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Draft Comic Grading Definitions - Your comments and suggestion welcome as we work to finalize the grading definitions
Very Fine to Near Mint - (VFNM) General (wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc) A beautiful book. Very scarce in all but 1980s and newer comics. This is the typical condition of a nice "newstand mint" comic book! If exceptional in other areas, could have six of the following (at least three must be 1/16" or less in size and the remaining must be must be 1/8" in size or less), small spine stress, slight corner blunting, miniscule tear, miniscule color flake. Could have a light crease on an interior page. Could have a very light (no color cracking) crease on cover if 1/16" or less; this would be counted as one of the defects noted above. Could have up to two miniscule "Marvel" type chips of 1/16" or less. These would be counted as some of the defects noted above. Spine: No evidence of abrasion (wear), still clean and sharp except for stress lines as noted above. Water stains, foxing, or other signs of environmental damage are not allowed. Printing Defects If exceptional in other areas, could have a 1/4" bit of off center printing. Paper Quality (both cover and pages) If exceptional in other areas, slight change of paper color is allowed (light yellowing paper at worst). If near perfect in all other areas, a book with yellowing (not at all tanning) pages may make this grade. Writing/name and address stamps/pen/pencil Very minor writing incurred as part of the distribution process is allowed. For example: light or average arrival dates or distributor marks are acceptable. Light initial of someone in pencil is acceptable so long as there are no distributor marks. No heavy markings, no name or address stamps. Tape Not allowed. Restoration Not allowed.
Very Fine Plus (VF+) (back to top) General (wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc) A beautiful book. Scarce in all but 1980s and newer comics. If exceptional in other areas, could have seven of the following (at least three must be 1/16" or less in size and the remaining must be must be 1/8" in size or less), small spine stress, slight corner blunting, miniscule tear, miniscule color flake. Could have a light crease on an interior page. Could have a very light (no color cracking) crease on cover if 1/16" or less; this would be counted as one of the defects noted above. Could have up to two miniscule "Marvel" type chip of 1/16" or less. These would be counted as some of the defects noted above. Spine: No evidence of abrasion (wear), still clean and sharp except for stress lines as noted above. Water stains, foxing, or other signs of environmental damage are not allowed. Printing Defects If exceptional in other areas, could have a 1/4" bit of off center printing. Paper Quality (both cover and pages) If exceptional in other areas, slight change of paper color is allowed (light yellowing paper at worst). If near perfect in all other areas, a book with yellowing (not at all tanning) pages may make this grade. Writing/name and address stamps/pen/pencil Very minor writing incurred as part of the distribution process is allowed. For example: light or average arrival dates or distributor marks are acceptable. Light initial of someone in pencil is acceptable so long as there are no distributor marks. No heavy markings, no name or address stamps. Tape Not allowed. Restoration Not allowed.
Very Fine (VF) (back to top) General (wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc) A beautiful book. Scarce in all but 1980s and newer comics. If exceptional in other areas, could have eight of the following (at least three must be 1/16" or less in size and the remaining must be must be 1/8" in size or less), small spine stress, slight corner blunting, miniscule tear, miniscule color flake. Could have a light crease on an interior page. Could have a very light (no color cracking) crease on cover if 1/8" or less; this would be counted as one of the defects noted above. Could have up to two miniscule "Marvel" type chip of 1/16" or less. These would be counted as some of the defects noted above. Spine: No evidence of abrasion (wear), still clean and sharp except for stress lines as noted above. Water stains, foxing, or other signs of environmental damage are not allowed. Printing Defects If exceptional in other areas, could have a 1/4" bit of off center printing. Paper Quality (both cover and pages) If exceptional in other areas, some change of paper color is allowed (yellowing paper at worst). No tanning or browning is allowed in a VF or better book. An otherwise near perfect book with light tanning at the edges tanning is no better than VF- and the tanning must be noted. Writing/name and address stamps/pen/pencil Very minor writing incurred as part of the distribution process is allowed. For example: light or average arrival dates or distributor marks are acceptable. Light initial of someone in pencil is acceptable so long as there are no distributor marks. No heavy markings, no name or address stamps. Tape Not allowed. Restoration Not allowed.
Very Fine Minus (VF-) (back to top) General (wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc) A beautiful book. Scarce in all but 1980s and newer comics. If exceptional in other areas, could have nine of the following (at least three must be 1/16" or less in size and the remaining must be must be 1/8" in size or less), small spine stress, slight corner blunting, miniscule tear, miniscule color flake. Could have a light crease on an interior page. Could have a light crease with color cracking on cover if 1/8" or less; this would be counted as one of the defects noted above. Could have up to two miniscule "Marvel" type chip of 1/16" or less. These would be counted as some of the defects noted above. Spine: No evidence of abrasion (wear), still clean and sharp except for stress lines as noted above. Water stains, foxing, or other signs of environmental damage are not allowed. Printing Defects If exceptional in other areas, could have a 1/4" bit of off center printing. Paper Quality (both cover and pages) If exceptional in other areas, some change of paper color is allowed (yellowing paper at worst). No tanning or browning is allowed in a VF or better book. An otherwise perfect book with light tanning at the edges tanning is no better than VF- and the tanning must be noted. Writing/name and address stamps/pen/pencil Very minor writing incurred as part of the distribution process is allowed. For example: light or average arrival dates or distributor marks are acceptable. Light initial of someone in pencil is acceptable so long as there are no distributor marks. No heavy markings, no name or address stamps. Tape Not allowed. Restoration Not allowed.
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