Mint comic book meaning

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. The odds of a perfect mint comic getting through that process are infinitesimally small. Comic book definition is a magazine containing sequences of comic strips usually hyphenated in attributive use. For comic a comic book collector, authenticity is allimportant. Similar to light tan to offwhite pages, but the edges of the pages are darker. For many collectors this is the minimum acceptable condition for all but the rarest items. Cardboard boards are used as backing in bags to keep comics creasefree. As comic book collectors, sometimes we have the tendency to look at our comics with mint colored lenses. If exceptional in other areas, could have six of the following at least three must be 116 or less in size and the remaining must be must be 18 in size or less, small spine stress, slight corner blunting, miniscule tear, miniscule color flake. 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. The 2002 release of the second edition of the official overstreet comic book grading guide was embraced by the vast majority of the comic book collecting community, and included a high component of advisor, reader, collector, and dealer input. Probably because it goes straight from the incoming shipment into my stack of books. We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. Feb 26, 2019 direct edition comics are comics which are sold exclusively through the direct sales market, which is now the dominant way of distributing comic books in the united states.

Im a reader more than a collector but i still enjoy holding a mint book in my hands. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Theres no wrong way to use it, and nothing to lose getting started. Following the golden age of comic books and an interregnum in the early to mid1950s, the silver age is considered to cover the period from 1956 to circa. Or read our free, online comic book price guides, focusing on each character, to determine their current market value. Dec 12, 2006 for the best answers, search on this site it really, really depends on what the comics are, exactly along with conditionand dcs, gens and marvels isnt nearly enough information but if youre buying a completely miscellaneous lot of comics for cheap, you can usually find auctions on ebay for 50 cents or less per issue. This grade is the most misused of all the comic book grades. It is written in python and has a simple user interface using pygtk.

Only very minute printing and bindery defects or the. The mint grade is practically nonexistent in pre1970 comics. This web site offers a tremendous selection of professionally graded comic books with an emphasis on extremely high grade or the best existing of a kind. Mint condition is an expression used to denote the quality of a preowned good as displaying virtually no imperfections and being in pristine condition relative to its original production state. A comic book is a magazine that contains stories told in pictures. Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. Golden age comics in mint condition are an extremely rare find and fetch huge premiums over average copies of the same comic. Following the golden age of comic books and an interregnum in the early to mid1950s, the silver age is considered to cover the period from 1956 to circa 1970, and was succeeded by the bronze and.

Comic book definition and meaning collins english dictionary. The same as tan to offwhite, but the center of the pages are darker. Dc comics is one of the oldest comic book publishers in the united states with roots going back to the thirties. The emblem of the cca is a white stamp in the upper right hand corner of comics dated after february 1955. Create budgets you can actually stick to, and see how youre spending your money.

Armed with this knowledge and a good understanding of the market, you should be able to make an informed decision about restoration. Jones after the infinite crisis and before one year later, the dcu spent a year without. Those comics that do, especially cgc graded books, can attain the highest possible market value that is out there. As with grading all collectibles, there is a degree of subjectivity as there are many factors to consider and all of them must be weighed to determine an overall grade. If you were to receive a grade on a book you purchased from us, after january 1, 2003. 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. How to store a comic book collection like a superhero. So in our minds or at least my mind, every comic weve ever bought is in nearmint to mint condition. The majority of comics people find in their attic or basement, at an auction, storage unit, or. When your comic was published, and if it is a real first edition, can mean the difference between an investment and a waste of time and money.

About the comic mint we offer exclusive retailer variants by todays hottest artists with a commitment to top customer service at all times. Depending on the comic book, there may have been multiple prints. If you purchase a comic already in a bag with a board, consider asking the dealer if he uses acid free boards. Those comics that do, especially cgc graded books, can attain the highest possible market value. Demon modern age music comics, pink floyd near mint grade vinyl records, demon comic book collections, comic book heroes etrigan the demon, demon cgc modern age comics 1992now, demonic tutor near mint or better uncommon individual magic. Strange comics as a magical system, by cat yronwode the spirit checklist. The term mint condition may be used to describe a variety of collectible items, including action figures, dolls, toys, stamps, records, comic books and similar items.

This applies mainly to silver age comics, as noted earlier. The overstreet standards, long relied upon by collectors from the professional to the casual level, describe a. If exceptional in other areas, could have six of the following at least three must be. Just about every book i get from my picklists is as perfect as a book gets in a comic shop. This is an exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. Everything you need to know about submitting comic books. When grading a comic mint, no consideration should be given to the age of the book. Nearmint is a joke on the word mint, meaning in good quality of. Its rare to find a near mint condition of marvel comics first comic book, aptly named marvel comics 1. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. After being examined by a restoration detection professional, the comic books are placed in barcoded mylar sleeves, and separated from their original invoice. Terms and definitions in comic book grading if there is one important thing you should know immediately, then comic book grading comes first. The term may have a slightly different meaning in each case. Mint is versatile enough to help anyones money make sense without much effort.

Not as easy to find in recent books as one might think. Grading certified guaranty company, llc cgc comics. Mint we do not offer to sell comics in mint condition. Mint condition is an expression used to denote the quality of a preowned good as displaying. Many of the comics we sell as near mint mint would qualify as mint, but we will not try to separate them as a category. As the hobby grew and comics became more expensive, the need to define and. This is the equivalent of mint condition in numismatics. 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. As new means that the book is in the state that it should have been in when it left the publisher. Once you get to the point where you have to look through a jewelers loop to find the flaws in a comic book, i think youve descended into an area of anal madness. Look for acidfree to avoid damaging the pages of your comic books. The overall look is as if it has never been handled or released for purchase.

A mint comic book is an extreme rarity, at least if the comic has been published for some amount of time. This step is taken to ensure that graders do not know whose books they are grading, as a further guarantee of impartiality. The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics, original and animation art. Because mint is a standard that is too difficult to define. Near mint comic books is a comic book store in bikini bottom. Near mint nm back to top general wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc. Collectors of mint comics all have their own personal standards of what defines mint and what reduces a comic to near mint. They were adopted by the bookselling community and are still in use today. This book may range anywhere from poor to near mint and there is no obligation to clarify its condition. For many collectors this is the minimum acceptable. These numbers correspond with more traditional descriptive grades such as very fine, near mint. Mermaid man guest barnacle boy guest octopus children customers this list is incomplete, but you can help encyclopedia spongebobia by expanding it. Near mint minus nm back to top general wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc a stunning book. Marvel silver coins arent the only superhero collectible coins waiting to be added to your collection.

Originally, the phrase related to the way collectors described the condition of coins. Gem explains what pressing is and why you should get it done before submitting books to be graded. The best grade a comic book can achieve with this page quality is 7. If you are a person who wants the best, or a collector who simply enjoys exceptionally high quality books, then the pgc mint has many special treasures just for you. The slightest bindery defects andor printing flaws may be seen only upon very close inspection. The set of terms below were proposed in 1949 by ab bookmans weekly. Dark colored pages that exhibit a uniform tint from edges to middle.

Comic book grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a book, which directly influences its value. Near mint comic books cashier encyclopedia spongebobia. There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easytofollow comic. The most common problem with comic book grading is, its subjective.

A spine split of up to 23 the length of the book, a missing back cover provided the front cover is still attached. Meaning we buy them at the shop, we bag and board them immediately, and when we read them we do so every so carefully. How to get near mint comics cgc comic book collectors. Official facebook page for online comics and related collectibles marketplace. There are variations, but a mint condition comic essentially refers to. Fine f or fn is as new but allowing for the normal effects of time on an unused book that has been protected.

Comic book definition of comic book by merriamwebster. The differences between a gem mint and mint are minuscule. Unlike baseball cards, which are doublesided and can be viewed from the confines of a sleeve, comic books contain multiple pages and are meant to be read. They grade on a 10point scale, with 10 being a comic in absolutely perfect condition.

Useful for when you are unsure of the grade of a book or do not wish to grade the comic. Most people see a comic from the 1980s in a plastic bag and. Gem mint books are out there and do appear on the cgc census. Very fine to near mint vfnm back to top general wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc a beautiful book. A mint book will have perfect corners, the spine will be immaculate, and the edges will be sharp. Collectors of mint comics all have their own personal standards of what defines mint and. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. Books in this condition pre1980 are virtually nonexistent. So in our minds or at least my mind, every comic weve ever bought is in near mint to mint condition. The silver age of comic books was a period of artistic advancement and widespread commercial success in mainstream american comic books, predominantly those featuring the superhero archetype. This company is responsible for the creation of heroes such as batman, superman, the flash, wonder woman, and many more. Many people want their comic book to be better than it is, but few attain this high of a mark. It is very rare especially in older comic books pre1990 to discover a comic in either mint or gem mint condition. May 20, 2018 find out which printing a comic is in seconds.

For the best answers, search on this site it really, really depends on what the comics are, exactly along with conditionand dcs, gens and marvels isnt nearly enough information but if youre buying a completely miscellaneous lot of comics for cheap, you can usually find auctions on ebay for 50 cents or less per issue. Knowing the comic book grading terminologies and meanings will lead you to become conscious and more careful when handling comics. As far as im concerned, bob overstreets 1992 definition that mint comics are near perfect works just fine for me. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. Whereas mint is dependent on the absence of even the tiniest imperfection, a near mint condition comic allows for slight imperfections, such as a slight, barely perceptible curve in the spine, or a very small less than 18 inch page tear. The best possible existing condition of a comic book. In real estate, youve probably heard the expression location, location, location.

Near mint comic books encyclopedia spongebobia fandom. Aug 29, 2014 to slab or not to slab posted on august 29, 2014 by comicspectrum there are great reasons to slab a comic slabbing is slang for getting a comic professionally graded and encased in an unopenable hard plastic shell from cgc, pgx, or cbcs. Meaning its never been read, and never been touched in 82 years. The near mint comic books cashier is a character who appears in the episodes sing a song of patrick, what ever happened to spongebob. Grading rare and classic comics, marvel, dc, and dark. Near mint is a bit more achievable, albeit still a great score for your comic book. This is the typical condition of a nice newstand mint comic book. For instance, when describing trading cards, perfect condition is used to describe the condition as it is when. How much is a 1st edition batman mint condition comic from. Very good vg describes a book that is worn but untorn. Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. From our perspective, that makes trying to identify them and market them an impossible task.

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. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide. Near mint condition comic grading meaning liveabout. There are variations, but a mint condition comic essentially refers to a book fresh off the printing press. The best possible existing condition of that comic book. The gathering cards, demon dc comic book collections not signed. He is a light blue fish who wears a light tan shirt, dark brown shorts, and rectangle shaped glasses. If perfect in all other areas, could have four of the following must be 116 in size or less, small spine stress, slight corner blunting, miniscule tear, miniscule color flake. 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. Once the comic book has been graded by cgc, it is placed in a tamperevident sleeve, meaning that if the comic book is removed, the cgc valuation of the comic book is no longer valid. The younger a comic, the less likely the book will increase in value significantly from restoration.

Featuring thousands of products at wholesale pricing with no need for a special wholesale account. In this video i explain what the numbers on the comics cover barcode really mean. The generally accepted comic book grading scale, terms, and descriptions are as follows. Mar 17, 2017 this grade is the most misused of all the comic book grades. An extremely exceptional comic with only very minute printing or bindery defects.