While the overstreet comic book price guide helps you learn about comic values, this third book in our new how to line teaches you the importance of condition a factor that is often the key to real collectability and how to grade accurately. Official overstreet comic book price guide companion sc 1988 2nd edition. The overstreet guide to grading comics 2016 edition comics. Very good vg, overstreet 5435 generally, this condition represents the average used comic book, one that has not been taken care of.
I did put this book up for sale where you were talking about with 3 pictures. While the overstreet comic book price guide helps you. One or two minor markings on the cover or minor spine roll are allowed. Blumberg, has set the standard for grading the condition of comic books. Gemstone publishing, inc the overstreet guide to grading comics. Since i dont do this fulltime, i try to rely on knowledge gained over the years, and resources like the overstreet comic book grading guide or this 10 point grading tutorial on the heritage auction site. Guys a 100 point system is no different than a 10 point system. This grade should have no corner or impact creases, stress marks should be almost invisible, and bindery tears must be less than 116 inch. The standard comic book grading system that is widely used today is the one developed in the official overstreet comic book grading guide. The official overstreet comic book grading guide by robert m. Wouldnt a collective voice from a respected grading authority like overstreet, expressing the types of concerns about grading listed above and others, be welcomed by cgc and make them and the industry better for it. The overstreet guide to grading comics 4th edition vs 5th. The ten point grading scale, as published, represents the new overstreet grading scale. Nm near mint vf very fine fn fine vg very good gd good fr fair pr poor the tenpoint grading scale assigns grades ranging from 10.
Its recommended to avoid restoring silver age comics, apart from key issues, due to their relative availability. Grading guide pgx comics pgx comic grading services. The overstreet guide to grading comics latest edition. The basic grading scale, also known as letter grades, uses the grades from near mint highest to poor lowest. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. The 2 reputable thirdparty professional grading services both begin with c use the same scale, but not exactly the same criteria, but overstreet has collaborated with them for their newest grading guide. The official overstreet comic book grading guide, 3rd. Books that have been encapsulated and certified by an objective thirdparty grading service take the guesswork out of the grading process for both collectors and dealers. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. The price guide will help you do just that and is an indispensable tool in the comic book collectors arsenal. Overstreet founded the overstreet comic book price guide in 1970. Our grading standards are based on the standards laid out in the overstreet grading guide with additional experience gained from our. These designations are only used for the purpose of authentication. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide.
With new expanded information, it remains the definitive reference for industrystandard comic book grading. Numerous collectors and comic fans will purchase coverless comics to either read or to obtain a filler copy of a book for their collection. Tony, i actually have been really, working hard on this grading thing and have in fact been using the official overstreet comic book grading guide very closely. This applies mainly to silver age comics, as noted earlier. Bindery chips, a common defect in golden age comics, are considered printing defects, and are relatively acceptable in the market. Its full of pictures and examples of different defects and affect on grade.
Newly updated, the overstreet guide to grading comics includes the 10point grading system, as well as exhaustive descriptions of primary and split grades, examples of each grade with more than 200 fullcolor images in all, articles on storage, preservation, and restoration, a look at the independent, thirdparty grading companies, and much more. Egs grades comics by the strict standards provided in the industryreputable overstreet comic book grading guide. We have values for any marvel, dc, image, idw, darkhorse, or dell comic book that is in your collection. Every collector should also own and be familiar with overstreet s grading guide. Effective with the 4th edition, published in 2014, the overstreet comic book grading guide has been retitled as the overstreet guide to grading comics, and has been published in a new larger format. Do overstreet advisors ever get together to discuss the state of the comic industry. It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books, to discover a comic in these grades as they are virtually nonexistent. In the overstreet grading guide no bindery tears are allowed in 9. Buy the overstreet guide to grading comics 2016 edition 01 by overstreet, robert m. And they are great to look at years later, also, to see how grading has changed over time. The overstreet guide excluded the entire category of underground comix from its listings. Knowing how to use a price guide is a simple but important thing.
Avid comics collector brian pants christman and pro retailer chris eberle wildpig comics, kenilworth, nj. Mint we do not offer to sell comics in mint condition. To grade a comic, you need to take in to consideration a number of factors before being able to assess the correct grade. With new expanded information, it remains the definitive reference for industrystandard comic book grading procedures. The primary reason to grade a comic is that there is a direct correlation between the condition of the comic and the value of the book. Picture of the overstreet comic book grading guide 3rd edition. So if you want to know your stuff even better, you can buy the overstreet guide to grading comics on the publishers site at.
Being able to accurately grade could help you avoid some of the situations i ran into, or help you in spotting the differences from one. Please note that grading will always be an extremely subjective process and there will always be small differences in opinion. Also would it be a complete way of seeing keys throughout the book to know what is popular. Jun 14, 2018 for a more detailed look into each grade, consult the overstreet guide to grading comics, available at comic book shops, bookstores and online vendors. Overstreet, author of the officialr overstreet comic book price guide the book that set the standard for pricing comic books has now written the first and only book that sets the standard for grading the condition of comic books, which is the most important factor in determining its value. Then, the overstreet grading guide followed a 100 point scale. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Be sure to browse our site and see what else we have to offer. Fully updated, the illustrated companion volume to the official overstreet comic book price guide offers collectors detailed guidelines on how to grade the conditions of comic books, explaining a new tenpoint grading system and offering closeup photographs of comic books of every grade and condition. Egs was created to provide comic book enthusiasts with a superior customer service experience through a combination of factors an attentiveness to detail, transparency, and providing consistently accurate grades. The overstreet guide to grading comics 4th edition vs 5th edition podcast buy it on amazon. Comic book grading definitions classic comics, inc. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet.
The picture is of the actual picture of the book you will be receiving. The higher the grade of a comic book the higher the value. The comic book industry tenpoint grading scale ranges from 10. Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. Copies are available through all normal distribution channels or can be ordered direct from gemstone by.
Newly updated, the overstreet guide to grading comics includes the 10point grading system, as well as exhaustive descriptions of primary and split grades, examples of each grade with more than 200 fullcolor images in all, articles on storage, preservation, and restoration, a look at the. Our staff of friendly and dedicated employees offer over 250 years of experience in the comic book market place, and look forward to assisting you. The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics, original and animation art. Books that are coverless, but are otherwise complete, will receive a grade of 0. Pgx was created to meet the growing demand for professional, thirdparty comic book grading. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Comics price guide was the first online price guide for comic books back in 1995. The overstreet comic book price guide or official overstreet comic book price guide is an annually published comic book price guide widely considered the primary authority on the subject of american comic book grading and pricing in the hobbyindustry. While the overstreet comic book price guide is the foundation of our company, our coverage of popculture collectibles is much more expansive. In the officialrm overstreet comic book grading guide, overstreet. The younger a comic, the less likely the book will increase in value significantly from restoration. We closely monitor and calibrate our staff to maintain adherence to our established standards. A major drawback to comic book grading is that there is a fairly wellused convention that is highly misunderstood and misused by casual collectors or noncollectors. The official overstreet comic book grading guide by robert. The best possible existing condition of that comic book. Overstreet 2003, paperback at the best online prices at ebay.
Generally, this condition represents the average used comic book, one that has not been taken care of. Feb 10, 2017 the overstreet guide to grading comics 4th edition vs 5th edition podcast buy it on amazon. Iconic comics grading is based on the overstreet grading guide. For each sale discovered, we match it to the specific comic in our massive database which also includes variant covers and printings. Comic book grading concept comic book grading appears in 46 issues.
Since 1970, the name overstreet has symbolized a vast knowledge of american comic books. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. This book is a great tool for comic book aficionados, but i cant recommend it for anyone who doesnt know at least a little about grading comic books already. Third edition is most current, but even a second edition would get you going in the right direction. Comic book grading the journal of antiques and collectibles. Due to the nature of paper, discoloration is expected over time. It quickly established itself as the bible of comic book dealers, collectors, and historians. Overstreet sells a grading guide, you need to go buy one and start there. The overstreet guide to grading comics includes the 10point grading system including new grades 0. Last week i received my overstreet guide to grading comics 2015 edition from amazon. There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easytofollow comic grading guide for the novice.
These comics show moderate wear but eye appeal has not been reduced to the point that the comic ceases to be collectible. One of the most important aspects of investing in comics is the ability to spot a mid grade comic book that has the potential to become a high grade comic book. Bails extensive notes, supplemented by overstreet s study of dealer listings, became a backbone to the overstreet comic book price guide. For one thing, i dont think any grading company could grade consistently with the 100 point system. Restored silver age comics also do not rise in value as much as a restored golden age comic. The official overstreet comic book grading guide by. For a more detailed look into each grade, consult the overstreet guide to grading comics, available at comic book shops, bookstores and online vendors.
The overstreet guide to grading comics 2016 edition. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. Jan 14, 2003 the ultimate authority delivers the right grade every time grading comic books is the key to successful comic book collecting, and now the leading expert on comic books, robert m. Ed designed this chart in 1996 as a rule for grading pricing. Official overstreet comic book price guide companion sc 1990 4th edition. Only very minute printing and bindery defects or the most barely noticeable handling defects present.
The overstreet short for overstreet comic book price guide and overstreet comic book grading guide is one of the largest and most trusted names in comic book grading and appraisal. Official overstreet comic book price guide companion sc 1989 3rd edition. Pgx utilizes the overstreet comic book grading guide in its definitions of condition. As condition evaluators and restoration detection experts, the professionals at pgx have spent decades inspecting multiple copies of a wide variety of comics from every era. We monitor the fire hose of online comic book sales across various marketplaces and report on the sales of cgc and cbcs graded books in our comics price guide. The thing that has changed most over time is how refined the grading scale has become. We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. Like how there used to be a 100 point grading system. The newest edition may have slightly different definitions than on this page, as these are from 20112014. Special thanks to our comic grading advisor steve borock, president of cbsc comic book certification service, former heritage auctions consignment director and former cgc presidentprimary grader. Draft grading standards now online for fine and above.
Armed with this knowledge and a good understanding of the market, you should be able to make an informed decision about restoration. While the official overstreet comic book prize guide helps you learn about comic values, this third book in gemstones new how to line teaches you the importance of condition a factor that is often key to real collectability. Gemstone publishing, inc the overstreet comic book grading. The overstreet guide to grading comics book san francisco. The book pretty much summarizes all the checking points in determining the value of a comic book, and provides extensive comic book grading scale and descriptions for each grading level. From our humble beginnings, we have grown to the largest, most complete comic book price guide with well over 1,000,000 comics in our database. For much more information on grading and restoration, as well as photographs of many major defects and conditions, consult the official overstreet comic book grading guide. The premier online comics price guide free comic book values.