ChrispyC66 Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 (edited) Hello again, This time I’d like your grade estimate for this Human Torch Comics from 1945. I received the comic with two additional staples added to the top and the bottom of the book on the spine. As well as the original middle staple. The interior of the cover had been taped over the middle staple area because of tears that were appearing at the center staple. The middle staple was fine so I had the extra staples removed. The previous owner had tape the bottom of the spine inside the cover presumably because it was split, but it hard to see a split on the outside of that area. Thanks for looking. Cheers! The first two images are high-res scans. You can zoom into those images. The rest are photos. Edited February 5, 2023 by ChrispyC66 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scburdet Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 Are you sure the middle staple that's left is original? It looks so clean & I could convince myself that the holes don't quite make since with the crimp of the staple. I could also be talking out of my backside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrispyC66 Posted January 26, 2023 Author Share Posted January 26, 2023 On 1/26/2023 at 12:48 AM, scburdet said: Are you sure the middle staple that's left is original? It looks so clean & I could convince myself that the holes don't quite make since with the crimp of the staple. I could also be talking out of my backside. It is what I was told. I just removed the stupid extra staples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrispyC66 Posted January 26, 2023 Author Share Posted January 26, 2023 On 1/26/2023 at 12:48 AM, scburdet said: Are you sure the middle staple that's left is original? It looks so clean & I could convince myself that the holes don't quite make since with the crimp of the staple. I could also be talking out of my backside. Looking at the pic again, I think the markings around the staple matches the indents of the inner pages. I can see some residue from the staple on the paper. It seems genuine to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendelbo Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 I'm thinking 5.0. Thanks for posting. ChrispyC66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scburdet Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 On 1/26/2023 at 2:16 AM, ChrispyC66 said: Looking at the pic So it's already on its way to grading? Fun stuff. The tears around the staple are the critical defect. Weighing CGCs policy on tape on older books, I don't think that's much to worry about. The CGC book has 7.0 as the lower limit for staple tears. That seems a tad generous here b/c they extend farther into the covers. On the other hand, a single staple books is going to experience more strain at the staple ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I'm going to throw out a 5.5/6.0 with a huge asterisk that I don't deal with GA books & therefore my opinion should not be taken seriously ChrispyC66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrispyC66 Posted January 26, 2023 Author Share Posted January 26, 2023 (edited) On 1/26/2023 at 10:06 AM, scburdet said: So it's already on its way to grading? Fun stuff. The tears around the staple are the critical defect. Weighing CGCs policy on tape on older books, I don't think that's much to worry about. The CGC book has 7.0 as the lower limit for staple tears. That seems a tad generous here b/c they extend farther into the covers. On the other hand, a single staple books is going to experience more strain at the staple ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I'm going to throw out a 5.5/6.0 with a huge asterisk that I don't deal with GA books & therefore my opinion should not be taken seriously No. I mean’t I was looking at my pic of the staple more closely. Certainly appreciate the detailed analysis and honesty. Edited January 26, 2023 by ChrispyC66 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scburdet Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 On 1/26/2023 at 2:31 PM, ChrispyC66 said: No. I mean’t I was looking at my pic of the staple more closely Well, snap to it then! I want to see how it turns out, since it's a cool book ChrispyC66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowGradeBronze Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 I can see this coming back 4.5 and a possible GA bump to 5.0 wouldn't surprise me. Please post the grade when it's in, another terrific book! ChrispyC66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1950's war comics Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 great looking book ! VG or better ! ChrispyC66 and FoggyNelson 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars76 Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 I'm at a 4.5. Really cool book👍 ChrispyC66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrispyC66 Posted February 5, 2023 Author Share Posted February 5, 2023 Grade came back at 3.5 OW to White pages. Disappointed with the grade. Really thought it was a solid 4.0. Graders notes: staple tear tape center of interior spine multiple staple holes full left of whole book through book staining to cover I assume the staining is a reference to the discoloration on the top left of the back cover. Mars76, grendelbo and scburdet 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars76 Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 Looks like it really got hit for the staple holes. That's definitely one of the nicest 3.5's I've ever seen😎 ChrispyC66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scburdet Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 On 2/5/2023 at 4:56 PM, ChrispyC66 said: discoloration We were so focused on the staples, I barely paid attention to potential staining. I'd bet they penalized that at least as much as the staple stuff. I've seen even a tiny stain that's only noticable when really looking hard lead to an apparent deduction of 1-1.5 pts. I'm at the point that it would have to be a really high value book to even consider submitting something stained. TBF, I would have submitted this book regardless. It's still cool AF. ChrispyC66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzutak Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 The key to CGC's grade is probably related to the "presumed" purpose of the tape repair at the center staple. It looks to me like the book may have been disassembled in order to place the tape. The grader asks, "Was the tape repair made (1) to reattach a detached cover, or (2) to prevent the tears at the ends of the staple from getting longer, or (3) both?" If the grader believes either (1) or (3) was the case, he/she will treat this copy as having a detached cover (max grade = 4.0) with additional defects (and appropriate deductions from a starting point of 4.0) -- in which case, a grade of 3.5 or even 3.0 would certainly make sense. silverseeker, grendelbo, ChrispyC66 and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrispyC66 Posted February 6, 2023 Author Share Posted February 6, 2023 On 2/5/2023 at 6:32 PM, zzutak said: The key to CGC's grade is probably related to the "presumed" purpose of the tape repair at the center staple. It looks to me like the book may have been disassembled in order to place the tape. The grader asks, "Was the tape repair made (1) to reattach a detached cover, or (2) to prevent the tears at the ends of the staple from getting longer, or (3) both?" If the grader believes either (1) or (3) was the case, he/she will treat this copy as having a detached cover (max grade = 4.0) with additional defects (and appropriate deductions from a starting point of 4.0) -- in which case, a grade of 3.5 or even 3.0 would certainly make sense. Thanks @zzutak. That’s helpful information. Greatly appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scburdet Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 On 2/5/2023 at 7:32 PM, zzutak said: "presumed" purpose of the tape repair Why would this still get a blue label if it's an effort to conserve or restore? Again, I state my complete ignorance of GA comics where this stuff is more common, so I am trying to learn even though I don't see myself dipping into the GA collecting pool. ChrispyC66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post zzutak Posted February 6, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted February 6, 2023 (edited) On 2/5/2023 at 7:33 PM, scburdet said: Why would this still get a blue label if it's an effort to conserve or restore? In CGC's world, it's all about the material used to execute the repair. Non-archival tape (magic tape, cellophane tape, masking tape) is an "acceptable" material. Glue, on the other hand, would trigger the dreaded Purple Label, as shown below: Why should material (rather than function/purpose) matter? Here's CGC's explanation/justification: Edited February 6, 2023 by zzutak Mars76, grendelbo, scburdet and 2 others 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Point Five Posted February 6, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted February 6, 2023 Sheesh, you should crack this one right back out and roll a joint with the 3.5 label. Fantastic book! thehumantorch, Mars76, grendelbo and 3 others 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendelbo Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 Great insight, y'all. ChrispyC66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
