NEAR MINT+ / MINT
9.8

• This is close to mint with few minor defects
• Interior pages are almost always off-white/white or better

NEAR MINT+
9.6

This is close to mint with some minor defects. Even though some defects are allowed in 9.6, certain defects, such as tape, are never allowed in this grade range.

• Slight stress on the spine.
• The staples themselves are generally centered clean with no discernible rust.
• Maybe some minor color has chipped or flaked off the cover.
• The cover is flat with no surface wear. Inks are bright with high reflectivity and very little fading. Square and sharp corners with ever so slight blunting permitted.
• You can tell that this comic has been stored properly and looks almost as new as the day it was printed.
• The smallest amount of creasing
• All bindery tears are small.
• Only some binding and/or printing defects allowed.
• Cover is fairly well centered and firmly secured to interior pages.
• Paper is supple and like new.
• Spine is tight and flat.
• Unobtrusive date stamps or arrival dates in pencil or ink are acceptable.
• Many pedigree collection comics have a notation on the cover or the interior of the comic and are considered a bonus to collectors as they help prove the provenance of the comic.

NEAR MINT to NEAR MINT-
9.4 to 9.2

This book is an excellent copy with great eye appeal.

• It is vibrant with supple pages.
• The spine may have a couple of very small stress lines that break color.
• Minor creasing.
• The spine is almost completely flat.
• The cover is relatively flat with almost minimal surface wear and the cover inks are generally bright with medium to high reflectivity.
• The staples may show some discoloration, but it's not too noticeable on first glance.
• The inside pages and covers usually will be off-white/white, but can be cream/off-white with the absence of other defects.

VERY FINE / NEAR MINT
9.0 to 7.5

9.0 - VERY FINE / NEAR MINT+

8.5 - VERY FINE+

8.0 - VERY FINE

7.5 - VERY FINE-

A VERY FINE comic book appears to have been read a few times and has been handled with care. These grades allow for some more defects than higher grades. Overall an above average copy and still very collectible.

• Some of the above defects along with a fold or crease in the cover that breaks color.
• Some stress marks on spine.
• A few small chips on the cover.
• The cover has some slight surface wear but still has much of its original gloss and there is nothing major wrong with it.
• Sun shadows, dust shadows and tanning can be darker and have more of a visual impact than those in higher grades.

FINE 7.0 to 5.5

7.0 FINE / VERY FINE

6.5 FINE+

6.0 FINE

5.5 FINE–

This comic is definitely a read copy with handling wear, but can still be a very desirable copy.

• This could have one major defect like a larger piece out of the cover, a long tear or a detached centerfold.
• It has stress lines on the spine and creases from the opening and closing of the cover.
• This could have a light reading or subscription crease or a rolled spine, but is not damaged enough to reduce eye appeal dramatically.
• Some cover discoloration, fading in colors and soiling is allowed.
• The cover and/or inside pages could have some tears and/or folds.
• With the absence of many other defects, the cover can be detached from one staple, but cover cannot be completely detached from interior.
• Books with slightly brittle pages cannot grade higher than 6.5 and generally are even lower in grade.
• Pages and inside covers could be brownish but not brittle.
• Depending on the look of the comic, very small amounts of tape could be acceptable in this grade.

VERY GOOD 5.0 to 3.5

5.0 VERY-GOOD / FINE

4.5 VERY-GOOD+

4.0 VERY-GOOD

3.5 VERY-GOOD–

These books are complete, but can have major creases and a spine roll.

• Cover gloss can be very low or sometimes no gloss at all.
• The inside paper quality can be low and small pieces of the pages may be missing.
• Books with brittle pages cannot grade higher than 3.5 and generally are even lower in grade.
• Books in this grade are almost always creased, scuffed, abraded and soiled, but readable.
• A larger amount of tape is also allowed in this grade. 
• Store stamps, name stamps, arrival dates, initials, people's names, etc. have no effect on the grade.

GOOD 3.0 to 1.8

3.0 GOOD / VERY GOOD

2.5 GOOD+

2.0 GOOD

1.8 GOOD–

Good is really a misnomer, but one that is still readable with numerous defects.

• All the defects of a VG comic with more significant wear.
• The inside paper quality might not be good and pieces of the pages may be missing.
• Books in this grade are almost always creased, scuffed, abraded and soiled, but readable.
• Large pieces can be missing from the cover.
• Long or many spine splits are possible.
• The cover and pages many be detached but not missing and is still in a "collectible" grade.
• A significant amount of tape may have been applied to cover and pages.
• Book may be fragile.
• Store stamps, name stamps, arrival dates, initials, people's names, etc. have no effect on the grade.

FAIR 1.5 to 1.0

1.5 FAIR / GOOD

1.0 FAIR

This book has seen much better days and tends to be heavily worn and tattered.

• A copy of a comic in this grade has all pages and most of the covers.
• A book in this condition is worn, ragged and unattractive.
• Heavy creases and folds are prevalent.
• Paper quality can be very low.
• The spine and/or cover may be completely split.
• Staples may be missing.
• Coupons cut from cover and or inside pages. Panels can be clipped out.
• Parts of the front cover may be missing.
• Soiling, staining, tears, markings or chunks missing will interfere with reading.
• Brittleness may be a factor.
• Extensive amounts of tape are acceptable on the comic in these grades.

POOR 0.5

It has major defects to the point that there is almost no collector value.

• Copies in this grade typically will have pages and/or the front cover or back cover may be missing.
• They may have severe strains or heavy cover abrasions to the point where cover inks are gone.
• Heavy defacing with paints, varnishes, glues, oil, indelible markers or dyes, etc.
• The inside pages can have extreme brittleness.

INCOMPLETE 0.3 to 0.1

(Covers / Coverless / Single Wraps or Pages)

These designations are only used for the purpose of authentication. Numerous collectors and comic fans will purchase coverless comics to either read or to obtain a filler copy of a book for their collection.

Books that are coverless, but are otherwise complete, will receive a grade of 0.3 as will covers missing their interiors.

Coverless copies that have incomplete interiors, wraps or single pages will receive a grade of 0.1 as will just front covers or just back covers.

• Copies in this designation typically will in most cases be beyond collectability to the majority of the hobby.
• Rare key comics and incomplete pages i.e. centerfolds are considered to be valuable by the collecting community for either restoration purposes or for individuals who just wish to own a piece of comic history.