What am I missing? 1 1

[dbcn]

I had these 2 books shipped today - they were about as minty fresh as I have seen a book when I sent them in, and were clocked in at 9.6s:

https://www.cgccomics.com/certlookup/2808050001/

https://www.cgccomics.com/certlookup/2808050003/

There are 4 in the series, and the other two were graded 9.8s. There are no notes for any of them, and I can maybe see a couple of minor issues with the first book, but the 2nd book I'm really at a loss as to why it got the knock. I certainly have 9.8s that have more noticeable defects than 2808050003.

Would genuinely like thoughts on issues these books might have.

Maybe something will pop up when I have them in hand & will follow up.

[Lightning55]

On any given day, a 9.6 is a 9.8, and a 9.8 is a 9.6. Flip of the coin.

I have what I thought was <9 come back 9.6. Also had 9.6 come back 8.0 (missed stain).

[Tom789]

On 11/20/2023 at 2:27 PM, dbcn said:

I had these 2 books shipped today - they were about as minty fresh as I have seen a book when I sent them in, and were clocked in at 9.6s:

https://www.cgccomics.com/certlookup/2808050001/

https://www.cgccomics.com/certlookup/2808050003/

There are 4 in the series, and the other two were graded 9.8s. There are no notes for any of them, and I can maybe see a couple of minor issues with the first book, but the 2nd book I'm really at a loss as to why it got the knock. I certainly have 9.8s that have more noticeable defects than 2808050003.

Would genuinely like thoughts on issues these books might have.

Maybe something will pop up when I have them in hand & will follow up.

The first book has a front right bottom corner crease, which to me actually looks a bit large for a 9.6.  I only say this because I have 9.6 with a smaller corner crease (it's actually mentioned in a grader's note).

Can't see anything that pops out on the second book.  There is maybe a small color-breaking spine tick about 2" down on the front cover but I don't think that alone would disqualify it from a 9.8.