At CopperHead, comic books are graded either as Poor (P), Fair (F), Good (G), Very Good (VG), Fine (FI) or Very Fine/Near Mint (VFNM). The following are described:
Very Fine/Near Mint
Tears: Less than 1/8th of an inch (A)
Bends and folds: No folds. Can have extremely small corner bends nearly imperceptible to the eye.
Spine condition: Must have only minor flaws
Water damage and foreign substances: None allowed
Staple condition: Pristine
Tape: None Allowed
Missing pieces on cover: None allowed except for a small imperceptible tip on one of the corners.
Missing pieces on back: None allowed except for a small imperceptible tip on one of the corners.
Missing pieces on interior pages: None allowed except for a small imperceptible tip on one of the corners.
Stamps and Writing: None Allowed
Fingerprints: None Allowed
Cover Scuffing: Imperceptible at worst
Other Comments: This comic should appear near flawless. Only imperceptible signs of use, not recognizable at a quick glance.
Fine
Tears: Up to 1/4″ allowed
Bends and folds: Small Corner bends allowed only.
Spine condition: Signs of use allowed, but can not be bent in half.
Water damage and foreign substances: None Allowed
Staple condition: Minor wear but no tearing.
Tape: None Allowed
Missing pieces on cover: Under 1/8″ by 1/8″ allowed
Missing pieces on back: Under 1/8″ by 1/8″ allowed
Missing pieces on interior pages: Under 1/4″ by 1/4″ allowed
Stamps and Writing: Rubber Stamps allowed on cover only if the rest of the comic is in VFNM condition. Writing is only allowed on the interior if it is very neat. No writing on outside.
Fingerprints: Barely noticeable
Cover Scuffing: Very small amount
Other Comments: If there are more than two of these flaws, it falls to VG.
Very Good
Tears: Several tears allowed. All below 1/2″
Bends and folds: Most allowed except if folded in half.
Spine condition: Can appear quite used. Not tears of more than 1/4″
Water damage and foreign substances: Allowed only if not noticeable
Staple condition: Wear is allowed but only extremely small tears.
Tape: Not Allowed
Missing pieces on cover: Under 1/4″ by 1/4″ allowed
Missing pieces on back: Under 1/4″ by 1/4″ allowed
Missing pieces on interior pages: Under 1/4″ by 1/4″ allowed
Stamps and Writing: Only nice handwriting allowed on cover. Stamps allowed.
Fingerprints: Allowed if no foreign substance is associated with it (including oil).
Cover Scuffing: Allowed
Other Comments: Missing pieces in combination with each other set this back to G. Also a piece missing in conjunction with tears will set this back to G.
Good
Tears: Tears allowed up until 2 of the cover.
Bends and folds: Allowed
Spine condition: Most spine wear is allowed. Spine can be torn up to 1/2″
Water damage and foreign substances: Allowed but no deformation or significant change of color.
Staple condition: Can be loose. Under 1/4″ tears allowed.
Tape: Must be extremely neat and of transparent color.
Missing pieces on cover: Under 2″ by 2″ allowed
Missing pieces on back: Under 3″ by 3″ allowed
Missing pieces on interior pages: Under 1″ by 1″ allowed, but story must be complete.
Stamps and Writing: Allowed
Fingerprints: Allowed
Cover Scuffing: Allowed
Other Comments: This comic should at least be presentable.
Fair
Tears: Allowed
Bends and folds: Allowed
Spine condition: Allowed to be in bad shape
Water damage and foreign substances: Allowed
Staple condition: As long as they=re there
Tape: Allowed
Missing pieces on cover: Can have up to 2 missing
Missing pieces on back: Can have up to 2 missing
Missing pieces on interior pages: Stories need to be complete. Otherwise, all is fair.
Stamps and Writing: Allowed
Fingerprints: Allowed
Cover Scuffing: Allowed
Other Comments: Some of these are actually real gems. One deforming of discoloring watermark can make a VFNM into a F.
Poor
Tears: Allowed
Bends and folds: Allowed
Spine condition: Almost anything allowed
Water damage and foreign substances: Allowed
Staple condition: Does not even need staples
Tape: Allowed
Missing pieces on cover: Allowed, even whole cover can be missing
Missing pieces on back: Ditto
Missing pieces on interior pages: Allowed, but it still must be a comic book
Stamps and Writing: Allowed
Fingerprints: Allowed
Cover Scuffing: Allowed
Other Comments: Almost everything that does not fit into the other categories fits here. This is not a good comic. However, it should maintain many of the pages. We always comment on what is wrong with any poor comics that are in stock. We almost never buy these from customers.