Cover for the Random House edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Grading Guide
 

Grading.

One small word, but it packs a big punch.

And it brings out lots of opinions.

One of the most significant areas in the comic book business, grading has in just the past two years experienced a flurry of developments unparalleled in the history of the field.

The original Overstreet Comic Book Grading Guide was the pioneering effort in this arena. Now it’s your chance to be part of the brand new edition, the book that redefines the standard. It makes grading accessible to the new-comer, and clear and concise for the experienced professional.

Like never before, young fans are taking grading as seriously as seasoned collectors. Don’t you want their business?

This book will identify and explain issues of grading, areas of controversy, and our expectations for the future. It will set the benchmark for grading and reach thousands of devoted enthusiasts. And it will be on sale for years. Can you afford not to be a part of it?

TO OUR ADVISORS, ADVERTISERS, AND FRIENDS

Grading has long been a contentious issue in our field, but it's never before been center stage like it is right now. For many of us it was always a serious consideration, but the entry of the independent grading service CGC into the marketplace has generated an incredible interest in how comics are evaluated. Fans and dealers, buyers and sellers, and those of us who endeavor to document this field have never seen this degree of consideration given to this specialized area of the hobby before.

It is with this new awareness and concern in mind that we've begun work on a brand new version of The Overstreet Comic Book Grading Guide. While we have both the industry's high level of interest and the technology to surpass the presentation of the previous edition of the book, we are very conscious that these factors alone will not make the book what it needs to be. For that, quite honestly, we need you.

There are many issues involved in grading, and on some of them there seem to be as many opinions as there are enthusiasts. We intend to do the best possible job of addressing all of these concerns, but we can't do it without honest input about the primary points of consideration (and the potential pitfalls) by experts, longtime fans, experienced collectors and seasoned retailers like yourself.

Over the coming weeks, we'll be aggressively soliciting feedback for this new book. This is your chance to give voice to your opinions and/or apprehensions. This is your opportunity to make a huge difference in what happens from this point forward.

Take a moment, if you will, and think about where we've come from and where we're going. As encapsulation continues to dominate the news in this area of the hobby, we're heading ever further into an age where so many young fans are becoming more aware of and developing a deeper interest in the principles and intricacies of grading. Random House has seen this as well, and they've committed to getting this book into traditional bookstores in a big way. We're sure you've seen some major changes in your business too, so this is no surprise to you.

We have been working closely with CGC on this project. They have been extremely supportive, and they've committed to listening to and evaluating the feedback this letter generates. We believe that this outreach on their part is consistent with how they've operated since their start-up. We look forward to working in tandem with them to bridge the gap between differing points of view.

The Overstreet Comic Book Grading Guide will be the best possible book that we can publish, but we can only do this with your assistance. With participation from specialists like you, coordinated through the efforts of Steve Geppi, Bob Overstreet and John Snyder, we believe we can really do something for the comics business. Please don't put off thinking about these issues. There's only a limited amount of time before our deadline. Let us know what you think the issues of grading are and what you think about them. We value your opinions and we're eager to hear them. Join us in the effort! We look forward to hearing from you.

Arnold T. Blumberg
Editor
barnold@gemstonepub.com

J.C. Vaughn
Executive Editor
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