Grading of Condition

I've tried to be as honest as possible in making the gradings, but objectivitiy can be a problem (and I'm not a professional comic dealer). But on the whole I think I've made a pretty good job of it.

I've supplemented the grade with a star rating. This ranges from 'no stars' (Fair) to (Near Mint). Mint gets !

Overstreet's Grading Definitions

NEAR MINT:  Nearly perfect with only minor imperfections such as tiny corner creases or staple stress lines, a few color flecks, bindery tears, tiny impact creases or a combination of the above where the overall eye appeal is less than MINT. Only the most subtle binding and/or printing defects allowed. Cover is flat with no surface wear. Cover inks are bright with high reflectivity and minimum fading. Corners are cut square and sharp with ever so slight blunting permitted. Staples are generally centered, clean with no rust. Cover is well centered and firmly secured to interior pages. Paper is supple and like new. Spine is tight and flat.

VERY FINE:  An excellent copy with outstanding eye appeal. Sharp, bright and clean with supple pages. Cover is relatively flat with minimal surface wear beginning to show. Cover inks are generally bright with moderate to high reflectivity. Slight wear beginning to show including some minute wear at corners. Staples may show some discoloration. Spine may have a few transverse stress lines but is relatively flat. A light half-inch crease is acceptable. Pages and covers can be yellowish/tannish (at the least, but not brown and will usually be off-white to white).

FINE:  An exceptional, above-average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with no major creasing or other serious defects. Eye appeal is somewhat reduced because of noticeable surface wear and the accumulation of smaller defects, especially on the spine and edges. A FINE condition comic book appears to have been read many times and has been handled with moderate care. Compared to a VERY FINE, cover inks are beginning to show a significant reduction in reflectivity but it is still a highly collectible and desirable book.

VERY GOOD:  The average used comic book. A comic in this grade shows moderate wear, can have a reading or center crease or a rolled spine, but has not accumulated enough total defects to reduce eye appeal to the point that it is not a desirable copy. Some discoloration, fading and even minor soiling is allowed. No chunks can be missing but a small piece can be out at the corner or edge. Store stamps, name stamps, arrival dates, initials, etc. have no effect on this grade. Cover and interior pages can have minor tears and folds and the centerfold may be loose or detached. One or both staples might be loose, but cover is not completely detached. Common bindery and printing defects do not affect grade. Pages and inside covers may be brown but not brittle. Tape should never be used for comic book repair, however many VERY GOOD condition comics have minor tape repair.

GOOD:  A copy in this grade has all pages and covers, although there may be small pieces missing. Books in this grade are commonly creased, scuffed, abraded and soiled, but completely readable. Often paper quality is low but not brittle. Cover reflectivity is low and in some cases completely absent. Most collectors consider this the lowest collectible grade because comic books in lesser condition are usually incomplete and/or brittle. This grade can have a large accumulation of defects but still maintain its basic structural integrity.

FAIR: A copy in this grade has all pages and most of the covers, is soiled, ragged and unattractive. Creases and folds are prevalent and paper quality may be very low. The centerfold may be missing if it does not affect a story. Spine may be completely split its entire length. Staples may be gone, and/or cover complete detached. Corners are commonly severly rounded or absent. Coupons may be cut from the front cover and/or back cover and/or interior pages. These books are mostly readable although soiling, staining, tears, markings or chunks may interfere with reading the complete story. Very often paper quality is low and may even be brittle around the edges but not in the central portion of the pages.

POOR: Most comic books in this grade have been sufficiently degraded to the point that there is no longer any collector value. Copies in this grade typically have pages and/or approximately one third or more of the front cover missing. They may have extremely severe stains, mildew or heavy cover abrasion to the point that cover inks are indistinct/absent. They may have been defaced with paints, varnishes, glues, oil, indelible markers or dyes. Other defects often include severe rips, tears, folding and creasing. Another common defect in this grade is moderate to severe brittleness, often to the point that the comic book literally "falls apart" when examined.

The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide is copyright protected under Gemstone Publishing. No endorsement by said company is intended or implied.