gumption Posted June 17, 2023 Share Posted June 17, 2023 I was looking at a book at Heroes Con today. Dealer has it graded as a 7.5, but the cover looks like it has mold along the upper right edge. I did not inspect the interior or peer thru the pages. I may go back and make an offer on it tomorrow… just not sure how much to downgrade it with the mold/stain showing. It doesn’t look like a dust shadow. And I definitely saw spots along the page edges. I think I’ve seen a CGC 5.0 for a book with mold on the cover, but not a grade higher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowGradeBronze Posted June 17, 2023 Share Posted June 17, 2023 Won't pretend to be an expert here, but GA books get a slightly more lenient eye when being graded. At CGC anyway as far as I can tell from these boards. Frankly I wouldn't argue the grade with the seller. It's a pretty nice looking copy and you have to expect some age related defects with a book this old. I would explore the price angle without querying the assigned grade. Otherwise it can look like you're saying the seller can't grade or is trying to deceive. Not the best start to any trade you want to come off well from. Hope you work out a deal, it's a handsome book! The Lions Den and gumption 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post zzutak Posted June 17, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 17, 2023 On 6/16/2023 at 8:59 PM, gumption said: not sure how much to downgrade it with the mold/stain showing. The subject book has foxing along its once-exposed right edge. There are literally hundreds of higher-grade, CGC-certified books with a comparable amount of foxing. Indeed, foxing is relatively common on books from the pedigreed Davis Crippen Collection. As you can see from the three examples shown below, this blemish, by itself, is not serious enough to challenge the 7.5 VF- grade assigned by the seller to the subject book. Tom789, gumption, The Lions Den and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumption Posted June 17, 2023 Author Share Posted June 17, 2023 Really appreciate both responses. I certainly don’t mean to low-ball the dealer… I’ve purchased from him several times in the past and have agreed with his grading. I just wasn’t familiar with that type of defect appearing in higher grades. @zzutak Thanks for sharing those examples. He has another book I’m interested in, and I think I may save a little bit more by making an offer on the pair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CollectorBee Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 Mould = burn it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The-Collector Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 Here is the highest grade I've seen with what I would call substantial foxing. Personally I don't agree with the grade, but if you're only asking about CGC standards then it's clear that you can get to VF/NM with heavy foxing. If I was buying a book like this I'd be willing to pay much less than if it was the same book in the same grade but with spine ticks, creasing etc bringing the grade down. grendelbo, gumption and The Lions Den 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estrellmamone2 Posted October 16, 2023 Share Posted October 16, 2023 (edited) On 6/17/2023 at 6:59 AM, gumption said: I was looking at a book at Heroes Con today. Dealer has it graded as a 7.5, but the cover looks like it has mold along the upper right edge. I did not inspect the interior or peer thru the pages. I may go back and make an offer on it tomorrow… just not sure how much to downgrade it with the mold/stain showing. It doesn’t look like a dust shadow. And I definitely saw spots along the page edges. I think I’ve seen a CGC 5.0 for a book with mold on the cover, but not a grade higher. This may be considered a serious defect that affects the collectibility and commercial value of the book. The valuation may also depend on the rarity of the book and its demand in the market. I once used assignment writing services where they explained this to me, I found https://assignmentbro.com/ca/assignment-writing-services for this. You may want to contact a qualified rare book appraiser or antiquarian book dealer. Listen to the answer from many before you sell. A book with mildew or blemishes on the cover will generally receive a low maximum score. The appearance of mold on a book cover can greatly deteriorate its condition and appearance. Edited October 24, 2023 by estrellmamone2 gumption 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvelmaniac Posted October 16, 2023 Share Posted October 16, 2023 This video pretty much tells you that grading a book with staining/foxing/discoloration is very subjective (lots of Grey areas) and is handled on a book by book basis, it tells me that grading a book with any of these defects could change day to day, grader to grader, however, Foxing is not removable. The Lions Den 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lions Den Posted October 16, 2023 Share Posted October 16, 2023 On 6/16/2023 at 11:59 PM, gumption said: I was looking at a book at Heroes Con today. Dealer has it graded as a 7.5, but the cover looks like it has mold along the upper right edge. I did not inspect the interior or peer thru the pages. I may go back and make an offer on it tomorrow… just not sure how much to downgrade it with the mold/stain showing. It doesn’t look like a dust shadow. And I definitely saw spots along the page edges. I think I’ve seen a CGC 5.0 for a book with mold on the cover, but not a grade higher. Even though foxing is generally classified as a type of mold, there can be differences in the color and severity of foxing and other types of mold. In this case, the mold appears to be darker in nature than normal foxing, which is usually rust colored, not dark brown or black. If you're going to handle a book with dark mold, I'd personally recommend wearing gloves. Inspect it thoroughly for signs of it spreading beyond a localized area and be aware that some types of mold can actually be hazardous to your health... grendelbo and gumption 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooter99 Posted October 16, 2023 Share Posted October 16, 2023 I had an X-men 94 in 9.2 that had light foxing. I didn't buy the notes at the time of purchase. Only after I bought the book, I looked up the notes to discover the foxing. I held the book for 6 months and sold it. Now, ever time I purchase a slab, I make sure to get the notes. Foxing and rust are 2 things I avoid. gumption and The Lions Den 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
