Official Overstreet Comic Book Grading Guide by Robert M. Overstreet (2006, Paperback)

... is very important to you!

In real estate the keywords are location, location, location.

In comic book collecting it is condition, condition, condition!

This book has multiple color examples of the different grades that are used in describing a comic book's condition.

This edition is a little more 'lax' in 'grading' in my opinion than the first edition. However it is considered the 'standard' when comic book grades are discussed.

Comic book grading is NOT an objective science. It is a Subjective science. Why is that? Well, a defect that one collector might think would make it not collectible for him/her may be perfectly acceptable to another collector!

Some collectors will not buy any comics that have a 'store stamp' stamped on the front cover. Others will see that as part of the comic's history and will buy it.

I have personally attended several 'Grading Panels' at the San Diego Comic Con International where of the five panel guests, you could get five different opinions of grading. These included prominent dealers of good standing and length of time selling comics. These panels also included the main representative of CGC who do most of the slabbing 'encapsulated' comic 3rd party grading.

Personally I don't like off center comics, yet after visiting a few local comic book stores that received back graded comics from CGC, found that off center comics are not downgraded that much!

CGC has not to my knowledge published what their grading standards are, so for those that are selling, (or even buying), on eBay, this book is a MUST purchase! A 'Good' condition comic is definitely NOT Good to collect after the year 1968!

Sellers, Learn your grades and purchase this book! Or at least show a LARGE scan of the comic book you are attempting to sell, or you will LOSE money when selling!!

The one and only - This is it, for 36 years Overstreet is the one guide book series for comic collecting and pricing. They are the experts, the best of the best, The prices in this guide are compiled of information on sales and demand collected from nearly every comic book retailer in the country... The experts who work on this book not only give pricing info but also much usfull info on everything from how to store, preserve and collect your comics to what makes a comic book a comic book... a must have for any comic book fan!!!!!!!!