I got an email the other day from someone who received several collectible comics, but had no idea of their value. They said the comics were in "pretty good" condition. At that moment., I knew they needed help.
I also sent an email to a person who said he had a bunch of comics but didn't have time to go through each comic and give a specific condition for each issue. They claimed all the comics were in "fair or better condition" At that moment., I knew they needed help.
I don't know of anywhere on the web that gives a decent explanation of grading comics. In this brief editorial I will attempt to give you an overview of grading comics.
The problem is that comic value vary widely by condition. The short course:
There are 8 official comic book conditions MINT (best sometimes abbreviated (M) NEAR MINT (NM) VERY FINE (VF) FINE (FN) an 'average condition' comic) VERY GOOD (VG) GOOD (GD) FAIR (FR) POOR(PR)
MINT means it just off the press and no one has touched it. Strict "mint" condition does not exist, and is more of a just a starting point for talking about comic condition.
NEAR MINT is typical of a comic you'd buy at a comic book specialty store. Brand new. Excellent condition.
VERY FINE is a comic that has been read a few times, and is showing wear at the binding (also called the spine). Also may have very slight color fading on the inside.
FINE is probably what you would call 'good, fair, or average condition' . Some wear, some color fading of pages, still in 'good' shape. No rips, no tears, cover is in excellent condition. May have very slight, hardly noticeable mark on cover.
VERY GOOD is probably that comic you forgot to put in a bag and board and threw in your closet for a year. Cover has some creases, inside color has faded, a very small tear or two is visible on inside pages. Complete, very readable, but a little rough around the edges. May have watermark or greasepaint on cover.
GOOD is probably the comic you put in your garage without a bag or board for five years. The cover is well worn and may be falling off. The corners of the cover are missing. Maybe an old order form has been cut out on the inside. This one is in rough shape. But still complete and readable. Inside pages are still okay.
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