To Grade or Not to Grade... that is the question?

[DredJAw]

I've beaten myself over this topic pretty much every day that I've collected comics.

I can not decide if I want to have my KEY issues graded. Key issues being mostly 1st appearances, etc from the Silver Age & Bronze Age (ex. 1st app. of Punisher, 1st. App of Captain America, Gian Size Xmen #1, etc.). Not new stuff. Think of this as grading vintage old Parkies, etc.



PROS AND CONS:


PROS:

- Well protected. Since these are very valuable, influencial key issues, having the added security is really nice and comforting.

- Additional value. Generally speaking graded comics are more valuable than raw comics even if they appear in the same condition.

- You KNOW what condition you are getting. Raw comics you just don't really know, ESPECIALLY when buying online. People often "overgrade" their key issues when selling.

- Added protection when shipping. Self explanatory.

- Displays really nice. Looks great on a bookshelf, etc.

- Resale value. Again, because the condition is confirmed it is easier to sell, protect while shipping, etc. However, I do not plan to sell them but who knows down the road.



CONS:

- Can't read/flip through the book- however I would not really be doing that anyways.

- Not in their original form.

- Bulky. Take up a lot more room in a box, on the bookshelf, wherever.

- More costly. Like I said earlier, you are generally paying a premium for graded books because of the confirmation of condition, added security, etc.





I've gone back and forth countless times in my head. I'd like to hear some of your thoughts and perhaps I've missed something?

I'm leaning towards something but I won't say which just yet.

 

[newfiecomicguy1]

My collection is for reading so I don't have any slabbed books EXCEPT cgc signature series books. CGC SS have to remain slabbed to be authentic. I have not sent any comics in to be slabbed and the ones I have bought I have broken free from the case. Buying slabs are good as you know its authentic and the exact grade.

 

[DredJAw]

My collection is for reading so I don't have any slabbed books EXCEPT cgc signature series books. CGC SS have to remain slabbed to be authentic. I have not sent any comics in to be slabbed and the ones I have bought I have broken free from the case. Buying slabs are good as you know its authentic and the exact grade.

Is it easy to break em free from the case?

 

[newfiecomicguy1]

No really. You need to take your time so you don't hurt the comic or yourself ha ha.

 

[Ferrian1]

Ernie - you know I have a reasonable stack of graded books. Personally I'm a fan - as you mentioned it's not like I'd be thumbing through any of these anyway, so I like the fact that they're well protected. That said the main reason I went after them originally was the confirmation of condition - I was really only finding books I wanted online, and there was no way I was buying a Giant Sized X-Men that someone on E-bay thought was mint. Personally I treated it the same as a lot of folks do with vintage cards, I was going to try and get a full run of X-Men 1-100 with minimum grades as my criteria. I of course very quickly gave up on that, but I'd still say those older graded books I do have are the best in my PC and would be the last to sell if I decided to move the whole collection (which I have seriously considered lately).

 

[DredJAw]

That said the main reason I went after them originally was the confirmation of condition - I was really only finding books I wanted online, and there was no way I was buying a Giant Sized X-Men that someone on E-bay thought was mint.

That is exactly why I have decided to go with graded.

Everytime I was skimming auctions, I spent too much time worrying about condition, investigating pics, sending emails to the seller, comparing condition with other copies/prices, and STILL had a hard time pulling the trigger because you truly dont know what you are getting.

CGC graded books confirm the condition, add additional protection for shipping (and at home) and will be/are easier to move if I ever choose to do that.

It sucks not to be able to flip them and they sort of feel 'off' (for lack of a better word) from their true form but at the end of the day, I consider them little trophy's

 

[Ferrian1]

Now when you figure out how to store them let me know I still have them stacked on top of my comic boxes as I haven't found a box that fits them (not that i've tried hard recently).

 

[quincy]

Given that I don't care about "collector's comics" any longer, I'm fine with ungraded...