Six reasons why you should get comics graded cgc, cbcs. Jan 09, 2017 i have used both cgc and cbcs with good results on both. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards. Dealer listing certified guaranty company, llc cgc comics.
The higher the grade of a comic book the higher the value. Comic book grading, certification process cbcs comics. Cgc employees are prohibited from commercially buying or selling comic books, eliminating any potential conflicts of interest. In fact, ive been known to buy lower grade cgc comics with what i think are cool covers just so i can have them displayed on my wall. Cgc employees are prohibited from commercially buying or selling comic books, eliminating any potential conflicts of. To qualify, the book must still be encapsulated in its original cgc holder. Jul 16, 2014 a few weeks ago, i attended a local comic convention here in vancouver and i heard about the new company comic book certification service. Today, cgc is the worlds largest and most trusted thirdparty grading service for comics, magazines, concert posters and related collectibles with more than 5 million collectibles certified since 2000.
Breaking open a cgc comic and why cgc is a scam youtube. 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. Cgc also partners with local and internet dealers, to make submitting your book for grading easier and more convenient. The product quality is great, there are a variety of labels that meet the conditions of different books, and their reputation is great. Having someone else grade your comic book can actually increase the value of it, but wont do too much if the comic is a dud. Participants can display their cgccertified comics in predefined competitive sets, where theyll receive a point value associated with scarcity, desirability and. Grading process certified guaranty company, llc cgc comics.
May 19, 2016 a color touch is exactly what the name implies a color has been touched up by a third party. The cgc comics holder is made of stateoftheart materials and is designed to meet the needs and demands of comic book collectors. Is it worth getting comic books graded at cgc or pgx. 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.
For a long time, cgc was the premier comic book grading company. With the permission of cgc we are using their standards. The grades are not averaged together, the head grader determines the final grade. Or, you might see if your local comic book shop can do it as well. Well, it appears there is another thirdparty comic book grading company trying to establish credibility in the comic book industry. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards.
Pgx entered the market shortly thereafter beginning in 2002. This allows it to provide impartial and accurate valuations of comic books without the concern of. Mar, 2017 most professional graders are college graduates. Somewhere along the way, someone thought that the ink on their book needed to look better, so they touched up the color. Then, they will put in a protective sleeve and seal it. Yes, the video includes parts of the cgc grading process.
One of the main comic book graders out there is cgc the comics guaranty company. Back in 2012 or so, i discovered graded comics from cgc comics guaranty corporation an independent third party that professionally grades a comic book and securely encapsulates said comic in a sealed plastic slab with a label that details key information and the actual grade of the comic whew, thats a mouthful. In this blog post i take a deep dive into all aspects of cgc grading in an effort to. However, both make a buyer a bit more secure for a buyer to buy a book or sell a book with a third party, professional grader than an unslabbed comic book.
A small variance in perception of what a restored copy is worth can mean a difference of thousands of dollars on high end comics see formulae above. Jun 21, 2017 the key question here is, is it worth it. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. Ive seen restored books that it was absolutely impossible to determine where the ct was at until you removed the book. We closely monitor and calibrate our staff to maintain adherence to our established standards. These comic grading services will grade a comic and then seal the comic in a hard plastic case that displays the assigned grade. How to submit books to cgc stepbystep process comic.
Jan 23, 2020 pgx is one of the cheapest companies to use to grade your comics. After your comics arrive at cgc, up to three graders will inspect your comic before a final grade is given. Grading your comic books guide revel in the detail comics. Such restorations should be noted upfront before attempting to sell a comic book.
Whether youre flipping through the comics in your collection or at the dollar bin at your local comic shop lcs, everyone wonders what their comics are worth. Additionally, some comics are slabbed by cgc, cbcs, or pgx. You can ship it to them or take it to a convention where they will be at and they will tell you what grade it is considered to be. Previously unknown rare comic books back from cgc grading storage wars. Comic grading professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade misrepresentations by providing a professional assessment of condition and quality. This company was started by steve borock, the former president of cgc so he definitely has some clout in the industry.
Paid collectors society members and authorized dealers can complete submission forms online and send collectibles directly to the cgc headquarters. Sep 26, 2017 heres what my comic books are worth after getting them graded by cgc at baltimore comic con 2017. The graders notes typically do not mention exactly where color touch is. We just got an amazing shipment of comics back from cgc grading. The regular collector now has a bargaining chip against weasel comic dealers who try to swindle. Cgc prides itself on being an impartial comic grading service that provides a professional and impartial assessment of your comics quality. Professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade misrepresentations by providing a professional assessment of condition and quality. Verify cgc certification a database of every comic book certified by cgc with grade and label description. How to clean and press comic books michael frederik sorensen, gregory defoor, deangelo long, john suter on. The variety of backgrounds that you meet and develop working relationships or even friendships with is broad.
Cgc will have representatives there so you can have your signed comics witnessed and given to them for slabbing. The graders look for damage and signs of restoration. When cgc graders examine a comic book or magazine, they often enter comments about the collectibles condition. However, there is no specific course for comic book grading, so most usually get a degree in some form of art for example, the primary grader for cgc has a bfa in photography and drawing from rutgers. Though comic book grading has been around for decades, it wasnt until 2000 that a new thirdparty grading service, cgc, burst onto the scene and revolutionized the comic book collecting industry.
One of the first steps cgc takes upon receipt of a book is the determination, made by a pregrader, as to whether a book has been restored. A few weeks ago, i attended a local comic convention here in vancouver and i heard about the new company comic book certification service. I love how they look and they also make great conversation starters for those who may not know what a graded comic book is. The roi is not as good as a cgc or cbcs but remember, a comic is only worth what someone else will pay for it. Ever wonder what those little tags are on some comic books. Most recently, cbcs joined the fray giving comic collectors a third option beginning in 2014. Comic grading once certified by cgc, a comic book is encapsulated in a stateofthe art, tamperevident holder, providing superior protection and stability for longterm preservation. The cgc the cgc is a group of grading specialists that validate comic books. Certified guaranty company, also known as cgc, is a sarasota, florida comic book grading service.
I do not own a pgx book but have heard that their cases are actually well made. In 2005, paul was named an overstreet grading advisor. In every field, collectors want exceptional value for their money the certified comic book field is no exception. Another popular choice is cbcs comic book certification services.
They might in this case mention front or back cover. In this video i highlight the stepbystep process to submit comic books to cgc for grading. Cgc is an independent member of the certified collectibles group of companies. Certified guaranty company cgc is a leading thirdparty grading service for comic books, magazines and other collectibles. After buying a few graded comics on ebay and starting my own certified. This 156 page field guide and training manual is a musthave for any comic book collector. 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.
Its apparent that fostering customer relations is the companys top priority. Once certified by cgc, a comic book is encapsulated in a stateofthe art, tamperevident holder, providing superior protection and stability for longterm preservation. The learn to grade comic books course is the most comprehensive course of its kind. Generally an original book will be of more value than a restored book. Introduction to cgc grading for new comic book collectors duration. Of all the factors to consider, your comics condition is key. Kapow is the only comic shop in colorado springs that is a dealer who can directly submit books for grading with cgc certified guaranty corporation and. Cgc grader notes read notes and grading explanations inputted by cgc graders for many comic. When restoration is detected, it is fully noted on the certification. Color touches are usually on the cover of a comic book, and rarely on the inside of a comic book. It is the first independent and impartial third party grading service for comic books the company was launched in early 2000 and has since gone on to become a notable part of the comic book collecting community. Everything you need to know about submitting comic books.
I live in the vegas area and our local comic book store torpedo comics is hosting a yearlong signing event to rival most comic cons. Cgc comics guaranty company is a business that will grade your comic book for you, for a price. Even though youd think cgc should have comic grading in it it actually stands for certificate guaranty company. Today, cgc is the worlds largest and most trusted thirdparty grading service for comics, magazines, concert posters and related collectibles. Get the best deals on cgc collectible comics when you shop the largest online selection at. Jun 30, 2018 if so, be sure to check out this video where i give you a few things to consider. Cbcs offers impartial grading and certification for comic books. Comic book certification service cbcs was started by professional comic book hobbyists and provides certification and grading services for collectors and. Back to top the younger a comic, the less likely the book will increase in value significantly from restoration. Working with all eras of comic books gave paul wideranging knowledge of variants, printings and manufacturing defects as well as restoration detection and pedigree recognition.
Now there is an easy way to identify comic books with higher visual appeal than others assigned the same numerical grade by cgc simply look for the cva exceptional sticker. Restoration is the treatment that returns a comic book to a known or assumed state through the addition of nonoriginal material for aesthetic enhancement. This means that the roi can be equal to or greater depending on the buyer. Cgc was the very first company to grade and slab comic books beginning in 2000. The grade assigned to the book should not change, unless any damage occurred postencapsulation, in which case the grade will be adjusted accordingly. For each sale discovered, we match it to the specific comic in our massive database which also includes variant covers and printings.
Finally, i personally use my cgc graded comics as display pieces in my officemancave. Located in florida, cgc, which claims to grade over 100,000 comic books annually, is unique among grading services because it doesnt allow its employees to commercially buy or sell comic books. Well if you ever wanted to get more information on comic book grading or how to get your comic graded by the cgc, youre at the right place now. Very experienced hobbyist and a vast knowledge of comics and the comic industry. Certified guaranty company cgc revolutionized the comic book marketplace when it was founded in 2000 by providing clear, objective and impartial assessments of authenticity and grade.
The rookie collector time to grade your comics, who to. Certified comic shop high grade cgc comic books for sale. If so, be sure to check out this video where i give you a few things to consider. There are four ways for collectors to submit their comics for grading.
We have taken every precaution to safely house your comic books while in our care. This gave paul the valued versatility to wear any hat the cgc grading team needs at any time. These grading services assign grades on the same tenpoint grading scale used by mycomicshop. Comics that are submitted to cgc are graded by professional graders on a 10 point scale and then sealed inside a hard plastic cotainer to prevent tampering. Note that the marketability of any comic book can change based on time, the popularity of the character or characters, collector demand, etc. This entry was posted in grading comic books and tagged cgc, grading. Display stands free delivery possible on eligible purchases. May 03, 2012 cgc, the certified guaranty company, announced a new service yesterday. Cream to offwhite paper that appears white or offwhite in the middle with aged outer edges, or exhibits an overall aged color that is more close to brown than white. Comic book cpr teaches awareness on proper comic book handling. Today, cgc is the worlds largest and most trusted thirdparty grading service for comics, magazines, concert posters and related collectibles with more than 6 million collectibles certified since 2000. Cgc labels a comic book it has identified as restored with a purple label.
This is evident in the companys presence at national comic conventions, on online forums, and appearances at local comic shops. Ive been helping comic collectors collect the comics they love since 2017. Cgc comics cgcs got graders onsite at keystone comic. Books graded by cgc tend to hold the highest resale value. In some instances comics that were once viewed as scarce or rare on a local level are now more readily available via. Contact details for the cgc comic shop available 247 always. The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. From the moment your books enter into our facility they are handled with the upmost care by our highly trained professional staff. Sep 20, 2019 while this is not unlike other grading service providers, cgc seems to hold the top spot for having the best graders available and providing the most reliable and consistent grades and authentications. Contact details for the cgc comic shop available 247 the cgc comic shop are a uk based owner of american and british comic books. Six reasons why you should get comics graded cgc, cbcs, pgx. 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 a solid video for those new to collecting comic. The cgc comic shop, we are a buyer and seller of comics, cgc submission center, professional grader and valuer, cgc european agent, comic locating service.
The cgc comic registry is a free online community where collectors register and display their comics, interact with other collectors, and compete for awards and recognition. Mar 27, 2020 note that more sophisticated efforts to restore a comic book, such as color restoration or reglossing are often undetectable by amateur graders and sometimes even professionals, but can also have a negative effect on value if noticed by a potential buyer. Or, you might see if your local comic book shop can do. Jan 14, 2020 comic book nerds are a wide range of truly eclectic folks. In it, i walk you step by step through 27 comics at every grade level from 0. Cgc census detailed report of the comics, magazines and lobby cards graded by cgc, with the total number of cgccertified examples in each grade. Everything you need to know about submitting comic books to cgc. Grading your comic books guide revel in the detail.
The standard comic book grading system that is widely used today is the one developed in the official overstreet comic book grading guide. This book contains all of the vast information covered online at. This book has been requested a few times and i finally got around to creating this video. Furthermore, every cgc certified comic book undergoes a thorough restoration check by leading professionals during the certification process.
A few weeks ago, i attended a local comic convention here in. Call up your local ups store and tell them youre coming in with an order. If youre a full time comic book dealer, you may apply for membership as a cgc authorized member dealer. 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.
We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. Comic book grading part 1 certified guaranty company duration. Pgx was created to meet the growing demand for professional, thirdparty comic book grading. Learn the hidden underground secrets of cleaning and pressing comic books. With rare exception, comic books considered for the grade of 9. A comic book in a cgc holder is encapsulated in a new cgc holder. Previously unknown rare comic books back from cgc grading. 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.
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