Surfer66 Posted November 13, 2022 Share Posted November 13, 2022 I have several copies of this book with varying degrees of what looks like production defects including chipping. Is this Marvel chipping? I had thought Marvel chipping was from dull blades and inferior paper from an earlier era? Or was that happening mid-1970's as well? The first 2 photos are the group of books showing similar chip defects in the same area. The last 4 images are of the same book. This book probably has the most severe defects, including the fc bottom edge. I do not know how to grade this book because I do not know how much weight the defects have, some probably being production related? What are your thoughts on this book's grade, please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scburdet Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 People won't grade multiple books in a single post here.. It's a 1 book/post forum with a minimum of a full front and back cover, and preferably more if there is specific damage to assess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfer66 Posted November 14, 2022 Author Share Posted November 14, 2022 Sorry I was not clear The first 2 pictures, each showing 5 books, was just to show that this flaw was common to other copies of the same issue. Sometimes when you look at a cut, tear or chip, you may wonder if it's production related or just a one-off that happened due to human neglect after production. I am only asking for help grading the single book pictured in the last 4 pictures. Keeping in mind that the chipping on that one book is also found on other copies of the same issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scburdet Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 On 11/13/2022 at 11:06 PM, Pukie said: chipping Got it. I don't think that damage along the bottom is Marvel chipping, firstly b/c this isn't a Silver Age book since it was published in 1977. They looks more like gripper holes to me, although IDK if it's common with this book/publishing era. Look at the interior page for similar damage. While gripper holes are considered production, these look especially gnarly to me. Perhaps they've been enlarged by handling or a bad day at the printer. One hypothesis for the fairly uniform location for piece out on the side is that these books were stacked & bound with something at the newsstand and handled a little too roughly. I believe this is a square bound book too, I can see the staples pushing up through the back cover, and it's a bit wavy back there. This might be pressable to a degree, although pressing square bounds is more difficult as I've been told. You might get a 7.0 out of this if some degree of the damage was production. Personally, I wouldn't roll the dice on grading a book in this conditions/of this value b/c it's a best a break even proposition. If I was buying this raw, I would not want the seller to advertise it higher than 6.0/6.5. I love the What if...? series tho, despite many of the issues not being considered particularly noteworthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfer66 Posted November 14, 2022 Author Share Posted November 14, 2022 Thank you for sharing your knowledge! This was a great help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJD Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 That damage on the opening edge looks to me like it might have been caused by a strap around a bundle of the books. grendelbo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoggyNelson Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 Would call them VF/NM I don’t know what CGC would grade it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendelbo Posted November 15, 2022 Share Posted November 15, 2022 Unlikely a production flaw. More handling or environment. On 11/14/2022 at 2:41 PM, AJD said: That damage on the opening edge looks to me like it might have been caused by a strap around a bundle of the books. Not a bad theory. FNVF range, IMO. 6.5 therabouts. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Pete Posted November 15, 2022 Share Posted November 15, 2022 7.5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfer66 Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 Very helpful. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...