At RI Consignment, we sell a variety of comic books for sale in our online store. As a general rule, we err on the lower side of the grading system when listing our comics for sale, to ensure that our customers are not disappointed with their comic purchase. This article will help you understand our grading system and how we rate our comics. We have compiled our information from a variety of trusted sources, including eBay, Comic Price Guide, and Heritage Auctions. All of these trusted sources offer their opinion on how comics should be graded when listing them and we agree with their assessments. We know comic book grading can be somewhat subjective and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but there is generally a consensus on how to grade comics. For simplicity purposes and to be consistent with these online sources, we rely on the Overstreet Grading Scale. Because customer satisfaction is our number one priority, we always grade one grade below where we think, according to the scale, the comic belongs. So if, according to the Overstreet Grading Scale, a comic looks like it is in NM condition, we will list it as VF/NM. Please reference this grading system when reviewing our comics listed for sale in our store. If you have questions about any of our comics listed for sale, contact us.

Overstreet Grading Scale used by RI Consignment

MT 10.0 – ABSOLUTLY PERFECT – HAS NOT ONE SINGLE FLAW

MT 9.9 – Only 1 very very subtle Bindery defect allowed

NM/MT 9.8 – Only minor imperfections (such as an almost unnoticable interior page tear (under 1/32 of an inch) or a small inconspicuous date stamp (must be very well hidden almost unnoticable

NM+ 9.6 – same as 9.8 but with small almost imperceptible indentations allowed and/or slight staple discoloration

NM 9.4 – same as 9.6 but with an up to 1/16 inch bend without any color break (no white showing through the color) also ever-so-slight blunting of the corners and a few VERY SLIGHT stress lines

NM- 9.2 same as above but page color may be off-white to cream in color and that 1 cover crease can be 1/16 to 1/8 inch with no color break allowed

VF/NM 9.0 – 1/8 inch bend with no color break, very minor foxing allowed, small amount of cover wear, several date stamps and or small hidden initials allowed, slight staple tears allowed – Minor Accumulation of stress lines allowed and some very minor interior tears allowed

VF+ 8.5 – 1/4 inch cover crease with no color break allowed, Minor spine split with some minor color break allowed, Some slightly more noticeable stress lines allowed and paper can be Cream to Tan but must remain supple

VF 8.0 – Same as 8.5 but with some very very minor spine roll — Must lay almost completely flat

VF- 7.5 – same as 8.0 but cover can have light cover soiling and some interior pages can have corner slight tears – Also cover can have some corner wear.

F/VF 7.0 –  Moderate reduction of cover reflectivity – minor creases allowed, minor foxing, interior cover yellowing, date stamps – initials – and store stamps are allowed, Slight rust migration allowed, Blunted corners, minor margin tears on interior pages allowed — More and deeper stress lines allowed

FN+ 6.5 – up to 1/4 inch spine split or severe color break are allowed – Minor spine rolls allowed and cover can have minor discoloration, staining and/or foxing as well as minor to moderate cover creases

FN 6.0 – same as 6.5 But with a loose but attached centerfold

FN- 5.5 – Same as above but with some Marvel Chipping present as well as some bundling ridges and minor abraded edges – also light pencil marks possible

VG/FN 5.0 – Low cover gloss possible minor to moderate dimples and creases Present, up to 1/2 inch spine split, Moderate Rolling of the spine – May also have the begining of an acid oder

VG+ 4.5 – Cover wear is moderate to significant – cover may be loose… Cover may be faded staples discolored, moderate staple tears up to 1″ spine split, moderate stress lines moderate interior tears minor oder minor repairs and up to a 1/4 inch triangle or 1/8 square missing (must not effect story) + Pages can be brown but not brittle

VG 4.0 – same as above but with heavy spine wear and brown staining on cover – also some pen and/or pencil writting is common but should not be excessive

VG- 3.5 – same as 4.0 but with frayed edges, Oxidation shadows on the cover and Larger cover creases – with many dimples and abraded corners

G/VG 3.0 – Very low or no cover gloss, cover may be detached on one staple, 1 1/2 inch spine split, Interior tears and larger up to 1/2 inch chunks missing (must not effect story) – staples may have been replaced and book length creases may be present

GD+ 2.5 – same as 3.0 but may have detached (but present) centerfold or cover and rounded corners

GD 2.0 – up to 2″ spine split, Significant cover ware heavily rolled spine, rust migration on to the book, Acid oder  — BUT MUST BE FULLY READABLE

GD- 1.8 – Major writting, heavy staining and light water damage possible

FR/GD 1.5 – Cover – Creases tears and folds, May be detached and with considerable wear and staining – up to 1/10 of the back cover may be missing – one missing staple is acceptable and massive rust migration

FR 1.0 – Cut Coupons (may effect story slightly) Chunks of cover missing centerfold may be missing, pages may be brittle, many tears  and folds and creases are very large and many – Cover may be crumpled

PR 0.5 – Massive water damage, Major damage effecting most of the book (ie. Dog chewed it) Running ink and Coverless books belong here.