Thanks again for all of your feedback on last week’s question! You can see
what our readers, Overstreet Advisors and other folks had to say, like last
week, in our In
The Limelight section.

Meanwhile, we’re continuing to work on
this summer’s new edition of The Official Overstreet Comic Book Grading
Guide, and we’re still eager to hear your input. One of the areas of
concern, as detailed last week, concerns staples.

Presently in 9.4 (Near
Mint), the grading definition for staples includes the following notation:
“Any staple can be replaced on books up to 6.0 (Fine), but only vintage
staples can be used on books from 8.0 (Very Fine) to 9.4 (Near Mint).” The
entry also specified that higher grade books must have their original
staples.

To this point, it seems clear that some staple replacement has
been done to prevent rust from further damaging the comic. In other cases,
though, it is evident that staple replacement has been done for purely cosmetic
reasons.

The revised standards would include the following
statement:

For a staple cleaning or replacement to be deemed
conservation, it must have been performed to prolong the life of the book. For
example, evidence on a book of rust at one of the staple areas suggests that the
staple had elevated deterioration. If a staple is replaced for aesthetic reasons
only, the book would be considered a “qualified” grade by many
experts.

We’re still eager to hear as many opinions as possible. Let us know what you
think!