Did I get slapped with a harsh grader? 1 1

[mephistopheles]

This was graded 7.5. Looks like a 9.0 to me. What am I missing? Same copy pasted notes across my submission.

Grader Notes:
light bends to cover
light creasing to cover
light spine stress lines to cover

 

 

[dbcn]

Did you get it pressed?

[mephistopheles]

On 3/5/2024 at 11:56 AM, dbcn said:

Did you get it pressed?

No, it looked fine. No dents/bends.

[dbcn]

That might be part of it - I once sent an 8.5 book back to CGC for a press & regrade & it came back a 9.8 (but have also sent in easy 9.8 books for a press/grade and had them come back as 9.4s, so ymmv)

Some of those defects might come out with a press, but I did find out that 'creasing' can sometimes refer to actual fiber breaks in the paper (and not what I would normally think of as a 'crease'), which I don't think would come out with a press.

[marvelmaniac]

I do not send my books for grading, however, CGC graders are people and are subject to the same mood swings, pre-occupations as other folks.

Judging by your pics and the book already being slabbed, the book, IMO, appears to be better than a VF- 7.5, however, without the book in hand...This is apparently a somewhat common issue, the book is undegraded or overgraded in the opinion of others (an argument that will go on forever weather raw or graded) and in some instances they are correct, that is why folks say "buy the book, not the grade".

Can you visibly see any of the defects listed by the grader in the graders notes?

9.0 VERY FINE/NEAR MINT (VF/NM):  Back to Top
Nearly perfect with outstanding eye appeal. A limited number of bindery/printing defects are allowed. Cover is almost flat with almost imperceptible wear. Inks are bright with slightly diminished reflectivity. An 1/8" bend is allowed if color is not broken. Corners are cut square and sharp with ever-so-slight blunting permitted but no creases. Several lightly penciled, stamped or inked arrival dates are acceptable. Very minor foxing. Spine is tight and flat. Staples may show some discoloration. Only the slightest staple tears are allowed. A very minor accumulation of stress lines may be present if they are nearly imperceptible. Paper is off-white to cream and supple. Very minor interior tears may be present.

8.5 VERY FINE+ (VF+):  Back to Top
Fits the criteria for Very Fine but with an additional virtue or small accumulation of virtues that improves the book's appearance by a perceptible amount.

8.0 VERY FINE (VF):  Back to Top
An excellent copy with outstanding eye appeal. A limited accumulation of minor bindery/printing defects is allowed. Cover is relatively flat with minimal surface wear beginning to show, possibly including some minute wear at corners. Inks are generally bright with moderate to high reflectivity. An unnoticeable 1/4" crease is acceptable if color is not broken. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. Minor foxing. Spine is almost completely flat with a possible minor color break. Staples may show some discoloration. Very slight staple tears and a few almost insignificant stress lines may be present. Paper is cream to tan and supple. Centerfold is mostly secure. Minor interior tears at the margin may be present.

7.5 VERY FINE- (VF-):  Back to Top
Fits the criteria for Very Fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the book's appearance by a perceptible amount.

7.0 FINE/VERY FINE (FN/VF):  Back to Top
An above-average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with outstanding eye appeal. A small accumulation of minor bindery/printing defects is allowed. Minor cover wear beginning to show, possibly including minor creases. Corners may be blunted. Inks are generally bright with a moderate reduction in reflectivity. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. Minor foxing. The slightest spine roll may be present, as well as a possible moderate color break. Staples may show some discoloration. Slight staple tears and a small accumulation of light stress lines may be present. Slight rust migration. Paper is cream to tan. Centerfold is mostly secure. Minor interior tears at the margin may be present.

[mephistopheles]

On 3/5/2024 at 12:38 PM, dbcn said:

That might be part of it - I once sent an 8.5 book back to CGC for a press & regrade & it came back a 9.8 (but have also sent in easy 9.8 books for a press/grade and had them come back as 9.4s, so ymmv)

Some of those defects might come out with a press, but I did find out that 'creasing' can sometimes refer to actual fiber breaks in the paper (and not what I would normally think of as a 'crease'), which I don't think would come out with a press.

If it was a more expensive book I would consider resubmitting, but it's not really worth it. In any event, I don't know what the graders are smoking to give this a 7.5. I guess I will rely on prescreens moving forward. I only got 2 9.8s out of 25 books. 

[mephistopheles]

On 3/5/2024 at 12:52 PM, marvelmaniac said:

I do not send my books for grading, however, CGC graders are people and are subject to the same mood swings, pre-occupations as other folks.

Judging by your pics and the book already being slabbed, the book, IMO, appears to be better than a VF- 7.5, however, without the book in hand...This is apparently a somewhat common issue, the book is undegraded or overgraded in the opinion of others (an argument that will go on forever weather raw or graded) and in some instances they are correct, that is why folks say "buy the book, not the grade".

Can you visibly see any of the defects listed by the grader in the graders notes?

9.0 VERY FINE/NEAR MINT (VF/NM):  Back to Top
Nearly perfect with outstanding eye appeal. A limited number of bindery/printing defects are allowed. Cover is almost flat with almost imperceptible wear. Inks are bright with slightly diminished reflectivity. An 1/8" bend is allowed if color is not broken. Corners are cut square and sharp with ever-so-slight blunting permitted but no creases. Several lightly penciled, stamped or inked arrival dates are acceptable. Very minor foxing. Spine is tight and flat. Staples may show some discoloration. Only the slightest staple tears are allowed. A very minor accumulation of stress lines may be present if they are nearly imperceptible. Paper is off-white to cream and supple. Very minor interior tears may be present.

8.5 VERY FINE+ (VF+):  Back to Top
Fits the criteria for Very Fine but with an additional virtue or small accumulation of virtues that improves the book's appearance by a perceptible amount.

8.0 VERY FINE (VF):  Back to Top
An excellent copy with outstanding eye appeal. A limited accumulation of minor bindery/printing defects is allowed. Cover is relatively flat with minimal surface wear beginning to show, possibly including some minute wear at corners. Inks are generally bright with moderate to high reflectivity. An unnoticeable 1/4" crease is acceptable if color is not broken. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. Minor foxing. Spine is almost completely flat with a possible minor color break. Staples may show some discoloration. Very slight staple tears and a few almost insignificant stress lines may be present. Paper is cream to tan and supple. Centerfold is mostly secure. Minor interior tears at the margin may be present.

7.5 VERY FINE- (VF-):  Back to Top
Fits the criteria for Very Fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the book's appearance by a perceptible amount.

7.0 FINE/VERY FINE (FN/VF):  Back to Top
An above-average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with outstanding eye appeal. A small accumulation of minor bindery/printing defects is allowed. Minor cover wear beginning to show, possibly including minor creases. Corners may be blunted. Inks are generally bright with a moderate reduction in reflectivity. Stamped or inked arrival dates may be present. Minor foxing. The slightest spine roll may be present, as well as a possible moderate color break. Staples may show some discoloration. Slight staple tears and a small accumulation of light stress lines may be present. Slight rust migration. Paper is cream to tan. Centerfold is mostly secure. Minor interior tears at the margin may be present.

I don't have the book in hand yet, but the graders notes are just generic nonsense.