Proper Magazine grading 101

This is ment to act as a guide on how to properly grade your Magazines for sale on ebay. This is only a guide, Actual grading is not able to be broken down to a set of standard rules because all books are handled, read and worn differently... In addition opinions are like Buttholes, everyone has one and nobody thinks there own stinks!!!

First off - you'll need tools

1. Rubber gloves (to keep your oily fingers off the books)
2. Paper and Pen
3. Ruler
4. Archival 100% acid free Magazine bags
5. Archival 100% acid free Magazine backing boards
6. Scotch Magic Tape
7. A magnifying glass (not nessasary if your Eye sight is excellent)
8. YOUR EYEBALLS

What to do

1. Put on your Gloves
2. Take out your guide below
3. Use your Magnifying glass to locate flaws as outlined in the guide below.. Mark any flaws found on a seperate sheet of paper - Be sure to be subjective, Just because it's not a big deal to you doesn't mean a geek like me will be so understanding. (remember that the grade is based on the whole book, not just the cover - so open her up and look at the pages...)
4. Determine witch grade your book BEST fits in!!
5. Place book on a backer board and place it in a bag
6. fold plastic flap under and place a small piece of Scotch Magic tape on it to close.

Grading Guide

Using the standard grade as set up in the Overstreet comic book grading guide and the 10 point grading system it corresponds with, The Grades are as follows:

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.

Now that you can grade your Magazine have fun Selling on Ebay