In my opinion, the best grading standard would be one that is easy to understand, self evident and clearly codified so as to avoid a dependance on the arbitration of the grader. I have yet to see such a grading standard. The grading definitions in Bookeries Guide To The Pulps was workable. But it lacked nuance. You could have two pulps in Very Good condition by their standards, hold them side by side and see that one is better than the other. Yet both are the same grade. Too loose of a grading standard.

The 10 point grading scale description on CGC’s website is contradictory and filled with adjectives that leave grading open to arbitrary decisions by the average grader / collector. CGC did put out a book on comic grading but it is long out of print. I was unable to find one to purchase second hand. The Overstreet Guide To Grading Comics seems to be out of print at the time of this writing. You can order it on Amazon for $100 or get a used copy on eBay for $45 despite a cover price of $24.95.

CGC issued an article announcing their grading of pulps with an outline on how pulps will be graded. View here. In short, pulps are graded with the same standard as comics with few exceptions.

This article is an attempt to simplify the pulp grades. I am using The Overstreet Guide To Grading Comics and the above mentioned article by CGC as reference. Any statement that is strictly my own will be between brackets.

NEAR MINT / MINT - 9.8

Nearly perfect in every way with only minor imperfections. [This is 0.2 away from perfect.] The pulp would look as if it was just purchased. No tears. Only subtle binding / printing defects. Only light stamp or written arrival dates are acceptable. No discoloration allowed. No odors. No color fading to covers / spine. High gloss. Sharp corners. No chips, tears or creases. Off white / white supple, fresh pages. No staple tears or stress lines. No more than two of any of the above mentioned flaws allowed. [All of the above applies to the overhang if the pulp has an overhang.]