PGM Fantastic Four 122 0

[Engr62]

This book was going to be in my yearly submission of 4 or 5 books for my auto-renewed membership.  But now, I'm afraid to have them damaged due to the warped inner wells.  What grade do you think this FF 122 would get?  Thanks for looking.

[marvelmaniac]

Slight blunting of corners, top edge is not trimmed properly, cover wrap is not properly centered (as seen on the rear cover), slight foxing along outer edge of rear cover.

IMO...VF+ 8.5

 

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.

[scburdet]

9.2 give or take

[Lninefingers]

9.2ish

[ROBTOTHEC]

On 8/26/2024 at 12:14 PM, marvelmaniac said:

Slight blunting of corners, top edge is not trimmed properly, cover wrap is not properly centered (as seen on the rear cover), slight foxing along outer edge of rear cover.

IMO...VF+ 8.5

 

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.

You have a good eye but I think you may be putting too much emphasis on the cover being centered, or the top/bottom being cut properly.  CGC does not mark down at all for that as evidenced by their grading. 

See some examples I have included.  I am also in the 9.2 boat with this book and a shot at 9.4!!  SWEET copy!! 

[marvelmaniac]

On 8/27/2024 at 9:47 PM, ROBTOTHEC said:

You have a good eye but I think you may be putting too much emphasis on the cover being centered, or the top/bottom being cut properly.  CGC does not mark down at all for that as evidenced by their grading. 

IMO, off center/mistrimmed books lose their aesthetic appeal depending on the severity, that is why folks always say...Buy The Book, Not The Grade".

To explain, I am old school and continue to use the grading standards that I have been using for 40 years (Overstreet/Heritage), when folks ask to have a book graded they are getting my opinion based on what I see and what the grading standards that I use specify for the defects found, I am not CGC and I have no idea how CGC determines grades, what/how much they deduct for and what they let slide (which seems to change constantly), they are in business to make money, I am not.

I would rather undergrade a book than overgrade a book, MCS is well known for under grading books which is great for the buyer, if you purchase a book from MCS that they have graded at a VF 8.0, you send it to CGC, it comes back at VF/NM 9.0, are you happy or sad?

[thehumantorch]

9.0 to 9.2

This era of FF doesn't get enough love.  

[Engr62]

On 8/28/2024 at 2:30 PM, thehumantorch said:

This era of FF doesn't get enough love.  

John Buscema's initial run on the Fantastic Four--which began with issue 107 and ran through issue 141--is one of my favorite periods.  I love the 120-123 story arc.

[ROBTOTHEC]

On 8/28/2024 at 12:32 PM, marvelmaniac said:

IMO, off center/mistrimmed books lose their aesthetic appeal depending on the severity, that is why folks always say...Buy The Book, Not The Grade".

To explain, I am old school and continue to use the grading standards that I have been using for 40 years (Overstreet/Heritage), when folks ask to have a book graded they are getting my opinion based on what I see and what the grading standards that I use specify for the defects found, I am not CGC and I have no idea how CGC determines grades, what/how much they deduct for and what they let slide (which seems to change constantly), they are in business to make money, I am not.

I would rather undergrade a book than overgrade a book, MCS is well known for under grading books which is great for the buyer, if you purchase a book from MCS that they have graded at a VF 8.0, you send it to CGC, it comes back at VF/NM 9.0, are you happy or sad?

Sounds like we are around the same age and same time collecting.  Like you for years if a book was noticeably off center I would not grade it above a VF+.  So I was baffled to see these books getting 9.4, 9.6, etc...  I assumed at some point they just figured off center covers were a printing defect that was common and stopped down grading for that??  The same thing with someone writing their name or dates on the cover.  I used to down grade for that but CGC seems to have accepted that as the norm for that time period.  

[JollyComics]

I am sure this book has some light wear.  It's safe to give it NM- 9.2.