Shoutout to the guy at the Portland comic shop who explained his grading system

Honestly, I overheard him telling another customer 'I don't even look at the number, I look at the staples and page edges first.' Tbh, that one tip saved me from overpaying for a '9.0' book with a rusty staple last week. Anyone else have a simple rule they use to check a comic's real condition?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_troy1mo ago

That's actually a solid tip about the staples, never thought to focus there first. So does he have a whole checklist he runs through in a specific order, or is it more just those couple things? Like, what does he check after the staples and page edges?

park.robin1mo ago

My uncle used to collect comics and taught me his system. After staples and edges, he always checked the spine for color breaks and creases. Then he looked at the corners on the cover, front and back, for any blunting or damage. The last step was a quick flip through to spot any writing, stamps, or major tears inside the book. It sounds like a lot but you get fast at it.

nina_johnson861mo ago

That staple check is a game changer for sure. @the_troy, my rule is staples first, then a hard look at the cover corners under good light. You'd be shocked how many "fine" books have soft, worn corners. Saves a lot of hassle.