Staple question 1 1

[JG91]

Hello,

Can anyone please tell me if discolored staples affect the grade of a book? I know CGC says discolored staples are allowed, but I've never seen any examples of discolored staples in graded books. I have a lot of 80's and 90's books that have staples with a mute grey coloring. Is this considered discoloration? If anyone can post photos of slabbed books with discolored staples, or supply any info on this, it'd really be appreciated.  Thanks!

[marvelmaniac]

Unfortunately grading is not black and white, there are lots of gray areas left to individual perception.

I am sure there are thousands of CGC graded books in the lower grades with rusty/degraded staples, books in the FR 1.0 to VG 4.0 are more than likely to have rusted/moderately discolored staples, any book even in higher grades unless it is brand new or has been stored in exacting environmental conditions will eventually have some sort of discolored staples (Moisture/Humidity + Metal = Discoloration/Rust). most new staples I have seen are bright silver, so anything other than that would be considered "discolored", then the question becomes, how severe, this is where the gray areas of grading begin, define "slightest/slight", "some", "minor", "may be", 

Slight - small in degree; inconsiderable.

Minor - lesser in importance, seriousness, or significance.

Some - an unspecified amount or number of.

May Be - Might be or could be

NM/MT 9.8 - Staples must be original, generally centered and clean with no rust.

NM+ 9.6 - Staples must be original, generally centered, with only the slightest discoloration.

NM 9.4 - Staples are generally centered; may have slight discoloration. 

VF 8.0 to NM- 9.2 - Staples may show some discoloration.

FN/VF 7.0 - Staples may show some discoloration. Slight rust migration.

VG/FN 5.0 to FN 6.0 - Staples may show minor discoloration. Minor rust migration. 

VG 4.0 - Staples may be discolored.

GD/VG 3.0 - Staples may be rusted or replaced, as well as some rust migration.

FR/GD 1.5 to GD 2.0 - Staples may be degraded, replaced or missing.

FR 1.0 - Staples may be missing or show rust and discoloration. 

Here are some pics of staple discoloration from different books/grades ranging from GD 2.0 to NM 9.4 (All Books Are Raw) which if any are slight, minor or some?