Comic Grading
Thomas Sr. (Captain Collector)Last updated: 31 May 2019 approx. 3 min read
Grading comics, that is, describing their condition, is an art. Comics from the USA are graded according to the ONE principle (Overstreet Numerical Equivalent), named after Robert M. Overstreet, publisher of the American comic price guide. The assessment, known as grading, is based on a points system from 0.5 to 10.
Overstreet grading scale
| Grade | Description | German system |
|---|---|---|
| 10.0 GM | Gem Mint | |
| 9.9 MT | Mint | |
| 9.8 NM/MT | Near Mint/Mint | |
| 9.6 NM+ | Near Mint Plus | |
| 9.4 NM | Near Mint | |
| 9.2 NM- | Near Mint Minus | (approx. German 0) |
| 9.0 VF/NM | Very Fine/Near Mint | |
| 8.5 VF+ | Very Fine Plus | |
| 8.0 VF | Very Fine | (approx. German 1) |
| 7.5 VF- | Very Fine Minus | |
| 7.0 FN/VF | Fine/Very Fine | (approx. German 1-2) |
| 6.5 FN+ | Fine Plus | |
| 6.0 FN | Fine | (approx. German 2) |
| 5.5 FN- | Fine Minus | |
| 5.0 VG/FN | Very Good/Fine | (approx. German 2-3) |
| 4.5 VG+ | Very Good Plus | |
| 4.0 VG | Very Good | (approx. German 3) |
| 3.5 VG- | Very Good Minus | |
| 3.0 G/VG | Good/Very Good | (approx. German 3-4) |
| 2.5 G+ | Good Plus | |
| 2.0 G | Good | (approx. German 4) |
| 1.8 G- | Good Minus | |
| 1.5 FR/G | Fair/Good | |
| 1.0 FR | Fair | |
| 0.5 PR | Poor |
This points system does more justice to comics from the Silver Age, which can often be worth three- or four-figure sums, than the German system of condition grading, where comics are rated between 0 and 4. The German grades in brackets are just my own attempt to bring the American and German grading systems into line. Others have tried the same and come to slightly different results.
Grading with a human factor
Of course, a comic dealer can grade comics very strictly when buying them in order to pay as little as possible. He then grades the very same comics far more generously when selling them, to get the highest possible price and with it the biggest possible profit. Since the value of a precious comic rises exponentially with its condition, that is a lucrative business, at the customer's expense.
But hang on a minute. That's not me. Captain Collector has clear guidelines and is as strict and conservative with his grading as a quirky old-school maths teacher. Every comic carries its exact condition on the price tag. On top of that, the label is dated, so even years later you can see which edition of the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide was used to determine the selling price.
How does grading work?
In principle, I always start from a perfect comic, a 10.0 GEM MINT copy. Then I work out a fraction of a point for every defect, based on specific criteria. Finally I add up the points and subtract the result from 10.0. And lo and behold: my comic has a grade!
Of course there are other ways of determining a comic's condition. Once you have put hundreds (thousands) of comics through meticulous grading, you are “dialled in”, “calibrated”, so to speak. When I pick up a comic, the approximate condition automatically jumps out at me. Then all I have to do is a bit of fine-tuning, nudging that mentally noted grade slightly up or down.
Grading philosophy
Grading is an art, not a clearly defined science. Two comic experts will often grade the same comic slightly differently. In the same way, a comic collector will grade the same comic slightly differently at different times. I have experienced that myself often enough. Once you are aware of this, it becomes clear why some collectors have their precious comics graded several times before finally selling them with the best possible grade.
One important principle to round off this little introduction: a comic doesn't always have to be expensive to be worth collecting, nor does it always have to be old to have a high collector's value. So old doesn't necessarily mean expensive.
Did you know that super-rare and highly sought-after comics are graded and sold for big money even without a cover? Some even as fragments, with half the comic missing!
Thomas Sr. (Captain Collector)Captain Collector's Subtle Superhero TriviaGraded comics at AMAZINGTOYS®
You'll find comics graded by CGC under CGC Graded Comics. You can have your own comics graded through our CGC Grading Service.
Publisher: Marvel Comics Year: April 1968
Publisher: Marvel ComicsYear: January 1963
Publisher: Marvel ComicsYear: September 1973
Grader Notes: spine stress lines spineKey Comments: Direct Edition includes | "Marvel Overpower" cards. | Green foil cover.Art Comments: Tom DeFalco story | Scott McDaniel cover & artComics can be a highly valuable investment, and CGC-graded comics are especially interesting for collectors. The Gem Mint 10.0 grade is the best a comic can receive, though this grade is extremely rare. In practice, comics with a grade of 9.8 already count as excellent and represent the best attainable condition for most collectors. The higher the grade, the more valuable the corresponding issue.CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) is an independent company that grades comics, magazines and other collectibles according to their condition and quality and then seals them in a protective hard plastic holder. CGC-graded comics give collectors confidence in authenticity and condition, which greatly simplifies trading and investing in valuable comics.
Grader Notes: Key Comments: Art Comments: Leah Williams story | Daniel Hillyard, Ted Brandt & Ro Stein | art, Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson coverComics can be a highly valuable investment, and CGC-graded comics are especially interesting for collectors. The Gem Mint 10.0 grade is the best a comic can receive, though this grade is extremely rare. In practice, comics with a grade of 9.8 already count as excellent and represent the best attainable condition for most collectors. The higher the grade, the more valuable the corresponding issue.CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) is an independent company that grades comics, magazines and other collectibles according to their condition and quality and then seals them in a protective hard plastic holder. CGC-graded comics give collectors confidence in authenticity and condition, which greatly simplifies trading and investing in valuable comics.
Grader Notes: spine stress lines cover | foreign substance right center of front coverKey Comments: Flip-book w/ Vanguard #0 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles appearance.Art Comments: Erik Larsen & Gary Carlson stories | Rob Haynes & Tomm Coker art | Erik Larsen coverComics can be a very valuable investment. CGC graded comics are particularly interesting for collectors. The Gem Mint 10.0 grade is the best a comic can receive, however this grade is extremely rare. In practice, comics with a grade of 9.8 are already considered outstanding and represent the best possible condition for most collectors. The higher the grade, the more valuable the corresponding issue.CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) is an independent company that grades comics, magazines and other collectibles according to their condition and quality, then encases them in a protective hard plastic holder. CGC graded comics offer collectors security regarding authenticity and condition of preservation, which greatly facilitates trading and investing in valuable comics.
Grader Notes: spine stress lines coverKey Comments: Batman appearance.Art Comments: Denny O'Neil story | Barry Kitson & James Pascoe cover & artComics can be a very valuable investment. CGC graded comics are particularly interesting for collectors. The Gem Mint 10.0 grade is the best a comic can receive, however this grade is extremely rare. In practice, comics with a grade of 9.8 are already considered outstanding and represent the best possible condition for most collectors. The higher the grade, the more valuable the corresponding issue.CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) is an independent company that grades comics, magazines and other collectibles according to their condition and quality, then encases them in a protective hard plastic holder. CGC graded comics offer collectors security regarding authenticity and condition of preservation, which greatly facilitates trading and investing in valuable comics.
Grader Notes: Key Comments: Gary Frank cover. | Anniversary issue.Art Comments: Robinson, Jurgens & Straczynski stories | Bernard Chang, Dan Jurgens, Norm | Rapmund, Eddy Barrows & J.P. Mayer artComics can be a very valuable investment. CGC graded comics are particularly interesting for collectors. The Gem Mint 10.0 grade is the best a comic can receive, however this grade is extremely rare. In practice, comics with a grade of 9.8 are already considered outstanding and represent the best possible condition for most collectors. The higher the grade, the more valuable the corresponding issue.CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) is an independent company that grades comics, magazines and other collectibles according to their condition and quality, then encases them in a protective hard plastic holder. CGC graded comics offer collectors security regarding authenticity and condition of preservation, which greatly facilitates trading and investing in valuable comics.
Grader Notes: Key Comments: Art Comments: Alan Davis story, cover & artComics can be a very valuable investment. CGC graded comics are particularly interesting for collectors. The Gem Mint 10.0 grade is the best a comic can receive, however this grade is extremely rare. In practice, comics with a grade of 9.8 are already considered outstanding and represent the best possible condition for most collectors. The higher the grade, the more valuable the corresponding issue.CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) is an independent company that grades comics, magazines and other collectibles according to their condition and quality, then encases them in a protective hard plastic holder. CGC graded comics offer collectors security regarding authenticity and condition of preservation, which greatly facilitates trading and investing in valuable comics.