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Enthusiast
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/5/2009 6:49:50 PM
Posts: 94,
Visits: 150
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I was wondering, how can it be possible to have a Comic book grade 10.0 in the Signature Series of CGC?
A Signature is an imperfection on the book since it was not printed with the signature on it. If a signature of an artist or writer or whatever is not considered an imperfection, then if I sign my name on my books, it also should not be an imperfection.
I figure that the collector value of a signature would be more sentimental. Then of course there are people who just collect signatures and there is a monetary value as well. However, the signature itself should be worth something and for those that have comics signed to sell, they should consider the value increase of the signature vs the decrease because the book was signed.
A Signature on a book is obvious and is detracting. However, since it is of someone of value to the book, it is still desirable, so should not be weighed as heavily as a defect as if some child wrote his/her name on the book. While this is the case, the book can no longer be considered GEM Mint as there is an obvious flaw on the book.
I bet if you take a non SS book to get graded that was GEM Mint condition, it would not grade 10.0 because of the signature. I have books that were signed before CGC was around. Should the signatures on these books be considered defects since CGC was not around to witness them? I understand that extra value of having a third party witness the signature. Almost like having something notarized. However, it is unfair to not consider the signature a defect since the company grading it is witnessing the signature. The fact remains that the Signature is a defect. The only difference is that one has a third party witness and the other does not. That alone should make the SS book worth more since the signature is already verified to be authentic. Sort of like the difference between someone grading a book as NM 9.4 and selling it and the same book graded by CGC as NM 9.4 and being sold. The CGC book will get more money since the grade is "certified".
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Serious Collector
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/12/2010 7:56:20 PM
Posts: 326,
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 Food for thought...yummy. I'd have to agree with your logic. A signature on a comic is technically defacement, even if it is one or all of the production team involved in the publishing of the book. Can there be a Gem Mint 10.0 qualified label? So, yeah, if you submit to CGC a signed otherwise 10.0 comic it should justly receive at most a 9.8 grade. -Dan
What's in my long boxes? http://www.comicspriceguide.com/world/default.asp?m=Magic%20Dan
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Master Collector
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/20/2009 3:25:28 AM
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In CGC's eyes, a signature on a book that one of their representatives has witnessed is no longer considered "defaced." Only when they cannot verify the "sig" does it come back with a lower grade, or even "Qualified."
Makes sense now, yes?
  
-slym
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No signature required.
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Elite Collector
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/19/2010 11:04:32 PM
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I don't see signatures as defacement, but there should be some kind of proof of the signatures authenticity. Value is open to debate, but I wouldn't consider it less valuable than the standard price guide value unless it wasn't a verifiable signature.
.I wont lie, shinedown's version is good, but Lynyrd Skynyrd's is what Jesus, Chuck Norris, Chesty Puller, Ronald Reagan, and my Father listen to every morning when they wake up. -'bobthebanshee' on Skynard's 'Simple Man' (an all-time favorite)
 Slaymaster's Master List  http://www.comicspriceguide.com/world/default.asp?m=slaymaster
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Enthusiast
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/5/2009 6:49:50 PM
Posts: 94,
Visits: 150
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I agree with that, however, I do not agree with a comic being 10.0 with a signature. The only exception I can think of is if it was intended to be released with a signature. Example, Lady Death #1. It does not exist unsigned. Since every single Lady Death #1 is signed, it should not be viewed as a defect since an unsigned version does not exist (barring some type of error in production).
As for value, that is the same as with all things. It is worth as much as someone is willing to pay. I think when you have nothing comics signed, it is only worth whatever the signature would be worth. For example, if Stan Lee signed X-Men #32 (1991 series), it would be worth the same or about the same as if Stan Lee signed a napkin. This would have more appeal to a Stan Lee Signature collector than a Comic Book collector. Of course some do both and look for signed comics, but the unimportance of the issue would have a large factor.
I just don't like Signature Series, because it is making signatures more common and could ruin it for signature collectors. It is nice to have the authentication, but to me, if I am having a comic signed, I don't need authentication since I was there. As far as selling something signed, I would not care because I already got the value from the signature by being there to experience it. I don't expect it to ruin the value of the comic, however, I would never grade such a comic a MINT regardless of the condition!
The advantage of Signature series is that they can be sold online to people who would otherwise not be able to obtain a signature, but with the amount of comics being signed now in the SS, it may push collectors away. They give out about 20 of these when you go to a convention as a VIP (lots of $$$). To a dealer, this is a good deal cause total you get about 150 free comics, so they make a profit, and they are still going to a comic con, so they are essentially getting paid to go.
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