Newbie questions about pulps 1 1

[Fukuoka]

Just acquired a couple of groups of pulps because the covers really entranced me. Maybe I overpaid--I paid $18 each on average--but I really love them.

My first newbie question (more coming on later posts) is about condition. I know that GA comics can get a bump in grade because of their ages... Is the same consideration given to pulps since the material used was relatively inferior? Most of the ones I purchased in the recent lot of wear on the edges and spine. Just not sure how much is accepted for what kind of grade. 
Sorry that this post is grade-centric, but I was just wondering how pulp magazines are viewed.
Since comics have the 10-point grading system (I guess slabs coming soon for pulps?), I wonder what the following magazine would grade at.
 

[Fukuoka]

As a follow-up, the spine of a different book below would seem to be disasterous for a comic book. Is it as bad for a pulp?

[Bookery]

Here's the grading chart from the (out of print) pulp guide:

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Many pulps will actually fall into grades even lower than the first column "good" valuation, a grade considered typical for most issues that occasionally still turn up in original-owner collections.  Pulps in true "very good" collection are often the best grade one is likely to turn up, especially for scarcer titles.  "Very Fine" is a grade obtainable for some saddle-stitched magazine formats, and for digests particularly from the 1960s, but it is quite rare for true pulp-format publications, and likely non-existent for many specific or especially early issues.  Unless a collection is from a major (and usually well-documented) discovery or estate, large listings of pulps in "very fine" (or better!) condition may be dubious.

       For this edition we have added a numbering system to the grading definitions.  This has not been historically standard for pulp grading, but such systems are now employed for most popular collectibles, and are listed here for the benefit of the collector.  Some dealers will use them and others will not-- but the systems are interchangeable and equally valid.  Both terms and numbers are listed below.  The 9-point scale below is similar to that used for comics, and there are parallels between the two in terms of general eye-appeal.  It is often claimed that pulp condition is not graded the same as comics, but this is not necessarily true.  It is simply that pulps will rarely be found in the same high-grade conditions that comics will.  Whereas a high-grade collector of comics may seek out 8.0 grades (or above) even for golden-age issues, the grade conscious pulp collector will generally accept a 6.0 (or sometimes lower) as a prized copy, especially for older or scarcer issues.  Unlike with comics, however, it is the opinion of this author that the half-grades (or decimal grades) common with comics are not useful with the more fragile nature of pulps.

 POOR (0.5):  An incomplete copy, coverless or missing pages, or brittle or otherwise damaged beyond reasonable readability.  Coverless copies in otherwise decent condition are often desired as reading copies as long as they are inexpensive.  But heavily damaged or abused issues have little or no collectible value.

 FAIR (1.0):  Generally considered below collectible grade unless rare or in high demand.  A "fair" copy may be missing a back cover or a title or advertising page, but all story pages must be intact.  Outer pulp edges may be brittle in places, but the overall pages must be solid enough to turn without undue risk of tearing or breaking apart.  Pages might be especially darkened, or exhibit damp-staining.  An otherwise complete and even supple copy may be marred by numerous cover stress-lines and tears, excessive edge-trimming or chipping, etc.  Value is generally about half or less of the "good" price.

 GOOD (2.0):  Represented by the 1st pricing column in this guide, "good" is the typical used but not abused issue, and the grade most commonly encountered in non-specialist venues such      as flea markets, garage sales, or standard estate auctions.  A "good" issue often has a number of cover creases and/or reading stress-lines, but not so many as to make the book as unattractive as a "fair". Pages may be tanned, but should exhibit only minor flaking if any.  Spine-lettering may be substantially flaked and chipped, but the spine should not be completely damaged or missing.  A taped spine, or interior-taped tears are not un-common, as long as the tape is unobtrusive and the glue has not seriously damaged the book.  The cover-overhang may be heavily chipped or trimmed away altogether.

 GOOD to VERY GOOD  (3.0):  An item falling somewhere between the former and following grading levels.

 VERY GOOD (4.0): This grade is represented by the 2nd pricing column in this guide, and is the minimal standard sought by many serious collectors, and with some pulps is the highest obtainable grade.  "Very good" is also a designation most often over-graded by book owners and some dealers.  A "very good" is actually an above average copy in many cases.  Covers should be reasonably bright without unusual fading.  Pages may be lightly tanned, yellowed or off-white, but should be mostly supple with only a hint of edge-flaking here and there.  Tape may be present only in small amounts, such as the spine corners, or a small interior tear.  The cover may be slightly separated from the spine edges, but should not exceed an inch or two, and the overall book must be solid.  Vertical reading stress lines near the spine are common, as are small corner creases.  The overhang may be chipped or have multiple tears, but generally should still be present. However the 4.0 grade is the highest-grade generally given to a pulp that has been trimmed (after publication), if it is done neatly.  The spine should be at least 50% intact.  No pages can be missing.  Although a "very good" book may have one or more of the above defects, this does not mean it should have an abundance of them, or should have such an accumulation of defects as to mar its general attractiveness.  In particular, the main body of the cover should not be damaged so as to unduly detract from the art.

VERY GOOD TO FINE (5.0):   An item falling somewhere between the former and following grading levels.

 FINE (6.0):  Whereas "fine" may be considered a mid-grade comic book, here it represents what is often the highest possible grade for many early pulp-format publications, though the general appearance will be about the same.  The spine should be 75% or more intact, and generally clean.  The book should not be overly dull, and the pulp overhang, if applicable to the issue, should be present with small chips and tears that would come from routine shelf-wear.  A 6.0 book should not be artificially trimmed. Tape (or tape-stains) are generally not allowed, though a very small piece may be permissible on an otherwise beautiful copy.  Pages may not be their original white, but should be creamy or lightly yellowed.  If a pulp has an outstanding and near-flawless cover, but has significantly darkened or brittle interior pages, it is not a "fine".  Some general cover scuffing and corner-creasing is allowed, but the book should appear like a 6.0 golden-age comic would... bright, tight, and attractive, with the look of having been carefully read once or twice, then decently stored.  Early pulps are often scarce in this condition, but '40s and '50s pulps are not overly rare in 6.0, and stapled-magazine format publications and factory-trimmed digests can often be located in this grade, though a lot is dependent upon the quality of the paper stock.  A 6.0 book will usually be priced about halfway between the "very good" and "very fine" columns.

 FINE TO VERY FINE (7.0):  A highly-attractive issue that falls just short of the "very fine" classification.

VERY FINE (8.0):  This grade is represented by the 3rd pricing column in this guide.  A "very fine" is fairly close to the same condition as the day it arrived at the newsstand, regardless of the issue's age.  The book has only very small flaws.  Pages should be white or at least off-white. The spine must be fully intact and unfaded.  No trimming, tape, or glue repairs are permitted.  Small tears may be in the over-hang, but no pieces are missing.  Bedsheet and pulp issues should have straight, un-warped spines.  Magazines will not exhibit rusting to the staples.  With rare exceptions, this is as good as it gets for most pulp-format publications.

 VERY FINE TO NEAR MINT (9.0):  This grade would rarely come into play, though there have been a few examples and collections over the years that would qualify.  This is essentially a newsstand-fresh copy, with only the smallest loss of whiteness to the pages possibly allowed from the passage of time.  What few flaws permitted in the 8.0 grade would generally be absent here.  Pricing may or may not be substantially different from an 8.0, however.  Less expensive or in-demand pulps such as many westerns, romances, or even later Argosy, Blue Books, etc., might be valued little differently than the "very fine" grade.  Some magazines and later digests will turn up in this grade, and may bring the same or only slightly higher prices than an 8.0.  But some art-intensive pulps, such as certain science-fiction titles, hero pulps, weird-menace, or "spicy" titles do rarely occur as newsstand fresh copies, and these often will bring significant premiums beyond those listed in this volume.

 

[Fukuoka]

Wow! Excellent! Thank you very much.