CGC Grading Scale
CGC uses a 10-point grading scale to evaluate comics. Below are CGC's grading standards for each numeric grade as well as the restoration grading scale.
Grading Scale
Restoration Grading Scale
CGC’s Restoration Grading Scale is a transparent system that is much more descriptive and accurate than before. Every type of restoration found on each book will be individually graded for quantity and quality, with a cumulative score determining the final restoration grade assigned.
Quality (Aesthetic) Scale
Determined by materials used and visual quality of work
- Color match near perfect, no bleed through Read More...
- No fading, excessive whiteness, ripples, cockling, or ink smudges from cover or interior cleaning
- Book feels natural
- Near perfect staple alignment, or replaced exactly as they were
- Filled edges cut to look natural and even
- Cleaned staples or staples replaced with vintage staples
- Married cover/pages match in size and page quality. Professionally attached
Read Less...
- Piece fill obvious upon close inspection, obvious to the touch Read More...
- Cover cleaning resulting in slight color fading or excessively white
- Interior cleaning resulting in slight puffiness, cockling, excessively white
- Enlarged staple holes, obviously crooked staples, or backwards staple insertion
- Replaced staples not vintage
- Married cover/pages do not match in size and/or page quality. Professionally attached
Read Less...
- Piece fill obvious at arm’s length Read More...
- Cover cleaning resulting in washed out/speckled colors, moderate cockling and/or ripples
- New staple holes created upon reinsertion, or non-comic book staples used
- Married cover/pages poorly attached with non-professional materials
Read Less...
Quantity Scale
Determined primarily by extent of piece fill and color touch
Conservation Repairs
Conservation repairs are performed with the intent of preserving the structural or chemical integrity of a comic book using professional techniques and materials. It excludes aesthetic repairs such as color touch and piece fill. All conserved grades must satisfy the CGC quality scale of "A" and quantity scale of "1".
- Tear seals
- Spine split seals
- Reinforcement
- Piece reattachment
- Some cover or interior cleaning (water or solvent)
- Staples cleaned or replaced
- Some leaf casting
- De-acidification
Materials Used for Conservation Repairs:
- Rice paper
- Wheat glue
- Vintage staples
- Archival tape