Proposed NGM grading standard:

[Melvin L. De Vilbiss]

For the record, this is the stringent grading standard I've used for more than 20 years.

It has served me well.

Comments are appreciated!

Mel

[Mark Van Winkle]

Mel,

I agree with almost all your criteria for each grade level. The only disagreement I have is with tape on a VG copy. For me that would bump it down to a Good, and the tape repair would need to be noted.

Thanks for publishing this.

Mark

[Melvin L. De Vilbiss]

Any tape other than archival tape I would agree with you. However, archival tape, expertly applied, virtually disappears.

As I said, this loosely conforms with comic book criteria.

Reference: https://www.mycomicshop.com/help/grading

note the section on Restoration:

"Restoration

Any attempt (professional or amateur) to enhance the appearance of an aging or damaged comic book. Dry pressing/cleaning and the simple addition of tape repairs are not considered restoration, but the following techniques are: recoloring/color touch, adding missing paper, stain/ink/dirt/tape removal, whitening, chemical pressing, staple replacement, trimming, re- glossing, married pages, etc. Restored comics generally carry lower value than their unaltered counterparts."

I would submit to you that "any" attempts at restoration can yield a condition no better than VG (Rstd). And yes, the restoration attempt must be documented.

Also note, they do not consider taping as "restoration."

Nick Koopman, whom I believe is no longer with us, used a professional North Carolina outfit to restore the red brick issues. They were all very well done.

But in the end Mark, it's your standard! Go for it!

And thanks for your comment.

Mel

[George Thomas Wilson]

Excellent work as always, Mel.  Might I suggest you put a copy of this post in the Resources & Links Forum.  It's a keeper.

Tom