A comic book in a cgc holder is encapsulated in a new cgc holder. Comic book grades are given out through a company called the certified guaranty company also known as the cgc. 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. Founded in 2000, cgc is the first independent, impartial, thirdparty comic book grading service. In rare cases, a comic book will look much better than the given grade. Comic book grading learn the scale and how to apply it. Before a comic book is cgc certified, it must be graded by at least two comic professionals according to well established standards that ensure integrity, quality, confidentiality and consistency. In the year 2000, the world of comic book grading was revolutionized when cgc grading burst onto the scene.
It also guarantees a consistent grade for the comic. The company was launched in early 2000 and has since gone on to become a notable. Cgc remains open, declares itself an essential business cbr. In all honesty, cbcs is more strict in grading than cgc. Everything you need to know about submitting comic books to cgc. The two basic systems consist of a number scale from one to ten such as the cgc uses and. Lets explore everything you need to know about this comic book grading service. Grading certified guaranty company, llc cgc comics. Certified guaranty company, also known as cgc, is a sarasota, florida comic book grading service. Jan 09, 2017 i have used both cgc and cbcs with good results on both. Mar 16, 2020 lets have a discussion around which comic book grading company is the best. Certified guaranty company cgc is a third party comic book grading service located in sarasota, florida.
Professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade. Theres a few reasons getting a book graded increases the price. Our graded comic book slab flap seal bag is the perfect solution for protecting your graded comic books from any grading service cgc cbcspgx. It is an independent member of the certified collectibles group of companies and the first independent and impartial third party grading service for comic books. Blumberg, has set the standard for grading the condition of comic books. These comic grading services will grade a comic and then seal the comic in a hard plastic case that displays the assigned grade. Cgc set the standard for thirdparty comic book, magazine, lobby card and vintage photograph grading, and its independent affiliate ccs performs expert pressing, restoration and restoration removal services for comic books. Cgc cbcs pgx graded comic book slab flap seal bag 100 pack. 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.
When you submit a comic book to cgc, it is inspected before grading actually begins. In it, i walk you step by step through 27 comics at every grade level from 0. Today, cgc is the worlds largest and most trusted thirdparty grading service for comics, magazines, concert posters and related collectibles with more. Mail submissions to cgc headquarters paid collectors society members and authorized dealers can complete submission forms online and send collectibles directly to the cgc headquarters. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to wellestablished grading standards.
Founded in 2000, cgc is an independent thirdparty grading service that assesses the condition and quality of physical comic books, then grades them accordingly and encases them in plastic slabs for collectors. Guaranty company cgc is a leading thirdparty grading service for comic books, magazines and other collectibles. Comic grading professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade misrepresentations by providing a professional assessment of condition and quality. Books that are coverless, but are otherwise complete, will receive a grade of 0. Cgc is an independent member of the certified collectibles group of companies. One comic book out of your collection isnt a big deal, but when you have thousands of comics, like me, the cost in justifying getting every single comic book. In fact, in 2007, cgc crossed the million book mark and has now graded over 2 million comic books. There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easy.
Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. The best possible existing condition of that comic book. Comic books are sent to cgc for grading and encapsulation either directly by the owner through cgcs website or through an authorized. Cgc employs a team of more than twenty professional graders. There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easytofollow comic grading guide for the novice. Cgc will have representatives there so you can have your signed comics witnessed and given to them for slabbing. The best way to understand why a specific comic book received a check mark designation is to refer to the graders notes. Certified guaranty company cgc, launched in early 2000, is a comic book grading service that can help you determine whether a comic book you are considering for purchase is restored or conserved.
Cgc comic grading ultimate guide to certifying your comics. In fact, in 2007, cgc crossed the millionbook mark and has now graded over 2 million comic books. I have only seen one, litterly one, cbcs comic that was a 9. Includes direct submission privileges, free grader notes and 5% off grading tiers. Comiclink is the online vintage comic book and comic art auction destination featuring comic book auctions spotlighting the most desirable cgc graded examples of key comics, as well as comic art auctions featuring the biggest names in comic book illustration from the golden age to the present.
Feb 06, 2012 i for one still send a lot of books to cgc, because i know i can now take my 9. 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. Furthermore, every cgccertified comic book undergoes a thorough restoration check by. Every comic book certified by cgc is graded by the hobbys most experienced and trusted team, according to. While the company plans to resume operations amid the covid19 pandemic, other facets of the comic book industry have been hit hard. Numerous collectors and comic fans will purchase coverless comics to either read or to obtain a filler copy of a book for their collection. But as a rule of thumb, as im deciding which comics to submit for grading i always estimate the true cost of. 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. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. 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.
Any obvious signs of restoration are noted and the comic book is given tracking information so that the exact comic book you sent can be located at any. 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. Below are cgcs grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale. We are proud to provide certification and grading services for collectors and hobbyist in the comic book industry. Display stands free delivery possible on eligible purchases. The grade of a comic book is based on its physical condition. Since then, the comic book grading service has helped comic book collectors and sellers determine the value and worth of a particular comic book. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Submit comics to cgc for grading there are four ways for collectors to submit their comics for grading. The learn to grade comic books course is the most comprehensive course of its kind.
There is also the extra cost of getting comics graded. For each sale discovered, we match it to the specific comic in our massive database which also includes variant covers and printings. Certified guaranty company cgc is a leading thirdparty grading service for comic books, magazines and other collectibles. Comic link the online vintage comic book and comic art. A proven and respected commitment to integrity, accuracy, consistency and impartiality has made cgc the leader in its field. However if you have a book sitting around with a signature and you submit it to them for grading, you will likely get the qualified green label see below. It is the first independent and impartial third party grading service for comic books. Cgc grading scale cgc uses a 10point grading scale to evaluate comics.
Though at times controversial, its proven grading system has become a gold standard for those looking to have their collection appraised. The ultimate authority delivers the right grade every time grading comic books is the key to successful comic book collecting, and now the leading expert on comic books, robert m. I for one still send a lot of books to cgc, because i know i can now take my 9. 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. A comic must be relatively complete to be successfully restored. 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. Grading process certified guaranty company, llc cgc. In these rare cases, a check mark will be placed on the label by the numerical grade. Comic grading over one hundred thousand comic books are submitted to cgc each year. 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 bag measures 8 1516 x 14 14 and fits any graded comic book slab universal grade, signature series, etc. These grading services assign grades on the same tenpoint grading scale used by mycomicshop. I have used both cgc and cbcs with good results on both. Cgc grading does increase the price, with some books significantly.
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 is the first independent, impartial thirdparty grading service for comics, magazines, concert posters and related collectibles with more than 6 million. 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. Today, cgc is the worlds largest and most trusted thirdparty grading service for comics, magazines, concert posters and related collectibles. Lets have a discussion around which comic book grading company is the best. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide. Grading process certified guaranty company, llc cgc comics. Cgc has a process that ensures that a signature on a book is 100% authentic. Comic grading company has a simple and affordable pricing structure without any clubs to join. There are different systems used by different price guides and grading companies. Preventative restoration, widely used and accepted by collectors, consists of nonadditive restoration on a book with one or two major defects.