Question About CGC Signature Series

[Redrumh2o]

Hello!
First of all i'd like to mention than I am a noob to comics. I am familiar with grading companies as I collect action figures.

I have a question about the whole Signature Series class. I understand what it is, but I was wondering if you can mail your books to CGC if they are going to a con to get them signed and witnessed, or if you must attend the show in person. On their website there is a "CGC Signature Series Submission Order Form (Fillable PDF)", but I can't open it to see what it is as I am not a paying member. Does this form let you mail stuff into CGC for it to be signed or witnessed, or is it just to have to CGC when/if you actually go to the show?

Thanks for the help! :trazz:

[Redrumh2o]

anyone???? :tconfuse:

[rich]

I'm not into the whole signature thing as much as others here are but you might try registering at Collector's Society and then posting the question on one of their threads. This one (http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=58&page=1) seems to be appropriate for your question. Sorry I don't have more info. for you.

[Ninja_Shoe_Repair]

I believe if you already have a signature that wasn't witnessed by CGC and you submit it, you get a green "qualified" label. If you attend a CGC event of some form and a registered member witnesses it, then you get the yellow label. Be careful on what signatures you get. A lot of artist's signatures aren't worth that much since they're highly available.

I only have a small handful of CGC books as I don't need the artist's signature on every book, just a few important ones. No matter what anyone will tell you, most books (most older books from the early 90's and back) will suffer from ink bleed-through after a number of years depending on what the cover is made of. I have several books signed by Bob Kane and others that were signed in normal black paint pen or sharpie (as most sigs are) and it eventually bled through onto the pages underneath and stained them yellow. If you're looking to know you have a quality 9.8 book, then either get both or just stick to the universal grade. If the signature matters more than the quality of the book, then go for the CGC Signature series. Just realize that the 9.8 grade it might say on a signature book may not be a 9.8 book anymore in 10 years or more but the universal grade ones will be.

You'll have a number of people try to disprove this but I have over 12 signed books as proof that my theory is correct depending on what the cover is made of. I always want to know I have the best quality book unless it's a highly sought after signature like Stan Lee, the late Jack Kirby, or someone of their magnitude. The signature doesn't always seems worth it due to the high number and easy availability of their signature. In the end, it's what's important to you and no matter what, you can never put a price on nostalgia. My two cents. Take it or leave it.

[Venom]

Archon will be posting in this topic soon... :D

[Archon_Turtle]

Archon will be posting in this topic soon... :D

K :-)

So I would never dispute that getting a book signed damages a book. It does. There is no way to defend against that point. Signature series IS a form of qualified after all. Basically the grader is saying "I understand this signature is authentic, and is of some importance to the book. So this is what the book would grade as if the signature did not exist."

So I guess there is some credence to the "it isn't true X grade" theory.

However; you will find that most (dare I say all?) Signature series collectors have made peace with one simple truth...

It isn't about the grade.

Here's why:

1. Creators mis-handle books.
It's true. I see it all the time. I think it is because when you create something, you don't really have the same mentality about something as someone who collects your work. So when signing (and especially sketching), a creator may not be as cautious with a book as you'd like them to be. Hell, I've seen Stan Lee pick up books by the spine as he hands them to people; watching as the book practically folds in half.

2 (But most importantly). Condition isn't what makes a Signature Series book magical.
What I find so amazing about Signature Series is that you can take a book that is completely worthless, and turn it into something really special. One of my favorite examples of this is a Star Trek: TNG book I recently saw. By itself it was not a very expensive book. However; this copy had been signed by the entire primary cast of TNG. Taking a "meh" book, and turning it into a really cool collector's item. The gathering of signatures on the book were so cool that I don't even remember what the grade was!

Or a recent book I did.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/JNCOPosterboy/The%20Collection/CGC%20Comics/DSC001311.jpg

It's a copy of the movie adaptation of TMNTII: SotO.
Signature Series signed by Kevin Eastman, Ernie Reyes Jr. (Keno), and Kenn Scott (Raph suit actor). This is not an expensive book (http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEENAGE-MUTANT-NINJA-TURTLES-MOVIE-II-SECRET-OF-THE-OOZE-1991-NM-/160757046804?pt=US_Comic_Books&hash=item256dddde14#ht_688wt_905). But the copy I have is 1 of the only 2 books that Ernie or Kenn have ever signed under the CGC label (I also own the other one). Making it priceless to me. You're nuts if you think I care that it isn't 9.8.

3. Sometimes it is just about the art:

This especially applies to Sketch Covers... is anyone really looking at the grades...?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/JNCOPosterboy/IMAG0566.jpg

[Redrumh2o]

So my main question is....does CGC accept mail ins for Signature Series, or do I need to go to the event in person. I can not attend the Boston Comic Con, Does CGC accept mail ins to get signed under their supervision?

[Archon_Turtle]

So my main question is....does CGC accept mail ins for Signature Series, or do I need to go to the event in person. I can not attend the Boston Comic Con, Does CGC accept mail ins to get signed under their supervision?

As an organization? No. Some of their witnesses do allow you to mail them books to have signed. But that is a deal you'd have to make with an attending witness. Not the CGC itself.

This would be the thread to watch for that:

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=86

[Master of the Foot Clan]

Nice! CGC and signed by Kevin Eastman and Ernie Reyes Jr. wow!

K :-)

So I would never dispute that getting a book signed damages a book. It does. There is no way to defend against that point. Signature series IS a form of qualified after all. Basically the grader is saying "I understand this signature is authentic, and is of some importance to the book. So this is what the book would grade as if the signature did not exist."

So I guess there is some credence to the "it isn't true X grade" theory.

However; you will find that most (dare I say all?) Signature series collectors have made peace with one simple truth...

It isn't about the grade.

Here's why:

1. Creators mis-handle books.
It's true. I see it all the time. I think it is because when you create something, you don't really have the same mentality about something as someone who collects your work. So when signing (and especially sketching), a creator may not be as cautious with a book as you'd like them to be. Hell, I've seen Stan Lee pick up books by the spine as he hands them to people; watching as the book practically folds in half.

2 (But most importantly). Condition isn't what makes a Signature Series book magical.
What I find so amazing about Signature Series is that you can take a book that is completely worthless, and turn it into something really special. One of my favorite examples of this is a Star Trek: TNG book I recently saw. By itself it was not a very expensive book. However; this copy had been signed by the entire primary cast of TNG. Taking a "meh" book, and turning it into a really cool collector's item. The gathering of signatures on the book were so cool that I don't even remember what the grade was!

Or a recent book I did.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/JNCOPosterboy/The%20Collection/CGC%20Comics/DSC001311.jpg

It's a copy of the movie adaptation of TMNTII: SotO.
Signature Series signed by Kevin Eastman, Ernie Reyes Jr. (Keno), and Kenn Scott (Raph suit actor). This is not an expensive book (http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEENAGE-MUTANT-NINJA-TURTLES-MOVIE-II-SECRET-OF-THE-OOZE-1991-NM-/160757046804?pt=US_Comic_Books&hash=item256dddde14#ht_688wt_905). But the copy I have is 1 of the only 2 books that Ernie or Kenn have ever signed under the CGC label (I also own the other one). Making it priceless to me. You're nuts if you think I care that it isn't 9.8.

3. Sometimes it is just about the art:

This especially applies to Sketch Covers... is anyone really looking at the grades...?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/JNCOPosterboy/IMAG0566.jpg