Tough grading question

[dhennen]

Okay, here's a tough one. DC 100 Page Super Spectacular #16 presents Sgt. Rock. The book has about a 1 inch square spot of red ink on the cover and another tiny spot along the top edge.

The spine is intact with no splitting, cover glossy, sharp corners, a tiny tear outside edge of back cover, off white pages, back cover slightly faded but still glossy, small stain bottom center of back cover. If not for the ink I'd give it a 8.0 VF, what do you think the grade should be?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/dhennen/corral/dcrockspec16.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/dhennen/corral/dcrockspec16bk.jpg

[kenmacny]

With no scientific reason to back me up I think I got to go down to VG for that, covering the price and all, its right in the line of sight. Still a sweet book, what a bummer though.

[grininbarrett]

I think when you sell an item like this, you only shoot yourself in the foot by assigning a grade. Because there are several folks who might not have much of a problem with this and may grade it as high as Fine, whereas, there are several others that would say that VG is the best you could do.

Just describe the flaws and let the market sort it out if auctioning. If I was putting it up as a buy it now I would use the Fine price. Or if it was for my own collection I wouldn't bother.

[disneyteddies]

The 4 big glitches put it in about 4.0 VG for me, if those aren't book length spine creases then the highest I would go is about 5.0 VG/FN.

[illuminated]

My gut said VG, as well, before seeing anybody's posts above.

That said, it's a swell book. Were I bidding on it, I'd possibly bid as much as I would for a FINE copy with an accumulation of more, smaller defects.

Now, if I were a certain eBay seller, I might call this the NO PRICE VARIANT!
(Hey, the ink could have been put on by the distributor, just as that 15¢ price sticker could have been put on at the press.)

[comicstock]

no better than a VG