Showcase 4 First Flash CGC 2.5

[FlyingDonut]

Howdy:

 

This is the nicest 2.5 I've ever seen - I've taken a good gander at it as I camethisclose to buying it "raw" about a month ago. For your review!

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=728068994

[Crowzilla]

Looks like it has a water stain (can lightly see it in the white strip),

which is probably the main reason for the low grade.

 

Sean

 

[jimjum12]

is it just me, or do books with water stains generally seem to have whiter pages?

[aardvark88]

SOME may have whiter pgs but u can smell the humidity in the pgs of raw bks w/ rusty staples. After slabbing, the scent shoul not be a problem anymore.

[Guest]

Excellent observation. Page color is usually dependent upon environmental storage factors. The two favorite storage places in a home for comics boxed or stacked and forgotten about are the attic, and the basement. The basement is cool and has a tendency to be moist. This moisture is absorbed by the porous composition of the paper stored within that atmospheric condition. The staples have a tendency to rust as well, but the paper usually retains it's white coloration although the absorption of this moisture gives the book the same effect as if water damaged, but to an overall appearance. Books that are attic stored endure arid, dry temperatures that are usually 20 to 50 degrees hotter (dependent on ambient radiation of sunlight through insulated or uninsulated attic ceilings and the time of year). The pages tan easily with the progression of time as a drying, heating effect is imparted by the atmospheric conditions present in attic storage.

[PovertyRow]

although the absorption of this moisture gives the book the same effect as if water damaged

 

Meth - could you elaborate on this? I always thought that water damage is characterized by dirt, inks, etc migrating along the water to the edges and settling there, causing a rim of darker staining encompassing a lighter area.

[drbanner]

Water damage from liquid water actually getting on the book results in the "high tide" marks you're referring to. Meth is referring to a book being stored in a humid environment where the book is exposed to water vapor, and slowly absorbs the water into the paper. In this scenario, you won't see the high tide marks, but the staples may rust, the book may have foxing/mildew, and the book may also get a "wavy" appearance....

[PovertyRow]

In this scenario, you won't see the high tide marks, but the staples may rust, the book may have foxing/mildew, and the book may also get a "wavy" appearance....

 

Thanks. I figured as much but have never seen "water damage" described that way. It is more "humidity damage" - and yeah - humidity is a form of water (vaporous).

[Mister_Comics]

I've noticed; certain books even graded low still look pretty good in the holders. Just my own observation. This is one of them.

[Guest]

This is why it's VERY difficult to assess CGC's rationale on every grade when something appears to be over or undercooked gradewise. CGC graders had the opportunity to see and FEEL the book OUTSIDE the slab. We're looking at scans that are removed from our "tactile" sense FOUR times over. The scanner glass, the monitor glass, and the double layer of CGC's slab plastic. In hand, the book is STILL twice removed, just the two layers of plastic. On occassion I've bought a 6.5 or 7.0 that looked like a GROSS error. No MENTION of a textural defect on the book and impossible to really dissect through the double plastic. Upon unslabbing to see why an obvious 9.0 to 9.2 received a 6.5, once UNSLABBED, the reason was all too apparent. Waviness, moisture damage, a powdery feel to the covers rather than a slick feel, etc. Some gradings ARE deceptive due to environmental storage considerations that may NOT be notated on the label.

[FlyingDonut]

again, I've held/flipped through/smelled this book. I am VERY conservative in grading, and I thought it would be a 3.5-4.0. It is really nice.

[Darthdiesel]

did it have that "not-so-fresh-feeling" kind of smell? eeewwww!