed is like purchasing insurance in my opinion, it may not be needed but making a small investment, $10 to $20, could yield larger returns.

[LowGradeBronze]

I would not take a gamble with such a sweet copy! That book will be out of your hands for months and the lure of a higher grade wouldn't be enough to make me risk what I already had. I'm at 9.0 plus on this book. (Not confident above 9.0 but this is one very special copy. Head and shoulders above most you see.) Thanks for posting, looking FWD to the existing grade reveal. 

That bottom of the spine is very likely to be a bindery defect so would not affect the grade.

Edited September 20, 2021 by LowGradeBronze

[CHASEnBLUE]

Reveal please....

[Sandman2001]

I'll post the current grade this evening.  See if I get a few more thoughts on grading/pressing.  Thanks for all your comments so far.

[Pangolin]

Is this a fold or an effect of the light? I don't see it on the first picture.

 

[Sandman2001]

Its flat.  I think its my phone getting in the way.

[Lpgk]

9.0

[Pangolin]

From my opinion, this comic is 9.2 on a bad day or 9.4 on a good day.

The most obvious defect is on the front bottom left corner. I don’t think a pressing will correct this.

A pressing might help the corner on the back bottom left corner (back cover in front of you), but I am not sure the picture is a little blurry. However it might help if you received a 9.2.

I will be surprised if you can get a 9.6 with this comic.

 

[Pangolin]

On 9/20/2021 at 2:39 AM, LowGradeBronze said:

I would not take a gamble with such a sweet copy! That book will be out of your hands for months and the lure of a higher grade wouldn't be enough to make me risk what I already had.

 Agree.

[Sandman2001]

Its currently a 9.2, graded in 2003.  

I've been thinking that it could go up to a 9.4, however I'm not sure it would be worth the fees, etc.

 

[grendelbo]

On 9/20/2021 at 9:19 PM, Sandman2001 said:

Its currently a 9.2, graded in 2003.  

 

On 9/19/2021 at 8:04 AM, grendelbo said:

Looks 9.0/9.2 to me

CGC grading standards of 2003 are not the same as today. The book may not have even been pressed. I don't see it getting lower than it's current grade were you to resubmit. Still, it's a gamble.

[Pangolin]

On 9/20/2021 at 11:37 PM, grendelbo said:

CGC grading standards of 2003 are not the same as today. The book may not have even been pressed. I don't see it getting lower than it's current grade were you to resubmit. Still, it's a gamble.

How do you compare grading standards between now and then? Stricter before or not?

[grendelbo]

On 9/20/2021 at 10:05 PM, Pangolin said:

How do you compare grading standards between now and then? Stricter before or not?

Stricter. From observation not direct experience. Look at old label CGC-graded books and the grades seem harsh compared with today. There have been eras of tight grading and looser standards. Nowadays it seems to be looser again.

[Sandman2001]

I wanted to get thoughts on the grade since it was graded in the pre-pressing era.

I had an ASM 101 graded 9.2 with Cr/Ow Pages.  Sold it , thinking I would upgrade to a 9.4 with better page quality (didn't get around to it).  I believe that book would have upgraded a notch on both the overall grade and page quality.