Comic book bindery defects

It has not accumulated enough total defects to reduce eye appeal to the point that it is not a desirable copy. A heavy fold in the paper that can break the color of any comic book art. The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. A comic book in this grade shows some wear, can have a reading or center crease or a moderately rolled spine. This method has no impact on the inner margin of the original comic books, and lays flat when opened. The newer frontier in comic binding is custom covers. We maintain a wide selection of golden age, silver age, and bronze age comics and collectibles.

Only the most subtle binding andor printing defects allowed. A comic book in this grade has the appearance of having been carefully handled. May 16, 2014 the binding process tends to remove many of the defects that might lower the grade of a comic. Mylartm an inert, very hard, space age plastic used to make high quality protective bags and sleeves used for comic book storage. Issues such as spine roll or creases, rusty staples, and small edge tears or creases can be handled. Pages and covers can be yellowishtannish at the least but not brown. I like the double covers, but dont like the trim errors. Another option is to have the minicomic sewnglued at the appropriate spot in the book asis. They print it and your bound volume comes out looking like a professional book youd see in the store. I received a book that had an inside page ripped and folded into the book and you could see the page ear near the back of the book. The best possible existing condition of a comic book.

Includes mistrimmingcutting, miswrapping cover overlaps front or back too much or at an. All stress marks should be almost invisible and bindery tears must be less than 116 inch. Glossary of grading terms bend when part of a comic is curved, interrupting the flat, smooth cover surface. Nearly perfect with a minor additional virtue or virtues that raise it from near mint. Good refers to a comic book that isnt missing any pages or cover with only small pieces missing on the inside of the book, scuffed, soiled but fully readable. Sometimes your favorite comics never get collected into a nice hardcover.

Minor to moderate cover wear apparent, with minor to moderate creases andor dimples. How do you guys feel about factory defects in comics. While we cannot guarantee that a book graded twice will receive the same grade. Another option is to have the mini comic sewnglued at the appropriate spot in the book asis. When part of a comic book usually an edge has been exposed to dust particles over an extended period of time it creates a dark stripe. No bindery tears are allowed, although on golden age books bindery tears of 18 have been noted.

Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading. The binding process tends to remove many of the defects that might lower the grade of a comic. The overriding considerations were that a comic book in near mint have only minor imperfections, and that it exhibit the characteristics of being as if it were just purchased from the newsstand, and read once or twice. Only very minute printing and bindery defects or the most barely noticeable handling defects present. Jun 14, 2018 an aboveaverage but wellused comic book. Several factors should be considered before a grade is assigned to a comic bookmagazine. A third option is have the bindery create a small pocket in the back to insert the minicomic. The overriding considerations were that a comic book in near mint have only minor imperfections, and that it exhibit the characteristics of being as if. We pride ourselves on carefully selecting the right process for every comic book submitted to us. A limited accumulation of minor bindery printing defects is allowed. Gmart term describing a comic book that is generally acceptable to a collector, meaning well cared for, no major defects, and only minor defects appropriate for the age of the book. Blunted corners are increasingly common, as is minor to moderate. Books in this condition pre1980 are virtually nonexistent.

This weeks column is a continuation of my series on comic book grading standards. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. However, please note that comic book grading is subjective and each grader might vary slightly on the grade they would give a comic. Then there are the comics which arent minicomics but slightly smaller. Back to top an aboveaverage but well used comic book. Use the guidelines below to help assess and grade your collection. Corners are sharp and square, cover inks are bright and reflective, spine is tight and flat, staples are centered, pages.

During this evaluation, if your comic is deemed to be too fragile to safely undergo pressing, it will be rejected at this point at no cost to you. Cloud 9 grades comics based on the overstreet price guides grading structure in combination with the standards set by cgc. Basically, you create a graphic file for the frontback covers and spine and email it to the bindery. Permanent folding, resulting in a visible line on the comic itself. Issues such as spine roll or creases, rusty staples. Black cover black covers tend to show creasing, fading, scuffing, and color. Bends will not show distinct lines see also creasefold. Bindery a defect caused during the process of printing and assembeling the book color flecking small spots of color are missing from the art work. These raw books are then taken to the bindery where they get the cover attached to the body, stapled, and trimmed. Fits the criteria for fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the book s appearance by a perceptible amount. Comic has the original staples and they are centered, clean and without rust. Fits the criteria for fine but with an additional defect or small accumulation of defects that detracts from the books appearance by a perceptible amount. Cbcs has several pressing processes as not all comics or defects are created the same.

Overall a clean, flat copy that may have some of the following defects. Some discoloration, fading, and even minor soiling. Cover is relatively flat with minimal surface wear beginning to show, possibly including some minute wear at corners. Bindery corner small, triangular spine corner tears that occur during binding. Comic book grading the journal of antiques and collectibles. A spine split of up to 23 the length of the book, a missing back cover provided the front cover is still attached, severe water damage or residue damage. Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading comic. Bindery defect defects associated with the binding process, including mistrimming, miswrapping, inaccurate stapling, etc. Only subtle bindery or printing defects are allowed. Tales from the database mile high comics, chuck rozanski.

Comic books in pr condition may be missing up to 4 pages two spreads of story pages or display severe damage that affects the readability of the book. Jan 11, 2012 the newer frontier in comic binding is custom covers. Custom comic book hardcovers bound by houchen bindery. Minor, very subtle printing defects tiny bindery chips are allowed. The slightest bindery defects andor printing flaws may be seen only upon very. Type of dent located on one of the corners of a book. An accumulation of bindery printing defects is allowed. The slightest bindery defects andor printing flaws may be seen only upon very close inspection. Multiple bindery staples bindery defect in which the comic book is stapled additional times unnecessarily.

Volumes will be over sewn, acid free endpapers added, volumes finishedtrimmed, rounded and backed, and spine will be reinforced with stretch cloth. A small horizontal rip in a comics cover that can usually be. Custom bound comic book binding has grown significantly over the last four years for houchen bindery ltd. Very small piece missing from corner or very slight edge chipping, moderate cover shine, moderate to minor creases or dents, corners blunted, discolored staples, store stamps andor arrival dates on cover, very small interior page tears, spine split or color break less than. A comic book is this grade has the appearance of having been carefully handled. We receive new orders nearly every day ranging from a. A comic book in fr condition may have nonstory elements such as coupons, ad pages, or marvel value stamps cut or torn out of the book. In fact, in several instances, multiple defects were allowed on a single book without it falling out of the near mint category. Bindery corner tiny corner nick normal wavy surface along spine for perfectbound books. A defect that appears as a dark stripe along an edge of a comic book cover.

Various defects caused during the manufacturing of the comic. The overall look is as if it has never been handled or released for purchase. Black cover black covers tend to show creasing, fading, scuffing, and color loss defects more clearly than lighter colored ones. A limited accumulation of minor binderyprinting defects is allowed. As with most collectibles, with comic books condition is king. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books. A third option is have the bindery create a small pocket in the back to insert the mini comic. General comic grading guidelines from the overstreet comic price guide 10. An accumulation of binderyprinting defects is allowed. Bindery tears must be less than 116 on silver age and later books, although on golden age books bindery tears of. Dale roberts comics buys and sells comic books from the 1930s current. A comic in this grade shows some wear, can have a reading or center crease or a moderately rolled spine, but has not accumulated enough total defects to reduce eye appeal to the point that it is not a desirable copy. How to grade your comics comic book grading labels.

Slight bindery defect off center printing tiny spine. Still a desirable copy that has been handled with some care. Bindery trimming defect taxonomy comic is not cuttrimmed correctly at the bindery. For modern comic books this translates roughly to nmvf, while for 1960s comic books this translates roughly to vg. Very good refers to an average comic book that shows some wear, has a slight crease, not enough defects to reduce eye appeal and having some minor fading or discoloration. Mar 29, 2019 very good refers to an average comic book that shows some wear, has a slight crease, not enough defects to reduce eye appeal and having some minor fading or discoloration. An extremely exceptional comic with only very minute printing or bindery defects. It is very rare especially in older comic books pre1990 to discover a comic in either mint or gem mint condition.