Comic Guaranty Company (CGC)
Economic Comics is an authorised partner of CGC, meaning we can submit comic books on your behalf to be graded at fantastic prices.
** SPECIAL OFFER ** - Active Subscribers of Economic Comics are entitled to a 5% discount off our CGC grading prices.
Who are CGC?
Expert Analysis
CGC are the recognised market leaders for comic book grading. Professional comic book grading provides expert assessment of condition and eliminates any concerns about grading misrepresentation. Before a comic receives CGC certification, it must be graded by three CGC experts according to well-established standards that ensure integrity, quality, confidentiality and consistency.
CGC Grading Process
Receiving
CGC’s Receiving Department opens the newly arrived packages each morning. Details of the comics are entered into a computer, and will henceforth be traceable at all stages of the grading process. Each book is placed within a protective mylar that has affixed to it a label bearing identifying information for quick reading by the computer.
Restoration Check
Before any grading is performed, each book is examined by a CGC Restoration Detection Expert. If any form of restoration work is detected, this information is entered into the computer so that it will be available to the grading team.
Grading
After being examined by a Restoration Detection Expert, a book then passes to a pre-grader. At this stage the comic books are in an anonymous barcoded mylar sleeves. This step is taken to ensure that graders do not know whose books they are grading, as a further guarantee of impartiality.
The pre-grader begins the grading process by counting the book’s pages and entering into the computer any peculiarities or flaws that may affect a book’s grade. Some examples of this would be “a tear on third page,” “a corner crease – does not break color,” “a ¼” inch spine split,” and so on. He then enters this information, if necessary, into the “Graders Notes” field and assigns his grading opinion. When the next grader examines the comic, he is not able to see the first person’s assigned grade, so as to not influence his own evaluation. After determining his own grade for the comic, he can then view the Graders Notes entered by the previous grader, and he may add to this commentary if he believes more remarks are in order.
This same process is repeated as the comic passes to the Grading Finaliser. He makes a final restoration check before determining his own grade, at which time he then reviews the grades and notes entered by the previous graders. If all grades are in agreement or are very close, he will then assign the book’s final grade. It then is forwarded to the Encapsulation Department for sealing. If there is disagreement among the graders, a discussion will ensue until a final determination is made and the book forwarded.
Encapsulating
After each comic has been graded and the necessary numbers and text entered into their respective data fields, all the comics on a particular invoice are taken from the Grading Department into the Encapsulation Department. Here, appropriately color-coded labels are printed out bearing the appropriate descriptive text, including each book's grade and identification number. This last item is extremely important, as it serves to make each certified comic unique and is also an important deterrent to counterfeiting CGC's valued product. All of the above information is duplicated in a bar code, which appears underneath the written text on the comic's label.
The newly-printed labels are stacked in the same sequence as the comics to be encapsulated with them, ensuring that each book and its label match one another. The comic is now ready to be fitted inside an archival-quality interior well, which is then sealed within a transparent capsule, along with the book's color-coded label. This is accomplished through a combination of compression and ultrasonic vibration. The result is a newly-encapsulated CGC comic, ready to be shipped to its proud owner.
The CGC holder uses the most cutting-edge technology to provide the best protection for your comics. The durable, tamper-evident holder is slim and lightweight, making it easy to store and transport. The label displays comprehensive information about the book and its grade, and the holder provides clear viewing from the outside as well as a safe opening mechanism for access to the book if ever required.
Shipping
After encapsulation, all comics are returned briefly to the Grading Department for a quality control inspection. Here, they are examined to make certain that their labels are correct for both the grade and its accompanying descriptive information. The quality control person also inspects each book for any flaws in its holder, such as scuffs or nicks. While these are quite rare, CGC is careful to make certain that the comics it certifies are not only accurately graded, but attractively presented as well.
When all the comics have been inspected, they’re either held in CGC’s vault for in-person pick-up by the submitter or delivered to the Shipping Department for packaging. The comics are counted and their labels checked against the original handwritten or typed invoice to make certain that no mistakes have occurred. A Shipping Department employee then verifies the method of transport as selected by the submitter on the invoice and prepares the comics for delivery.
The encapsulated comics are placed vertically inside boxes made of very sturdy cardboard.
The Final Result!
Please contact us if you want to submit your comics for CGC grading, or require further information
22nd November 2008