Please grade this Crime Mysteries #3! 3 3

[Point Five]

Won this beauty on ebay... can't get over the gloss and vibrant inks. There's a discreet spine split at bottom of about an inch, small corner chips, and an odd thing in the top right where it look like a long sliver of overhang came off. Thanks!

[comicjack]

4.5 for me hot book right now 

[marvelmaniac]

Other than the edges/corners/spine the front cover presents very nicely with no creasing or other major defects.

The defects seen all coincide with a grade of VG 4.0, however, IMO the book presents much nicer than a VG 4.0.

Will this book get treated differently since it is Golden Age?

IMO this book grades at a VG+ 4.5.

5.0 VERY GOOD/FINE (VG/FN):  Back to Top
An above-average but well used comic book. An accumulation of bindery/printing defects is allowed. Minor to moderate cover wear apparent, with minor to moderate creases and/or dimples. Inks have moderate to low reflectivity. Blunted corners are increasingly common, as is minor to moderate staining, discoloration, and/or foxing. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. A minor to moderate spine roll is allowed. A spine split of up to 1/2" may be present. Staples may show minor discoloration. Minor staple tears and minor stress lines may also be present, as well as minor rust migration. Paper is tan to brown with no signs of brittleness. Centerfold may be loose. Minor interior tears may also be present.

4.5 VERY GOOD+ (VG):  Back to Top
Fits the criteria for Very Good but with an additional virtue or small accumulation of virtues that improves the book's appearance by a perceptible amount.

4.0 VERY GOOD (VG):  Back to Top
The average used comic book. Cover shows moderate to significant wear, and may be loose but not completely detached. Cover reflectivity is low. Can have moderate creases or dimples. Corners may be blunted. Store stamps, name stamps, arrival dates, initials, etc. have no effect on this grade. Some discoloration, fading, foxing, and even minor soiling is allowed. As much as a 1/4" triangle can be missing out of the corner or edge; a missing 1/8" square is also acceptable. Only minor unobtrusive tape and other amateur repair allowed on otherwise high grade copies. Moderate spine roll may be present and/or a 1" spine split. Staples may be discolored. Minor to moderate staple tears and stress lines may be present, as well as some rust migration. Paper is brown but not brittle. Minor to moderate interior tears may be present. Centerfold may be loose or detached at one staple.

[grendelbo]

4.5

That's a cool cover. "He isn't even human." I wonder if it's Zuckerberg trapped in there. 

Thanks for sharing. 

[Courageous Cat]

spine split and all and the way these noobs are grading lately....3.5 on a bad day, 4.0 on a good day

[Point Five]

On 3/5/2022 at 10:48 AM, comicjack said:

4.5 for me hot book right now 

Cheers Jack, I got lucky on this one! It was in a 7-day ebay auction, but I think the seller must have gotten cold feet from the lack of early bidding and added a BIN option. I didn't expect to score such a nice copy. 

 

[MrRoboto]

I say 3.5 but golden age makes this book 4.5-5.0 imo

[Mars76]

5.0

[comicginger1789]

I am tempted to say 3.5 but there is the GA bump (for me anyways) as I am either spot on or low EVERY TIME I grade a 50s books. 

Thus, I shall say 4.0 and a 4.5 would not shock me. 5.0 seems a bit too generous even for this era. 

[Funnybooks]

4.5 beauty!!!!!!

 

[Galen130]

‘Sliver’ missing?  Does it appear trimmed?

[Februus]

I’m at 5.0 you will get a bump no doubt. Watch that spine split don’t let it get worse. 

[Point Five]

On 3/7/2022 at 3:17 PM, Galen130 said:

‘Sliver’ missing?  Does it appear trimmed?

It's not impossible, but I don't think so. You can see the top edge overhang is there on both covers and looks as it should. I'm guessing there was an overhang piece that bent in & then came off, or perhaps it was half off already and someone gave it a tug. 

I agree with 4.5 or thereabouts, but man! Wish all my 4.5s looked like this.

 

[Funnybooks]

CVA 4.5 

[Galen130]

On 3/8/2022 at 8:57 AM, Point Five said:

It's not impossible, but I don't think so. You can see the top edge overhang is there on both covers and looks as it should. I'm guessing there was an overhang piece that bent in & then came off, or perhaps it was half off already and someone gave it a tug. 

I agree with 4.5 or thereabouts, but man! Wish all my 4.5s looked like this.

 

I'm gonna go grade bump to 5.0.  Looks awesome. 

[grendelbo]