Collectors Who Really Prefer Low Grade? 3 3

[Happy Noodle Boy]

I'm curious--I know there are plenty of collectors who live by the "low grade is better than no grade" mantra, but in those cases they buy low grade books simply because they're (much) cheaper. But are there any collectors who actually prefer the aesthetic of low grade books? I sometimes think a Bronze Age book in fine condition, with plenty of spine ticks, is more appealing than a copy of that same book that looks new off the rack. The defects give the book a kind of patina, a sense of history. This is a book that someone has read. 

(This existential collecting crisis brought to you by my continued obsessive concern over incredibly slight corner damage in 9.4 - 9.6 books, which is imperceptible when not looking at a blown up photograph.)

[Hudson]

I cannot say that I "prefer" a low grade book over a higher grade copy, however, I do like and appreciate a well loved book.  As such I buy books in all grade ranges and appreciate them for what they offer (sometimes a pristine look and sometimes a well read look).

Of course, it appears you may be talking about 9.4 vs 9.6 on some bronze age book, where I am talking about maybe a golden age book in the 4.0 range (not a rag, but clearly well read and loved by someone over the years).

Thanks for your post.  It was well thought out and a great quesiton.

[DougC]

I collect a lot of golden age romance/teen humor (millie, tessie, nellie, showgirls) so I am probably bias as generally the only option is low grade.

For the sole purpose of "collecting" to have, especially raw books I prefer low grade examples. It allows me the luxury to handle them without concern of nicking a corner and destroying value. Leafing through a 1940s comic just has a nice feeling.

Slabs is a different story though as I "collect" them for eventual value. Years ago when hunting down my Millie #2 for a Ken Bald sig I was very lucky to find one that graded out to 7.0 which is "high grade" as IIRC the only two 8.0s are pedigrees.

[Robot Man]

I am of the “low grade is better than no grade” school of thought. I collect rare and very hard to get WWII books, pre-code horror, GGA ect. Sometimes low grade is my only option. There is always the possibility to upgrade later. Although prices have made it hard.

I don’t prefer low grade but in many cases I can live with it. I also prefer raw books I can open and check out. I have everything from coverless to Mile High peds. I know how to handle them and have at least carefully paged through every one.

I also collect old toys. I do much prefer a nice 1930’s vehicle toy with some paint chips and wear to a mint or restored one. Gives them patina and shows the love they were given over a long period of time. 

[Ken Aldred]

I’d never be happy with a low grade beater copy. Too OCD to go there and be constantly tempted to upgrade. I understand my neuroses too well, accept my flaws.

Edited June 7 by Ken Aldred

[MattTheDuck]

Unlike a lot of posters on here who are my age, I bought 99.9% of my Silver Age comics at an LCS.  Only a tiny handful of these books would grade out at 6.0 or above. I was more of a completest in those days - I wanted every ASM, FF, etc - quality was completely secondary. I liked to read them, as they were intended.

The Silver Age books I buy today are 99.9% FN/VF or above but I'll never love them as much as those books I bought in my early teens.  I've upgraded some of my "original" books and I'm trying to figure out if I can face moving those books on to new homes. I buy low-grade "reader" copies when the only copy I have is slabbed.

[Sigur Ros]

I love the low grades.

I fact, much of my collection is big time grails with missing covers.

And all the other pages missing too.

It's an impressive collection if I do say so myself.

[grendelbo]

With key books from any era I too am of the thought that any grade is better than no grade. I would still prefer the book to be presentable but even that is not a deal breaker. Ever seen my copy of FF1?

Spoiler

If it's Copper or newer I'd prefer my books to be VF or better. For Bronze or older books I actually think the FN range is the sweet spot. I enjoy handling and browsing and reading my books. In this grade range I can do so without any worry of damaging an issue. There's also something aesthetically pleasing for me for older books that are FN or lower. I expect old comics to have had a journey before they ended up in my collection. Love equals wear in many cases.

[Hudson]

Nice FF1.  I would be happy to own that.

I would also be happy to have an Action 1 that looked like that, and display it proudly.

[Robot Man]

I love high grade, slabbed books as much as anyone else. They are freaks of nature. It amazes me that they made it through the passage of time unscathed. But, they are unfulfilled. No one read them, loved them and enjoyed what they had to offer. Kind of sad in a way.

Super high grade slabbed books are kind of unfulfilling to me. All you got is a front and back cover. There might as well be nothing in between. After I marvel over the beauty of the art, all I can do is turn them over and pick them apart for their physical condition. I quickly get bored with the experience.

Now if a two sided only object such as a coin or a sports card, is in a slab is in my hand, I get the full experience this object had to offer and I am fine with that. With a comic, I guess I just feel cheated.

But, to each his own…

[Robot Man]

On 6/7/2024 at 8:32 AM, grendelbo said:

With key books from any era I too am of the thought that any grade is better than no grade. I would still prefer the book to be presentable but even that is not a deal breaker. Ever seen my copy of FF1?

  Reveal hidden contents

If it's Copper or newer I'd prefer my books to be VF or better. For Bronze or older books I actually think the FN range is the sweet spot. I enjoy handling and browsing and reading my books. In this grade range I can do so without any worry of damaging an issue. There's also something aesthetically pleasing for me for older books that are FN or lower. I expect old comics to have had a journey before they ended up in my collection. Love equals wear in many cases.

Over the years the grade range I have preferred the most are 5.0-8.0. Very presentable and easy to handle and enjoy. Pricing was historicaly very reasonable as well. Less competition with collectors on both sides of the grading and pricing spectrum. Times have sure changed price wise as a lot of other folks have discovered this rationale.  

[DC#]

On 6/7/2024 at 8:32 AM, grendelbo said:

With key books from any era I too am of the thought that any grade is better than no grade. I would still prefer the book to be presentable but even that is not a deal breaker. Ever seen my copy of FF1?

  Hide contents

If it's Copper or newer I'd prefer my books to be VF or better. For Bronze or older books I actually think the FN range is the sweet spot. I enjoy handling and browsing and reading my books. In this grade range I can do so without any worry of damaging an issue. There's also something aesthetically pleasing for me for older books that are FN or lower. I expect old comics to have had a journey before they ended up in my collection. Love equals wear in many cases.

Looks like it could have White Pages!   

[ADAMANTIUM]

On 6/7/2024 at 10:32 AM, Sigur Ros said:

I love the low grades.

I fact, much of my collection is big time grails with missing covers.

And all the other pages missing too.

It's an impressive collection if I do say so myself.

[Hudson]

On 6/7/2024 at 11:36 AM, Robot Man said:

I love high grade, slabbed books as much as anyone else. They are freaks of nature. It amazes me that they made it through the passage of time unscathed. But, they are unfulfilled. No one read them, loved them and enjoyed what they had to offer. Kind of sad in a way.

Super high grade slabbed books are kind of unfulfilling to me. All you got is a front and back cover. There might as well be nothing in between. After I marvel over the beauty of the art, all I can do is turn them over and pick them apart for their physical condition. I quickly get bored with the experience.

Now if a two sided only object such as a coin or a sports card, is in a slab is in my hand, I get the full experience this object had to offer and I am fine with that. With a comic, I guess I just feel cheated.

But, to each his own…

It is this rational that made me believe when CGC first starting slabbing books that it would never last.   I thought, who would want a comic they couldn't look through or read (unlike coins as Bob pointed out - that all there is can be seen on two sides).  Boy, did I miss the boat on that one. 

As for preferred grade (if there is such a thing).  I think 4.0 - 6.0 is a nice mid point.  They have been read, but not totally destroyed.  They cost more than a rag, but you often do not have to sell a kdney to pick one up.  

[ADAMANTIUM]

On 6/7/2024 at 10:32 AM, grendelbo said:

With key books from any era I too am of the thought that any grade is better than no grade. I would still prefer the book to be presentable but even that is not a deal breaker. Ever seen my copy of FF1?

  Reveal hidden contents

If it's Copper or newer I'd prefer my books to be VF or better. For Bronze or older books I actually think the FN range is the sweet spot. I enjoy handling and browsing and reading my books. In this grade range I can do so without any worry of damaging an issue. There's also something aesthetically pleasing for me for older books that are FN or lower. I expect old comics to have had a journey before they ended up in my collection. Love equals wear in many cases.

[LowGradeBronze]

I've had really high grade books that I've protected and worried about getting damaged and you know what? I never look at them other than carefully, without removing from the bag. I get virtually no real pleasure from them other than a theoretical knowledge that I have a high grade copy. They are almost a liability. When I've bought a lower grade copy so I can handle the thing and sit and enjoy the art and the smell, guess what? That's the copy I'd keep if push came to shove. I have far more attachment to the lower grade copy. I like a 6.0 or a 7.0 for my undercopy but get so much pleasure from my 5.0s and 4.0s that they are my go to copies. The high grade ones are like file copies I rarely refer to now. 

Edited June 7 by LowGradeBronze

[Robot Man]

On 6/7/2024 at 9:01 AM, LowGradeBronze said:

I've had really high grade books that I've protected and worried about getting damaged and you know what? I never look at them other than carefully, without removing from the bag. I get virtually no real pleasure from them other than a theoretical knowledge that I have a high grade copy. They are almost a liability. When I've bought a lower grade copy so I can handle the thing and sit and enjoy the art and the smell, guess what? That's the copy I'd keep if push came to shove. I have far more attachment to the lower grade copy. I like a 6.0 or a 7.0 but get so much pleasure from my 5.0s and 4.0s that they are my go to copies. The high grade ones are like file copies I rarely refer to now. 

There is always the rationale to have a reader when you have a high grade copy. That way you can read and enjoy the book for what it really is. Digital just doesn’t cut it for me. 

[grendelbo]

Gosh, I don't think I have any reader copies. I do have reprints and facsimiles of a few keys that I own. I've also never upgraded. So much of my collecting was in New Mexico and prior to the Internet and eBay and the like, regional scarcity was a thing. It was hard finding anything noteworthy and I took what I could get and moved on to the next lucky find. I could upgrade now but again, condition doesn't really matter all that much to me. I'd rather spend my money on something new.

[Happy Noodle Boy]

I'm by no means a 9.8 label collector, but I do like books that look minty. I don't mind a few spine ticks, but for whatever reason, corner damage really activates my OCD. Torn or crushed corners just really look awful to me. I spent far too long this morning looking for a copy of Madame Xanadu #1 online that looked reasonably minty-- 9.2 - 9.6 range let's say-- with nice corners, and couldn't find one that my OCD could live with. (That black cover really shows off corner damage.) It's situations like this that make me question my approach to collecting.  Maybe just get everything in Fine and call it a day. Would I be happier? Maybe. (But then what do I do with all the Near Mint books I collected previously? OCD sucks.) 

And then there are miswraps... 

[LowGradeBronze]

We have a string across the wall of the living room for birthday and christmas cards. It's there year round and I've taken to hanging a selection of comics in their bags by clothes pegs on it. I rotate the display maybe once a week. I had ASM 41 to 49 hanging up until yesterday and now I have a run of FF84 to 93. I wouldn't be able to enjoy high grade copies in this carefree way, I'd be risking too much damage.