Even then, for an older comic to be in the very fine category it needs to be pretty exceptional. The bottom line for our grading system is that we define mint the way the comic book collectors universe does. The best possible existing condition of that comic book. Mint condition definition and meaning collins english. The first few issues were published serially in the horror anthology comic taboo 19891992, which was run by moores swamp thing collaborator steve bissette through his spiderbaby grafix imprint. A condition where the left edge of the comic book curls toward the front or back, caused by folding back each page to the back as the comic was read, rolling it for carrying around, or sometimes by being stored flat and stacked with other comics. This grade is the most misused of all the comic book grades. Many people want their comic book to be better than it is, but few attain this high of a mark. Grading rare and classic comics, marvel, dc, and dark. This step is taken to ensure that graders do not know whose books they are grading, as a further guarantee of impartiality. A comic book in fr condition may have nonstory elements such as coupons. As the name given to a coin factory is a mint, then mint condition is the condition a coin is in when it leaves. It is very rare especially in older comic books pre1990 to discover a comic in either mint or gem mint condition.
This is the equivalent of mint condition in numismatics. These coins can be valuable to collectors, but they tend to be illiquid assets. Two page spread when the comic book art spills over into two pages. Sit back and enjoy the gory tale of jack the ripper killing prostitutes in alan moore and eddie campbells from hell.
Therefore being able to correctly determine the grade of a comic is an important skill for buyers and sellers alike. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. Become the ultimate comic book collector in this light, fast, and very satisfying. This discoloration can be worsened by the storage condition of the comic. A loose term implying collectible books rather than used books. Only very minute printing and bindery defects or the.
This is the third article in our series, following from most valuable golden age comics and most valuable silver age comics. Numerous variables influence the evaluation of a comic books condition and all must be considered in the final determination of a grade. Please note that midtown comics definition of near mint can be seen by viewing our grading policy, which can be seen by clicking this link. Near mint condition comic grading meaning liveabout. A work whose authenticity or authorship is in doubt. If you say that something is in mint condition, you mean that it is in perfect. The book is new, unread, and unused in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. Cpg has researched the definitions and terminology used in our hobby and. This collectibles shop page has the standard 10 point grading scale and definitions, as used in the overstreet guide. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. This applies mainly to silver age comics, as noted earlier. Everything from the condition of the pages if theyre torn or bent to the products used to repair a damaged comic will change the grade.
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. Although the grade of a comic book is based upon an accumulation of defects, some defects may be more extreme for a particular grade as long as other acceptable listed defects are absent or less severe. Demand, willingness, and capability to pay fully define the value. Note that near mint is a comic book grading definition. Here are the key issues to look for when youre at garage sales yes, they do turn up. 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. 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.
Additional or supplementary material generally found at the end of a book. A term indicating a given book is in the same condition as when originally published. It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books, to discover a comic in. Nostomanias grading guide for comic books coin and comic. This book is indispensable for anyone who collects baseball cards. With ebay, you dont have to choose sides, because we have plenty of any option. As new means that the book is in the state that it should have been in when it left the publisher. In mint condition definition and meaning collins english. The term may have a slightly different meaning in each case. 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. 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. As longtime users of nostomania know, the value of a comic depends strongly on grade. Near mint nm back to top general wear, tears, creases, folds, color flaking, water stains, foxing, etc. Mint definition is any of a family lamiaceae synonym labiatae, the mint family of aromatic plants with a square stem and a 4lobed ovary which produces four oneseeded nutlets in fruit.
In mint condition meaning in the cambridge english. An extremely exceptional comic with only very minute printing or bindery defects. There are grades in between these basic grades such as finevery fine, but we want this to be a general easy. For one reason or another, ive got it stuck in my head that every comic book i buy needs to be in nearmint condition and that i need to maintain that condition. This is intended to be a basic guide so that you have a general idea of the grade of your books for pricing purposes. Splash page when a panel consists of the entire page. Most people see a comic from the 1980s in a plastic bag and presume that its mint condition. In numismatics, the state in which a coin has the exact same quality as it had when it was produced.
All of our new release comic books are brand new and in near mint condition. Featuring thousands of products at wholesale pricing with no need for a special wholesale account. This is an exceptional example of a given book the best ever seen. The cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket if applicable is included for hard covers. The most common problem with comic book grading is, its subjective. For instance, when describing trading cards, perfect condition is used to describe the condition as it is when. These comics are read right to left, opposed to left to right like western comics. A mint comic book is an extreme rarity, at least if the comic has been published for some amount of time. A spine split of up to 23 the length of the book, a missing back cover provided the front cover is still attached. 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. The comics may be old but my mind is still fresh, wrapped in plastic and sitting on the shelf, waiting to be opened. This will only happen if there is a market for your comic though. After the final issue of the anthology, from hell hopped over to tundra publishing, tmnt cocreator kevin eastmans doomed. A place where the coins of a country are manufactured by authority of the government.
Definition of in mint condition in the idioms dictionary. Sep 30, 2014 they grade on a 10point scale, with 10 being a comic in absolutely perfect condition. Once again these definitions may vary from dealer to dealer. The younger a comic, the less likely the book will increase in value significantly from restoration. 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. Us 1 published in 1983, betty and veronica, bettys diary, dragon lance 1988 edition alpha flight published in 1987, spit. Most comic book lovers pledge allegiance to either dc comicsfeaturing that famous alien from krypton and aquaman, among many othersor marvel comics, which gave us the webslinging spiderman, the new mutants and patriotic captain america.
Mint we do not offer to sell comics in mint condition. Mar 17, 2017 this grade is the most misused of all the comic book grades. Mint condition comics is a game where players compete for the best. They were adopted by the bookselling community and are still in use today. A mint condition coin has never circulated and has been protected from touch or other human use. Comics kept in damp environments like basements often degrade faster. I just want to get the most out of what is probably my best comic. Note the huge difference in meaning between this and goldmines definition of mint. After being examined by a restoration detection professional, the comic books are placed in barcoded mylar sleeves, and separated from their original invoice. Mint condition financial definition of mint condition. Collection of vintage comics, still in original bags, mostly 1980s and 1990s, mint condition. No book can be restored to an apparent mt condition. An arrival date on the cover of a comic does not indicate that it is a file copy, though a date may. Mint condition definition of mint condition by merriam.
What is your definition of mint, excellent condition, as new. Mint condition, in definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. 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. Only very minute printing and bindery defects or the most barely noticeable handling defects present. A near mint condition comic would typically align with a 9 out of 10 on the comic grading scale, whereas a mint book would score a 10. Top 50 most valuable comic books of the bronze age. Dark colored pages that exhibit a uniform tint from edges to middle. Some dealers list their definitions of pulp grades in their catalogues. The overall look is as if it has never been handled or released for purchase. Jun 12, 2015 buy comics buy graphic novels i attempt to answer weather or not graphic novels or.
The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. 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. The best possible existing condition of a comic book. Magazine grading guide for collectors of vintage back issues. A guide to book conditions the hobbit first edition by j. Originally, the phrase related to the way collectors described the condition of coins. Mint definition in the cambridge english dictionary.
Most people see a comic from the 1980s in a plastic bag and. About the comic mint we offer exclusive retailer variants by todays hottest artists with a commitment to top customer service at all times. We also adopt the standard english definition of mint, which youll see is new, like new. This is the typical condition of a nice newstand mint comic book. Supply the definitions you use to grade your comic books for consideration and possible incorporation into the definitions to appear at this site and you will be considered a charter contributor and receive a free email or web link on this site once the final. May have one or two minor flaws that dont jump out at you, such as a slightly curled up corner on the cover, the slightest bit of edge wear but no tears, some very light rubbing along the edge of the spine, a hint of stress marks on the covers near the spine, or. This means we will pay to cover the shipping and custom expense to get. The set of terms below were proposed in 1949 by ab bookmans weekly. It means that the book is in the state that it should have been in when it left the publisher. How do you know if a comic book is very fine condition. Similar to light tan to offwhite pages, but the edges of the pages are darker. Unfortunately, the grading of the condition can be somewhat subjective.
A high grade comic originating from the publishers file. In mint condition definition of in mint condition by the. Mint condition comics, a neat game about comic books by miguel. Mint condition, in definition of mint condition, in at. The slightest bindery defects andor printing flaws may be seen only upon very close inspection. I was pleasantly surprised at how well written mint condition is, the result of jamieson being both a professional journalist and a knowledgeable collector. There are variations, but a mint condition comic essentially refers to a book fresh off the printing press.
Panel a panel is one of the boxes on the page of a comic book. Tolkien when considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value. May have a mailing label if its still neatly affixed. Because mint is a standard that is too difficult to define. Chuck rozanskis grading standards mile high comics. Very fine is still a considered a rather high rating for a comic book to receive. The physical condition of the comic is what matters most during the rigorous evaluation process. The condition of the dust jacket should be graded independently of the book. 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 best grade a comic book can achieve with this page quality is 7. As a former newspaper editor myself, i have no patience for boring writers but there were no dull sections in mint condition. It is important to make a careful assessment of your product before specifying its condition. It is very rare, especially in older vintage comic books, to discover a comic in these grades as they are virtually nonexistent. Buy comics buy graphic novels i attempt to answer weather or not graphic novels or. Due to this, its incredibly hard to find mint condition copies of older comics. For information about selecting a condition for your product, see selecting conditions. The worlds largest collectibles auctioneer comic books, vintage comics, original and animation art. Those comics that do, especially cgc graded books, can attain the highest possible market value that is out there. Near mint or very near mint as above, but there may be a single, minor issue, e. Tales from the database mile high comics, chuck rozanski. Who is the most reputable to help get the most value. They grade on a 10point scale, with 10 being a comic in absolutely perfect condition. Books in this condition pre1980 are virtually nonexistent.